Page 180 of The Influencer

Elio grins. “I really am glad Race didn’t get traded, though. I was having chest pains most of July.”

Race reaches out and musses Elio’s hair. The older man gives the blond beauty a shy smile and actually blushes. Their dynamic mystifies me, still, but maybe one day I’ll figure out how they make it all work.

“I’m thankful baseball season’s over,” Elio adds. “And that Stasia and the baby are staying healthy. I’m also excited about my new website featuring men only content.”

“Bravo! Finally!” Gideon says.

“And I’m grateful all of you came out again. Your friendship means the world to me. You all know this. Asher and Jade, congratulations, and welcome to the family.”

I nod. “Cheers.”

When we move onto Race, he looks everyone over before speaking. “It’s been another wild year, huh? First off, I’m grateful to be back here in my favorite place with my favorite people.” He smiles. “I’m also grateful for my season batting average and my RBIs. Also not being traded. And I’m really grateful Elio didn’t have a fucking heart attack while I was in Florida, but I’m glad Vince was there to take him to get checked out. Which also makes me grateful for Klonopin.”

Elio puts his face in his hand and laughs. Honestly, I think he’s been hitting the wine pretty hard in the kitchen during the cooking process. Race rubs his back and finishes with, “I’m thankful for my amazing partners, my family back home always supporting me no matter what crazy shit I do, and for all you guys. Happy Thanksgiving.”

“Cheers,” Vince says, winking at his partner.

Fuck, now it’s my turn. I raise my glass and wing it. I’ve been so focused on what everyone else was saying, I didn’t even think to prepare anything. Public speaking has never been my thing, but I’m slowly warming up to the idea that I’m among friends here.

I start at the beginning, hoping to eventually express what I’m actually feeling. “I feel like I haven’t had a lot to be thankful for in a long time other than my brother’s health and a healthy family back home. But this year’s been really different.” I look at Jade because just the sight of him grounds me in ways I’ve never experienced.

To him, I say, “I’m so fucking glad we met.” Then I turn to everyone at the table who had a hand in it—this miracle of mine. “Gideon, thank you for letting Jade stay in your guest house and bringing him with you to the shop that day. Adam, thanks for hooking up with your boss and introducing me to Gideon York. Sawyer thank you for tolerating Gideon York because I can’t imagine what he was like as a teenager.”

Gideon snorts and shares a look with Sawyer.

“But mostly, Jade, thank you for giving me a chance.” Our eyes meet again, and I nearly drown in the tenderness in his expression. “I love you. And I’m so thankful you stayed in LA, and that you keep saying yes when I ask the unreasonable things I ask. Thank you for being unapologetically you. You’re fucking amazing.”

Jade’s about to cry again, so I turn back to the table. “Oh, and thank you all for having us. Cheers.”

Jade waves his hand in front of his face. “Skip me, I can’t.”

“You have to,” Adam says. “Last year I was fucking sobbing, and I managed. You’ve got this.”

Jade’s hand shakes as he lifts his glass and takes an uneven breath. I squeeze his thigh. “I’m grateful for a lot,” he says. “Like a whole lot. Um… being invited here—I’ve never been invited to anything like this before. It might surprise you, but I don’t really fit in most places.” He lets out a self-deprecating laugh and my heart cracks. “But then I met Asher.”

Tears spill down his cheeks, and he laughs. “Fuck. Okay. I met him, and it just worked. We clicked. And I’m thankful he was persistent because I thought I wasn’t supposed to click with somebody like him. Someone kind and selfless. Someone who thought I was clever and smart even… I actually didn’t think someone like him existed. I’m thankful he loves me for me. That he’s so unreasonable in loving me. And I’m thankful you guys all seem to like him so much, too, because he’s really the best, right?”

“He is,” Adam says.

“Agreed,” Jax adds.

“Also thank you to the fans, the end.”

“Cheers,” Vince says.

As soon as the glasses start clinking, I turn Jade’s face my direction, don’t even attempt to wipe away the tears because I know they’ll keep coming, and press a kiss to his mouth. He leans in and touches my cheek. “I love you,” he whispers.

“Obviously.”

He smiles and pulls away, picking up his napkin to dab at his face while Jax keeps the gratitude train moving.

With his hand still firmly planted on Gideon’s neck, he says, “This year, I am thankful for the kindness and enthusiasm of all the people who paid ridiculous amounts of money to come worship at the feet of the one and only pop god, my husband, Gideon York. Lord Something or other.”

Gideon smiles at Jax, and it’s one of the rarer sights on planet earth, but a nice one.

“I’m also thankful to Asher for the sexy as fuck tattoo he’s putting on my man’s body. It’s dangerous work, my friend,” he says with a wink my way. “I’m usually the only one allowed to leave marks.”

“Jesus, Jax.” Gideon sinks lower in his seat.

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