Episode 996: Lights Camera Action

“It’ll be good, I promise,” Sebastian said. “And you look beautiful. You’re always beautiful no matter what you’re wearing.”

But, Sebastian figured it couldn’t hurt if it didn’t look as though she’d put in any effort for their visitors. If a certain someone didn’t get the idea that she’d dressed up to see him, didn’t think a night with him was anything special to her, all the better.

“This is going to take away one of the big stresses of your life, about us, or well, actually, about me.”

“I don’t understand literally anything that’s anything that’s going on right now, I-” Avalon stopped talking the moment Sebastian opened the door and instantly she became more confused.

She wasn’t that confused about his sister and brother-in-law, obviously there were fences to mend so inviting them to dinner did make sense if you ignored the part where Sebastian wasn’t prone to being the bigger person, the one who reached out to apologize first. But the other person at the door? Well, two other people, but the one in particular, the invitation to him required Sebastian to be beyond the bigger person. Or did it? He might have an angle.

She hated thinking that about her husband, that he was conniving, but he did have that side to him, it ran rampant through his family tree. What was this? What was going on? The very best of her husband? Or the very worst?

After the awkward greetings all around, the removal of shoes, the taking of coats, Avalon couldn’t take it a minute longer and opted to directly address the situation.

“So, I don’t know about the rest of you,” she said, “maybe I’m the only one in the dark in my own home, but I don’t know what this is. I didn’t know any of you were coming and more importantly, I don’t know why you’re here.”

“I want it to be a surprise,” Sebastian repeated.

“Pro husband tip,” Quentin said. “Don’t surprise the wife with a dinner party, especially not a dinner party with her ex.”

“This doesn’t seem like the best time, maybe we should leave,” The woman next to Xavier offered, clasping hands with him. His date. Xavier was this woman’s date. Xavier at Sebastian’s request had brought a date to Xavier and his date to their home. Huh. And this was supposed to alleviate stress?

Episode 997: Still