Legendary Daddy by Mia Monroe (each kindness read aloud txt) 📕

“Finn. Sorry for your loss.”

“Thanks, Mike. I’m happy Bentley’s here and to be hanging out with you guys.”

“We are too. Bentley.” He nods, showing a distinct lack of affection compared to his mother, but I guess he’s a stepfather so that makes sense.

“Hey.” Bentley slides his hands in his front pockets. “Uh, this is Legend. My boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend,” his stepdad repeats, studying my face. He extends his hand. “Pleasure. Mike Thompson.”

“Nice to meet you, sir.”

He scoffs. “Sir. Seems odd coming from someone my age.”

“He’s not your age, Mike,” Bentley snaps. “Don’t start.”

Bentley’s assertion startles me.

His stepdad gives a curt nod. “Drinks?”

“I’ll get them,” Margie says.

As I watch her in a flurry of activity in the kitchen, doting on her husband’s needs and requests, Bentley’s service kink starts to make sense. I bet this is what he saw modeled growing up. Even though he doesn’t defer to his stepdad, he must have unconsciously decided that love means service.

Shortly after, we sit at the dining table as Bentley’s mom brings out a platter of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. It’s an all-American meal.

“So, Legend,” Margie says once we begin eating. “Are your parents alive?”

I nearly laugh. How old do they think I am? “Very much so. They are in their early sixties.”

“Married?” she asks.

“My parents?” I nod. “Yeah.”

“And what does your father do?” Bentley’s stepdad asks.

“He owns an accounting firm.”

“Interesting,” Margie says, cutting her meatloaf. “And your mother?”

“Retired teacher. Now she spends her time perfecting her vegetable garden.”

“Sounds like a nice upbringing,” Margie notes.

“The best. My parents are amazing people. They always encouraged me to be myself and live life on my terms. They gave me the space to do that.”

“Like dating men half your age?” Mike snips.

Finn’s eyes go wide, and while I think of something to say, Bentley squeezes my thigh.

“You’re not ruining this trip for me. I will tell you both right now how this is going to go. We’re going to have a nice dinner, and you’re going to be polite and respectful to Legend because he’s my choice. If life is kind, we’ll be spending our lives together. So you can accept it, or you can plan on not seeing very much of me.”

Silence falls over the room. Mike’s jaw twitches while his mother just looks nervous.

“Why am I rude and disrespectful for wanting to understand what a man in his forties wants with my stepson?”

Bentley rolls his eyes. “Give me a break, Mike. There are nice ways to ask these questions and rude ways. I’m also not a child. I’m damn near thirty myself.”

He steeples his fingers. “Fair point.”

Bentley and Finn go back to eating, but I’m not able to.

“He’s amazing,” I begin, drawing the attention of everyone. “Bentley is the brightest star in the night sky. He’s a cool ocean breeze on a hot day. He’s the elixir for a wounded heart.”

Bentley’s mouth falls open.

“His enthusiasm for life is infectious. His smile is a salve for all of life’s cuts and bruises. He’s a force of nature. Unbelievably talented. Obviously stunning. He brings me unbridled joy from just being near him. There isn’t anything about Bentley that I don’t admire and treasure. I chose him, and if life is kind, he’s the last choice I’ll ever make. I don’t care what anyone thinks about our differences, whether that be age, class, or upbringing. We click. We get it. That’s all we need.”

His mother looks stunned while his stepdad gazes at me with a critical eye. “So our opinion and blessing mean nothing to you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it means something to Bentley, but we’re adults, capable of making decisions on who to love and spend our lives with. If my parents asked me to choose, it would make me sad, but I wouldn’t flinch as I chose Bentley. I hope he would make the same choice for me.”

“Legend,” Bentley whispers.

I lift his hand and kiss the back of it.

“Fine,” Mike says. “You obviously care about him, which is all that matters to us. I wasn’t trying to be rude.”

“It was hard for us,” Margie says softly. “Letting him go to California all alone. We worried people would take advantage of him.”

“He’s stronger than you think, but I’m here now, and I will never let anything happen to him that I have the power to prevent. He’s…” I exhale as I’m hit with a brick wall of emotion. “Precious. He’s precious to me.”

“That’s comforting,” Margie says.

“Thank you, Legend,” Mike says. “It is comforting.”

Bentley hasn’t spoken, but his cheeks are stained pink. He offers a slight smile, then looks to his plate and begins eating again.

The conversation turns toward updates about people around his hometown, questions for Finn, and then to Bentley’s production company.

“It’s coming along,” he says. “Looking for good scripts right now.”

“And what do you do for work, Legend?” Margie asks.

“Actor, but Bentley and I met at a film production convention. I’m interested in the behind-the-scenes as well. Learning a lot from Bentley.”

“Oh, maybe we’ll get to see you walk the red carpet at a Hollywood premier someday,” she gushes.

Finn, Bentley, and I exchange knowing glances.

“Maybe,” Bentley agrees.

After dinner and goodbyes, we’re in the car on the way back to Finn’s apartment. Bentley is still quiet as he makes plans with Finn for how soon he can come to California. We’ve agreed to go to his place tomorrow to help him pack. Then Finn will pick up his dad’s ashes and hop on a plane with us.

Once we drop him off, and we’re back in the hotel, I kick off my shoes. When I look up, Bentley walks into my arms. I hold him close, kissing the top of his head.

“Is something wrong?” I ask.

“No.” He steps back enough to meet my eyes. “Everything is right. Thank you for what you said to my folks. For the record, if I had to choose them or you, it would be you. I hope this means you’re keeping me.” He laughs softly.

“It does.”