Page 70 of Soft
Everythingwas a big ask. How much time did they have and did they want to get snacks before I started?
I didn’t say any of that, of course. No need to encourage their already bratty moods.
"Good," I told them. "All of it has come together nicely. The house is good. Pops's—you know how he is. He's already found his favorite food place, and he’s made a few friends in the short time we’ve been here. I think he might actually be more at home in Bellport than I am."
"That tracks! Your pops is the most immediately likeable person ever.” Fisher’s words were met with varying levels of agreement.
"Don't tell him that. He'll never be humble again. None of you have to live with the man."
Doyle, who had seemed even more excited than usual, finally couldn't hold back anymore. "Okay, but youlikeit there. You actually like it. I can tell. You look different."
"I look the same."
"You looklooser.Right?" He waved to the others. "He looks looser. I’m not the only one seeing this"
"He does," Princess Aster agreed.
Fisher, Ean, and Byron all nodded, while the Daddies I could see on screen sent smug looks my way. They were eating this up.Assholes.
"I look like I'm sitting on a porch. Because I am. Nothing significantly changed."
"You look happy," Doyle ended my protests with three little words. How could I argue with that? I was happy.
His face shifted, the teasing fading into the background for a moment as vulnerability came forward. "We miss you. The Princess Pack misses you."
"I miss y’all too."
“Y’all??!! Who else heard that? He’s even getting an accent. OMG! This is amazing.” Princess Gracie babbled happily for a second before their line went quiet. Shiloh, who’d been behind his boy, had reached forward to mute them.
"Okay. Okay, I have something to tell you, but I want you to know that we talked about it and we all agreed, so this is a group decision, not a Doyle decision," my best friend announced.
The others made noise suggesting they agreed to this. Whether it be by choice or force was unknown.
"Now I’m concerned. Tell me you haven’t done anything to land yourself in trouble.”
"It’s the opposite actually.” Doyle’s grin widened. “We're coming to visit."
I waited a moment to see if he’d elaborate. That sentence could mean anything really.
"Bellport. We’re visiting Bellport. Daddy and I. We booked it. It's already done."
I looked at the screen for a moment. Then I said, "When?"
"Soon."
"Doyle," I growled.
"Ugh! Fine. It’s this weekend."
I set my coffee down on the arm of the chair. "This weekend? As in two days from now?"
"We wanted to surprise you, but Daddy said that was rude and that you'd want to actually prepare. I think it undersells how good surprises can be, but he said we had to or I wouldn’t get a sweet treat."
"Pierce is correct, I definitely needed the heads up."
"See, that's—" Doyle turned to look off-screen "—he said you're correct, are you happy?"
Pierce's voice came through, full of amusement. "Tell him I said hi."
