all of your crew—and if you were okay with it, I’d like to invite my family so they could meet you.”
Butterflies soared and fluttered in my belly. Had he meant to say “our” backyard? And he wanted to introduce me to his family? I’d never been with anyone long enough to have things be “ours,” let alone meet the parents. It was new to me, and despite being thirty-three, I suddenly felt like I was young and inexperienced. But I also couldn’t think of anything better.
“That would b-be nice,” I said, leaning over to kiss Gordo lightly.
We strung lights all over the backyard to keep the night at bay. Giuliana was too excited by all of the hubbub to go to bed, and that was fine with me. Gordo had handed her off to me so I could introduce her to the crew while he worked the grill. The French back doors of Gordo’s house were open, and people moved freely between the balmy backyard and the air-conditioned kitchen.
“She’s beautiful,” Reagan said, tickling Giuliana’s chin. Man, the guy was such a fucking teddy bear. It was just one of the many things I loved about him.
“She takes after her dad,” I said, glancing over at Gordo. He was in an old band t-shirt, making him appear way more laidback and hardcore than his usual clean-cut wardrobe.
It made me smile, knowing he was trying to look cool for my crew. As if they cared about something as silly as how he dressed. Not that I minded… the black fabric looked good against his tanned skin, and the low-slung jeans he was sporting made me excited for later, when I’d get to strip them off.
“Dane texted. He’s coming, just running late,” Trinity chimed in.
She was in a tank top and her hair had been recolored for fall: it was now an ombre tangle of reds and oranges. It looked amazing, and when they filmed us, she was going to shine, and she deserved a bit of a spotlight, being able to put up with all of the testosterone in the shop. Although she often remarked on how working with a bunch of guys who shared her love for men just made it fun.
“He and Christian are probably making out in a feverish heat somewhere,” I joked.
“I don’t think so,” Reagan said. He pointed to some new people coming through the back doors. “Isn’t that Christian over there?”
Sure enough, Christian was walking in with a tall man and woman. The man and woman were holding hands, and I recognized the guy from the fateful puke-night at the bar. He shared so many facial features with Gordo that I knew he must be Mason.
“Huh,” I said, curious about where Dane was if he wasn’t with Christian. “Well, the mystery’s going to have to wait. I’m going to go meet Gordo’s family.”
I headed over to Gordo, who was now talking with Christian and the couple. Gordo beamed as I stepped close, throwing an arm over my shoulder and giving Giuliana’s head a tender pat. “Mason, Dana, this is my boyfriend, Javi.”
Mason was smiling, and he didn’t reach to shake my extended hand. Instead, he pulled me into a hug, careful not to crush the baby in my arms.
“Apparently Gordo’s vomit has aphrodisiac qualities,” he teased.
“God, no one is ever going to let that go,” Gordo said with faux-despair.
“Oh, hell, no,” Mason replied. “Would you? That moment was pure gold. Hey, Mom’s in the kitchen getting some iced tea.”
Mason stepped back, and Dana reached out and hugged me as well. There was so much touching happening. As a kid, I’d lived a life of handshakes and high fives on good days, slaps and punches on the bad ones. Since meeting Dane and working for Reagan, it had been mostly good days, but nothing like life with Gordo.
Gordo was a toucher. He wanted hugs, and holding hands, and arms around waists. And now his family, who didn’t even know me, were embracing me like I belonged.
My throat constricted, and I worried the stutter would take over if I had to talk. Only this time it wasn’t due to stress or anxiety. There were simply too many good emotions at once, and it was simultaneously lovely and terrifying.
“We’re so happy to meet you, Javi,” Dana said. “You’re far better-looking in person than the picture Gordo tried to paint. And I believe he described you as ‘fucking gorgeous’.”
She winked at Gordo, who was turning a beautiful shade of pink.