You and your dad had an amazing afternoon just the 2 of you. When Amelie called to ask if she could come by to go over her wedding stuff, your dad encouraged you to accept because he was tired. You spent an hour finalizing lots of details when Avani showed up: "Hey! I came to help but looks like you guys did a lot. You should totally come back to the house. The parentals are hosting family game night."
You: "It's like 10 pm, isn't everyone in bed?"
Avani: "Nah. We're all on vacation and retirement ruined their sleep schedule."
You leave a note for your dad and climb into Avani's car denying to yourself what line you're crossing. If there was any doubt, the text you sent to Tayler, lying should have told you everything.
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Game night is just as much fun as you remember having with it in high school. You forgot how safe being a part of this family made you feel. Sitting across from Kio, laughing while he throws a card at his sister took you back to happier times... before everything fell apart.
Kio: "Okay, your turn, Ry. But this time no cheating."
You, Kio, and Riley looked at each other and burst out laughing. The Bryce memory sure wasn't funny back then but tonight after a few bottles of wine suddenly everything was hysterical.
Kio's Mom: "What's so funny? What am I missing?"
You guys can't help but laugh even harder as his dad pipes up: "Oh you know these kids... they were always up to something and in on it together."
They laughed and smiled at the memory of when their kids were still young and living at home and a close family. They excused themselves for bed just as Riley came back with another bottle of wine.
Amelie: "More wine?? You know what that means... Truth or Dare time."
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After several rounds, you'd managed to evade any questions about you and Kio until Avani's turn: "Ok, Kio. You're grown now... I gotta know. Who was the girl you were sneaking around with in high school? I never ratted you out but I'm dying to know."
You: *trying to divert attention* "Oh come on... Kio never had time for girls in high school."
Kio: *winking at you where only you saw* "I did just fine in high school. Besides... didn't you have a secret boyfriend around the same time?"
You: *getting nervous* "Absolutely not. Noah then Bryce... then single until Tayler."
Amelie: "I call bull. The last week you stayed with me before your move you snuck out 3x with some guy and the night before I heard you sneak him into the guest room."
Your face turned bright red as you tried to cover it. Blake and Avani both burst into laughter as he suggested: "Oh my God... were you hooking up with Noah again then or Bryce?"
Riley: "Yeah, who was it?"
Kio: *saving you* "Well we know it wasn't Bryce because Riley, you were too busy sleeping with him."
She was too drunk to even be able to get mad as everyone including her fell over with laughter. After everyone pulled themselves together and started cleaning up the mess, Riley yawned: "Sophia is gonna wake up so early. Kio, just sleep in my room and I'll crash with Sophia."
Amelie excuses herself to go home with Blake. Avani and Anthony are staying at his parent's house and start to gather their jackets too.
Avani: *to you* "We are gonna uber since we both drank, but you can just crash on the couch, and tomorrow when I come back for the car we can have breakfast."
She looked at Kio like she was waiting for him to go upstairs before she left. You weren't sure if it was to keep you two apart or because she wanted to talk... or both. After you were alone she asked if everything was okay with Tayler. You reassured her you just stayed for a little extra time for your dad and to help Amelie, but everything was fine.
