Page 29 of A Case of You
Brandon dropped him a wink before returning to the kitchen to help.
All right, so that helped boost his mood.
Alot.
It also kept him from sinking into a funk when Brandon’s family arrived and were about as interesting to talk to as a piece of dryer lint stuck to a sweater.
He even gave Tracey all due credit for hamming it up and doing her level best to put on a good show for Brandon’s family with him and Stuart. He guessed her thought process was that if she showed that she was good with the men’s relationship, maybe it would help her ex-in-laws loosen up.
She got anAfor effort, but it didn’t do a whole heck of a lot.
Brandon’s family—the adults, since the kids behaved like normal kids—still acted stiff and polite, but not necessarily eager to reach out and be more…friendly.
Jeff had wondered how they’d react to Calvin and already had agreement from Brandon that they’d kick them out if they so much as blinked wrong at Iris’ black boyfriend. But if anything, they acted a little warmer to Calvin than they did toward Jeff and Stuart.
Hell, they acted friendlier toward Tracey than they did to him and Stuart, despite Tracey going out of her way to try to smooth things over and show how close she was to the two men.
Jeff silently fumed, understanding it wasn’t a problem with him and Stu, it was a problem with Brandon’s family.
Still, it stung.
It also provided valuable insight into why Brandon had felt such immense pressure to not come out sooner.
Jeff now understood why Brandon had suggested to Emma and Grace they not come out to his family quite yet, unless they were absolutely prepared to face the potential fallout.
When everyone else had left, and it was down to Emma, Grace, and Tracey preparing for their drive over to Orlando, Emma hugged him, holding back so she didn’t hurt him.
“Igetit,” she mumbled against Jeff’s shoulder.
“Get what?”
“Why Dad and Mom said it would be better to not tell Grandma and Grandpa Z and all of them about me and Grace.” She looked up at him. “I really feel bad for Stu now,” she whispered. “I wish I could go with them and punch anyone who picks on Stu.”
He smiled. “That’s sweet, kiddo, but let them handle it. They’re adults.”
“Did I tell you I love your mom and dad? I meanlovethem. I’m not just calling them Grandma and Grandpa for fun.”
“I could tell. They love you, too. And I love you.”
“Thanks for being my dad.”
Jeff blinked back tears. “Thanks for accepting me. And Stu.” He nodded toward the kitchen, where Stuart and Tracey were playing Tetris with plastic leftover containers in the fridge. “Maybe make sure you tell him that, too, huh? He tends to forget how much he’s loved.”
She gave him a peck on the cheek and headed into the kitchen to do just that.
Grace stepped over, leaning in conspiratorially. “You know I’m running out of names for you guys, right?”
“What?”
“Well, my own is Dad. Then Mr. Ziegler is Pop. I can’t call him Brandon. I don’t feel right calling you and Stu by your first names, and if I call you all Pop, or Dad, or whatever, no one will know who the heck I mean. And I love all three of you like dads.”
He opened his arms for a hug. “I love you, too, kiddo. Even if you do scare me a little.”
“Was it the growling that day at the swim meet? It was the growling, wasn’t it? It’s always the growling.”
He laughed as a playful smile filled her face. He held up his thumb and index finger, nearly touching. “Just a little. But that’s okay. You fit right in here.”
* * * *
