Page 179 of The Influencer

Gideon’s pale blue eyes narrow, and he shakes his head. “You were lonely. I think I forgot what it looked like. Sorry if I was a jackass.”

I grin to myself as Jade accepts Gideon’s long-overdue apology. Jax comes up behind Gideon, wraps his arms around him and rests his chin on top of Gideon’s head. “Bourbon, please.”

Adam and Sawyer may fuck like rabbits, but Jax takes possessiveness to a new level. His hands and eyes rarely leave Gideon for more than a few seconds.

Gideon leans into his husband’s arms and accepts a soft kiss on his cheek. Jade gives me a wink and takes the martini I pour him with four skewered olives, just the way he likes it.

Adam, Elio, and Vince shuttle an army’s worth of food from the kitchen to the dining table. Race and I finish up the drinks, open some wine and some sparkling water bottles, and set them along the table runner between steaming dishes of some of the best-smelling food ever served. My brother is quite a chef, and Elio’s no slouch either. Manicotti, turkey, sausage dressing, fluffy mashed potatoes, salad, and various other dishes I can’t wait to try fill every spare inch of the long table once they’re all set out.

I pat my brother on the back and congratulate him in advance on a job very well done.

Elio sits at one end of the table with Vince on his right and Race on his left. I take the spot next to Race, and Jade sits next to me. Across from us are Adam and Sawyer, and then Gideon crams into the corner next to Jax at the other end. I put my hand on Jade’s thigh and squeeze. He turns and gives me a sweet smile.

“Who’s first?” Adam asks the group.

I look over at him, confused.

Sawyer catches my glance. “We just all say what we’re thankful for. I’ll start. And since we went counterclockwise last year, we’ll go clockwise this time.”

Next to him, Gideon mutters to Jax, “How does he remember this shit?”

Jax rests a hand on the back of Gideon’s neck and shrugs.

Sawyer holds up his glass of tonic. He looks at Adam and then the rest of us. “This year, once again, I’m thankful for amazing friends. For the most beautiful husband, and for Adam finally being a free agent. Also—for my number one client and my very best friend,” he nods in Gideon’s direction. “Thanks for sticking with me.”

“You’re welcome,” Gideon says with a smirk.

“Cheers,” Sawyer says. Everyone raises their glasses, makes sure to clink with each and every one, and then turns their attention to my brother who raises his glass again.

Adam is glowing, and it isn’t the first time I’ve noticed it. Like, for the first time in his life he doesn’t have a single thing to be sad about. My heart swells, and I brace myself because I don’t want to cry, and I feel like I might.

“This year,” he begins, “like last year and the one before it, I’m thankful for my sobriety. May it continue for the rest of my damn life. Obviously, I’m beyond grateful to my husband and my first amazing year being a Townsend, of the LA Townsends.” He smiles and everyone chuckles. “But I’m especially grateful today to have my brother here.”

My throat closes. It’s starting. I’m getting choked up.

Adam’s gaze shifts to the beautiful man on my left. “And that’s because of you, Jade. So Jade Sloane, this year, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me my brother back. And I’m excited to be getting a newer cuter little brother in the very near future.”

I look from Adam to Jade whose eyes are welling up. He takes a shaky breath and holds up his glass. “Cheers to that,” he says brightly.

Love hits me so fucking hard right then, I’m amazed I keep my seat. I swipe at my wet eyes and raise my glass for the toast.

After the clinking, it’s Vince’s turn. He begins with a wide smile. “Not everybody knows this, but I’m going to be an uncle soon…”

“No!” Gideon says. “Stasia?”

Vince beams with pride. “She and Giselle are expecting in February, so I’m super grateful for that. Also, ESPN renewed my contract, thank God, so I still have an excuse to talk about baseball all the time. Also, I’m extremely grateful to Sawyer for not trading Race to Minnesota and therefore not having to make me commit my first murder.”

Sawyer and Adam laugh.

“And obviously these guys who keep me warm, well-fucked, and sane. Love you both,” he says to Elio and Race.

“Love you, tesoro,” Elio leans in and kisses his cheek.

Race smiles at Vince from across the table. “Love you, too.”

Elio is next and raises his wine glass with his tattooed hand. He takes a full breath and then lets it out, tipping his head toward Vince. “What he said.”

“Not a chance,” Jax says from the opposite end of the table. “We suffer, you suffer. It’s tradition.”

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