Page 117 of Soft
I held the phone out to him. It was easier than trying to form words.
His eyes moved across the screen and then went back to the beginning. He was just as shocked as I was.
"Grizzly. Baby, what did you do?”
"It's done. You’ve got one of the biggest sponsorship deals the company has ever offered. This is huge, Daddy.” My voice came out confident, though a bit shaky. Happiness radiated through me in a way I didn’t usually experience with work projects.
This was more than work. It was me providing for my partner in a sense. He was the one playing his best, making the records that got attention. And I went around screaming his praises so others would pour into him as well.
Daddy took my face in both hands and pressed his forehead against mine. We didn’t need to say anything for our hearts to understand what was going on.
The paperwork had been weeks of back and forth, Auden and I on calls with Meridian's legal team, revisions and counter-revisions until it was worth figuring out. When I’d presented it to Daddy, I’d only told him it was a brand completely aligned with his values. He’d signed without even looking at the name. That’s how much he trusted me.
But standing on this porch with the executed contract in my inbox and Daddy's forehead against mine, I understood that the work had been in service of something larger than a contract. Meridian was notjusta sponsorship. Meridian was a statement. It was a company that had looked at Paxton Wells—queer, openly partnered, newly signed—and said yes because of who he was rather than despite it.
"We should go in," Daddy said, without moving.
"We should," I agreed.
Neither of us moved for another minute.
Then he pulled back and looked at me with the dimples showing and said, "I think we should walk in there and tell them the news. They’ll be so happy for us."
I didn’t respond directly. Instead, I knocked on the door
Mama Bellport opened it seconds later, which made me believe she’d been waiting for us to have our private moment on the porch. She was thoughtful that way, so it wasn’t a stretch.
I could never really prepare myself for the energy she emitted. As one of the only women in her family, and a powerful force in the community, Mama Bellport made everyone feel welcome no matter the time or place. She was what I imagined a mother should be like—not that I had any personal reference.
She looked at Paxton first. "There he is," she said with the warmth of a woman greeting someone she'd heard about for long enough to feel like you knew them already.
Then she looked at me.
"Grizzly,” she acknowledged me with a kind smile. It was like she knew I was the reason for our delayed arrival.
Next thing I knew, I was swept up in a hug. The emotional whiplash jarred me a bit; however, it didn’t stop me from returning her embrace.
"Come in, come in. They're already in the back making noise, which probably means Royce was teasing Kenneth, or Jake is telling outlandish stories again. My boy has an active imagination. Either way, it’s fine." She looked at Paxton again briefly. "You're taller in person."
"I get that a lot," he replied.
"I like it." She patted his arm once and moved down the hall. "Come eat. We made a ton of food. Also, Paxton, I hope you don’t mind, but I invited your father as well. He should be here soon.”
Paxton looked at me in the hallway. His eyes were bright. “That’s fine. Pops is always welcome. He’s family and family is important.”
Mama Bellport sighed. “Oh, yes. You two are perfect to join this horde of children I’ve amassed.”
"Okay?" Daddy asked when she turned to lead us to the dining room.
"Better than.” I gave him my biggest smile, then tugged his hand so we wouldn’t get left behind.
When we got to the room, it was only partially full of people. Considering the noises echoing from down the hall, it madesense. I couldn’t tell if I was happy to see more people or if my nerves were trying to return.
"GRIZZLY!" Jake shouted the minute he saw me. He was wearing an oversized shirt that saidProperty of the Bellport Bearswith jeans, and he looked genuinely delighted. He crossed the room and hugged me. "You actually came. I told Maddox you'd come, and he said not to get my hopes up, and I told him my hopes were already up.”
"Hello, Jake," Paxton said, interrupting his babbling.
“Hey, Paxi. Good to see you too. Mama went all out for dinner. I hope you’re hungry. Oh, and the whole gang is here. They’re just down in the lounge right now.”
