Deacon hadn’t been interested in anyone beside the two people he’d been with, but he didn’t say that. He shouldn’t have to explain that, shouldn’t have to discuss those things with his own family.
His dad continued, “I didn’t see this coming, so I’m workin’ my way through it. Maybe that’s the wrong thing to say, but it’s how I feel. Most of that is because I don’t want life to be any harder on you than it already is. You’re now a Black, gay man. It don’t matter if being gay isn’t how you identify; that’s how the world is gonna see you. That means certain things will be tougher on you. It’s a sad fact of life. Regardless of that, you’re my son and I love you. That won’t change, and if I hear anyone say anything that pisses me off, they’re gonna have me to deal with. No one messes with my family.”
Deacon opened his mouth, closed it, tried to find words, but he didn’t know what to say.
While it wasn’t perfect, while his dad had his own issues to unpack, Deacon knew he was lucky. Nathan wouldn’t have had this. Grady hadn’t had this.
“Thanks, Pop.” It was simple, but it was enough. His family wouldn’t need more. “I care about him a lot. I got all this shit in my head—worry about how you all would take it, what people are saying, fear that I’m gonna lose him like I did Patty.” Deacon frowned at that. He hadn’t known he felt it until the words fell from his lips. What if Grady decided this wasn’t where he wanted to be? What if he realized his feelings weren’t as strong as Deacon’s and he wanted something more?
“Oh, baby.” His mom got up, went to him, and hugged him. “I know what happened with Patricia was a tragedy, but that doesn’t mean anything will happen with you and Grady. We never know what’s going to happen; that’s why you have to follow your heart and hold on to your happiness while you can.”
She always helped. Somehow, she always made things better. “I’m trying.”
“When do we get to meet this man of yours?” Tasha asked. He couldn’t keep his gaze from shooting to his dad, who didn’t react.
“Christmas, of course,” Mama replied. “I expect you both to come. No arguments.”
Deacon chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”
They talked for a little longer, and while he felt better, there was still a bit of an ache in his chest. He hated that any of this had been something he’d had to worry about at all.
When he got home, Grady’s car was already there. It was such a small thing, but it made him smile.
He got out just as Moose ran around the side of the house, stumbled over his legs, rolled, got back up, and ran again. “You big, goofy pup.” Deacon knelt and petted him.
When Grady reached him, Deacon looked up at him, and Grady asked, “How was your day?”
“Good.” He stood. “Though we’ve got the whole town talking.”
“Whole county, I’m pretty sure. I was at Mama Adaline’s earlier.”
He waited for that to bother him, but standing there with Grady, it didn’t. “Can’t believe I haven’t taken you there yet.”
“Yeah, I’m actually kind of pissed about it. Roe and Holden were shocked.”
“I’ll do better.”
“You okay, Deke? With everything?”
“I am. People can say what they want. Don’t matter to me. I just want us to be happy.”
“I am happy.” Grady smiled so big; it warmed Deacon’s chest.
“Me too.” Deacon leaned in and pressed a slow kiss to Grady’s lips.
“We got invited to the Covingtons’ for Christmas. We don’t have to go. I’ll be good just staying here with you, or going to your granny’s, or staying home alone if that’s better, but I wanted to let you know.”
“That sounds great and all, and we can go if that’s what you want, though my mama’s gonna be pissed at you if we don’t go to Granny’s. I just left there—talked to my parents and my siblings about you. They want to meet you.”
He let out a big umpf when Grady’s arms wrapped around him, when he picked Deacon up off the ground, hugging him. “Jesus Christ. You don’t know how happy I am to hear that. I’ve been scared to death you would lose people you care about because of me.”
But he hadn’t. Deacon just had another person to love…one he hoped loved him in return.
Chapter 25
Grady
Grady was nervous as shit.
That saying didn’t make a damn bit of sense. All he knew was he was freaking out because he was about to spend Christmas with Deacon’s family.
“You good?” Deke asked as he made the drive, Grady in the passenger seat beside him.
“Yeah, I just…” He wanted this to be okay. He was thirty-eight years old, and he’d never done this with someone he was seeing. He’d met family here and there, but he’d never spent a holiday with them, never wanted to be in their lives and for them to like him the way he did with Deacon’s. Plus, he wanted this to be okay for Deke too. He was taking a huge step, bringing Grady home, and that didn’t count what he was going through with Patricia’s family. “I just want it to go well,” he settled on saying. Family was important to Deacon, as they should be. What would happen if they didn’t approve? Grady sure wouldn’t let Deacon lose them the way he’d lost his own. He’d walk away first.