Chapter 10 December
Chapter ten
December
The proverbial shoe was going to drop. Right? Or an anvil? That’s what I expected since that’s how my life had been going. Instead, things were getting better, and I had a hard time trusting that.
We were almost finished with the fundraiser.
I’d done a ton of promotions, Vince had personally reached out to a lot of new people, and the event was coming up soon.
We had enough RSVPs already to show it would be a great turnout, and even better, those who weren’t going to be there were still donating. Win-win!
But Daddy’s best friend would be there. He was coming early to spend time with Vince. Meeting him had my stomach in knots. If he didn’t like me…
I squashed that thought.
I got cleaned up and ready to go. And headed over to Daddy’s house. Despite my brain reassuring my anxiety that it would be fine, my tummy was still queasy when I opened the door. “Vince?”
“Upstairs, Joey.” Vince’s deep voice floated down from the upper level.
I took a deep breath and went up. At the top, he grabbed me, pulling me into a nice, warm, and tight hug. “Mmm…” I nuzzled against his solid pecks. This was rapidly becoming my favorite place—even better than my closet.
“Meet Grant.” He kissed the top of my head before turning me to face the game room.
His friend stood there, leaning his butt against the pool table.
I would have known him without Daddy Vince introducing him, because he looked exactly like his picture, with his charming boy-next-door looks and unruly mop of blond curls.
Vince had more than a few pictures of them up around the house, making it obvious that they were as close as brothers.
Grant smiled, his dark blue eyes sparkling with mirth, and extended his hand.
I shook it and smiled back. “Hi.”
“Nice to finally meet you. Vince has told me a lot about you.”
“Not bad, I hope.”
“No. Actually, surprisingly good. For once, seems as if my man Vincent has some taste.” He slung an arm around Vince’s shoulder.
“Well. That’s all super interesting but Daddy has said next to nothing about you.” When I realized I’d called him daddy, I slapped my hand over my mouth and looked at Vince with wide eyes. Had I screwed up?
Grant snorted. “Don’t worry about that, man. I always suspected this guy had a well…less than straight side.” He laughed again, shaking Vince’s shoulders. Vince’s face turned pink, and he flipped Grant the birdie finger as he pulled away.
“I was just kicking Grant’s ass in pool.” He cleared his throat and pointed to the table, obviously to change the subject.
But Grant was having none of that. He threw his arm over my shoulders next, and winked at me, slyly. “Guess this means I’m Uncle Grant to you, right?”
“Oh dear God.” Vince covered his face with one hand.
Grant’s teasing fit my evil streak, though. And my internal little was eating this up. “Unca Grant! Yeah. Is Daddy really beating you?”
“Nope. Your daddy lies.”
Vince glared at Grant. “No. Stop this right now.” He motioned between Grant and me. Of course, I pouted, pushing that bottom lip out hard. “Nope. You’re earning a spanking—fuck!” I busted out laughing when Vince realized what he’d said and turned away.
“Ah…relax, man. We’re just fuckin’ with you. Come on.” Grant grabbed Vince before he could disappear into his bedroom. “Let’s finish this game. I’ll grab you a beer while you take your shot. Joey? Would you like anything to drink?”
Grant still had mischief in his eyes but seemed hesitant to push too far. My little retreated. “Sure. Beer is fine.” Look at me being all adult-like.
With a nod, he opened the drink fridge, but Vince didn’t take his shot. He set the cue on the table and grabbed me instead. He kissed the top of my head. “Don’t let him drag you into his shenanigans. I should have warned you about that.”
“It’s okay. I’ll be good.” I could see Grant’s teasing came from a loving place as mine did. But more importantly, Grant and I were getting along just fine. Yay!
After they finished their game, we set up lunch. Vince had ordered in, and we spread the food out buffet style on the dry bar. Grant popped open a bottle of champagne with it. “It’s brunch, right? That’s a Florida thing? Right?”
“I don’t know if it’s Florida so much, but okay.” I grabbed a glass, sticking it out to be filled with bubbly. “It’s better than beer.”
Grant poured orange juice into his first for a mimosa. “Ah…” he said, after sipping some. “Vince?” He gestured to the drinks.
“Why not?”
Excited about the upcoming charity event, we chatted about it as we ate. Grant lifted his glass. “Here’s to Joey. I feel like this year, we have something special.”
“Thanks. But really, you know, it’s what I do.” I tinked my glass against Grant’s and Vince’s before taking a good sip. This was too good to be true, wasn’t it?
“Hey.” Vince reached over and tugged my lip out from between my teeth. “Ease up on that. I’m going to want it later.”
“Gross.” Grant softened the word with a laugh, which grew louder when Vince glared at him.
I simply shook my head. It was easy to see that these guys had been friends for a long time.
It didn’t seem like my relationship with Vince was going to get between them, either.
That had been my biggest fear, but Grant seemed cool with it.
I hoped I was right. I did not want to give my daddy up, now that I had him.
The nervous energy had my Joey bouncing around like a ping pong ball.
I put my hand on the back of his neck, and he nearly instantly calmed.
“Relax, baby.” I breathed into his ear. “Everything is perfect, and if it wasn’t, nothing else can be done now.
” And honestly, that wasn’t a lie. The place was beautiful, a winter wonderland in the middle of Tampa, Florida.
The base for everything was white, from tablecloths to chairs to draperies, but layered on top was the green of holly and evergreen boughs with pops of red poinsettias throughout.
The décor hung from walls and draped over tables in an elegant display.
The people who had already arrived were dressed in their finest and mingling socially.
Taking Joey’s hand, we moved together through the gathering crowd.
For the most part, everyone here knew I was seeing a man, since we’d talked and met before the event, but I didn’t care about anyone who didn’t know or had an issue with it anyway.
This was me. Who I’d always been, whether I hid it or let that light burn bright, it was no one else’s business.
We might have only been together for a few months, but I was all in with him and proud to show him off to the world.
And it would be the world because we had cameras pointed at us and video coverage galore.
We greeted Hudson and Levi, who looked stunning in matching tuxedos with baby blue cummerbunds and bow ties. Levi hugged Joey. “This is incredible. Fantastic job.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it. Come talk to me.” Levi led Joey away, and I heard him saying something about play dates before they were out of earshot.
“Those two are cute together.” Hudson bumped into my shoulder.
“They are. Have to thank you for getting me involved with Afterglow. Joey is wonderful.”
Hudson winked. “Happy to have helped both of you, but it was such a small thing. Come on, let’s get a drink.”
We made our way over to the open bar and ordered whiskey on the rocks and were soon joined by Drew King and his partner, a quiet, stunning man with long flowing hair.
Ward Predmore and his partner, Jax Hoadley, were with them.
These were a few of the major financial players in Tampa. I greeted them and handed them drinks.
“Next year, you should do this on one of our yachts.” Jax smiled brightly, and his eyes, one a piercing green and the other only half green mixed with brown, stood out like a beacon.
“I’ll waive the rental fees, providing the vessel for only expenses, like fuel.
” The slim blond waved his hand before grabbing Ward’s.
“That’s an incredible offer.” Jax owned a luxury yacht rental business, and I made a mental note of it.
Jax bounced on the balls of his feet. “It would be so fun decorating it.”
“Settle down, Pup.” Ward wrapped his arm around Jax’s shoulders and left me wondering about his endearment. Pup? That was new.
The rest of the conversation was interrupted by Grant rushing over with a scowl on his face. “You need to come right now. Some guy is harassing Joey.”
He took off, knowing I’d follow, but I hadn’t expected Ward, Drew, and their partners to follow as well.
Near the front of the room by the stage, someone was leaned over Joey, trapping him between the back wall and the huge speaker.
If Joey backed up into it any farther, it might come crashing down on him.
“Hey!” I shouted twice before getting to the guy and yanking him back by the shoulder.
My first instinct was to check that Joey was okay, but the fright on his face said he wasn’t.
I was pissed and turned toward the guy who’d boxed him in at the exact time the guy took a swing, and I stepped into it. “Fuck!”
Drew grabbed the guy from behind, and Ward assisted, walking him out of the event. He was screaming, “I paid to be here,” the entire way out.
While I wanted to follow and get my own licks in, I didn’t. Joey was crying, and I couldn’t have that. I wrapped him up in my arms and he sobbed, “I’m sorry,” against my chest.
“Sorry? Baby, you have nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one who’s sorry.”
“What for?”
“I should have been with you.”
Joey snorted. “We needed to be doing different things. I had no idea Brian would be here. Hell, didn’t know he could afford a ticket.”
“Brian?”
He nodded. “He used to have a membership at Afterglow.”
That was when Braxton walked up. “Before I revoked it for harassing Joey.”