Page 75 of Habibi: Always and Forever

WEST GETS AN AWARD

WEST

“G ood morning, husband,” Anson says from beside me.

I open my eyes to see him leaning on his elbow, his hand resting on the mattress as he looks down at me.

The bed we lay in isn’t in our bedroom in Atlanta, but a hotel room in New York City.

Down the hall, Anson’s mom, Cheryl, has a room, as well as Elias and Carly—Anson’s brother and sister-in-law, and Jeremy and Darren, our best friends.

“Is it a good morning? I was sleeping peacefully until my mean husband decided to wake me up.”

He smiles down at me, and my breath catches. Despite the years we’ve been together, I still can’t believe that he’s mine, can’t believe that I deserve him and that he loves me just as fiercely as I love him.

“It’s the best morning.”

“Well, I guess any morning waking up beside me would be.”

He leans down and presses his lips to mine. It starts as a gentle kiss, a slow one, but it’s only seconds later that his tongue slips into my mouth, and I pull him on top of me. We’re both naked, Anson having taken me hard last night.

I’m stiff and I feel his cock rutting against me, telling me that he’s in the same state, but before this gets out of control, he pulls back. “Yes, every morning with you is the best morning, but this is also an extra special one because you’re being honored for the incredible man you are.”

“I am pretty fabulous.”

“I’m being serious, West.”

Reaching up, I cup his cheek and brush my fingers softly over the skin there.

“I know, bashful.” Because this man will always be my biggest fan, just like I’m his.

He will always lift me higher than I can ever fly without him.

And I wouldn’t be in this bed, in this city, about to accept an advocacy award for the work that You Belong, and You Belong Too—our LGBTQ centers—have accomplished, if it wasn’t for him either.

“I’m so proud of you.”

I let my guard down, the way I only do with him.

“I’m proud too. Not just of me—of all of us.

The work we do…it matters. It means something.

” I had gone into politics partially to make my dad happy—which never happened—but also to make a change, to help people.

My hands had been tied at every corner, and while things aren’t perfect in the advocacy work I do now, they’re a lot better.

I see the difference we make in people’s lives every single day at the centers.

“It does.” Anson presses his lips to mine again in another quick kiss. “Now, let’s order room service. I’m starved.”

I chuckle, and when he climbs out of bed and grabs one of the robes, I do the same. He might not play in the NFL anymore, but he’s still athletic and can put away some food. I have no idea where it goes.

We order coffee, eggs, bacon, and pancakes.

We’re still in our robes when the food arrives, but we eat on the balcony just enjoying the warm New York morning and the sounds of all the hustle and bustle below.

When we’re done, we shower together and get dressed before meeting with our family and friends to spend some time in the city.

When I linger behind the group, Jeremy falls in line beside me. “How you doing?” he asks.

“Good. Happy.” Jeremy was married before he and Darren got together, and while he and his ex have a good friendship, he hadn’t been the man for Jeremy. I’ve never seen him happier than he is with Darren. They’re perfect together.

“Yeah, I know. It’s wild how much our lives have changed, isn’t it? I still remember showing up at your house in San Francisco unannounced to see a professional football player that you were secretly dating…and now you’re running two queer centers, married to said football player.”

“And you’re in a committed relationship with his best friend and ex-quarterback.”

Jeremy chuckles. “That too,” he says, before sobering. “You deserve it, West. I know that husband and new family of yours will make sure you know it, but I want to, as well.”

His words mean a lot to me, more than I can say. I just know that I’m lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life. “Thanks, man.”

“Always.”

We spend most of the afternoon in the city before heading back to our hotel, where Anson and I shower together for a second time today, before getting into our tuxes.

As usual, he looks sexy as hell, his brown hair styled and his muscular body filling out his clothes perfectly.

“Can’t we just stay here so I can strip you and fuck you all night?” I tease.

“Nope. You’re getting on that stage and I’m watching you accept that award, damn it. And then we’ll come back here, and you can strip me out of my tux and fuck me all night.”

I grin, happiness blooming in my chest. “That sounds like the perfect night to me.”

We meet our family and friends in the lobby, everyone dressed to the nines. We have a limo picking us up and taking us to the venue.

Traffic in the city is wild like always, and it takes longer than it should to arrive, but we factored in enough time for it. I hate that I’m nervous. I’m usually able to control my emotions better than this, but for some reason, it’s difficult tonight.

When we arrive, the driver opens the door for us, then removes Elias’s chair from the trunk. When he’s all set, we show our passes at the door and walk into the venue. It’s the one night of the year that a major Queer Organization honors those doing work in our community.

The night goes by in a whirlwind of introductions and conversations. Before we know it, we’re all finding our names on the chairs at the round tables where we’re designated to sit for the evening. The awards portion of the event will begin any minute.

Anson sits close to me, his fingers laced with mine, the warmth of his body comforting me the way it always does.

When the time comes for my award to be announced, his grip on my hand tightens, and I swear my husband is more excited about this than I am.

“Tonight, for our advocacy award, we’re honoring Weston Hawkins.

” I smile, still loving hearing my name with Anson’s surname.

“As a senator in California, he fought hard for the LGBTQ community, writing laws for our benefit and fighting tooth and nail to get them passed. When he left his career in politics, he started You Belong, an all-inclusive, comprehensive queer center and space, providing health services, housing, scholarships, youth sports programs and more. The center quickly expanded to include You Belong Too, and Weston’s work hasn’t stopped there.

He is always looking for new ways to help our community and those in need, and since retiring, has even been on the floor of congress, fighting back against anti-queer laws.

This year, our excellency in advocacy award goes to Weston Hawkins! ”

I stand, straightening my tux as everyone around me claps. It’s almost like an out-of-body experience walking up to the stage and being handed the award.

I hug the woman who announced me, and she slips away as I stand at the podium. The applause continues, and even though blushing is Anson’s thing, I feel my cheeks heating.

“Thank you,” I say into the mic. “Thank you so much.” The applause quiets so I can continue.

“If you would have asked teenage me, I would never have imagined a world where I could be on this stage, surrounded by my community and allies. A world where my husband is still on his feet, despite the fact that everyone around him has already sat back down. I love you, bashful.”

Anson gives me a nod, the tears clear on his face. “I love you too,” he mouths back.

“I didn’t grow up in an accepting home. My parents did everything in their power to change who I am, and for a long time, I tried so damn hard to be exactly who they needed me to be…

but eventually, I realized I never could and besides, I didn’t want to be.

So I forged my own path into politics, often arguing against my very own father, but it never felt like enough.

I wasn’t fulfilled. I was successful but lonely, and I think…

even though I believed I’d healed from my trauma, I hadn’t.

Part of that healing came from meeting my husband, yes, but I also found that healing in You Belong—in seeing so many people who were like me, find themselves, heal themselves and work toward a better future for themselves.

I’m accepting this award today, but I don’t feel like I’m the one who deserves it.

Each and every face that has come through You Belong or You Belong Too deserves it.

Every person who dedicates their time at the centers deserves it.

Kids sitting in their rooms alone, afraid to come out deserve it.

People still finding the strength to be who they are deserve it.

Parents who support and love their children unconditionally deserve it.

So tonight, I am accepting this award on behalf of all of them. It belongs to all of us.”

Clapping begins again, but when I try to continue, they quiet down so I can speak.

“I would like to thank my mom, who is here with me tonight. She’s not the person who birthed me, but she became my mom when I married her son, and I’ll forever be grateful for her.

I’d also like to thank my brother Elias and sister Carly, who again I inherited from my husband.

The Hawkins have welcomed me into their family and loved me in a way my birth family never would.

To Jeremy for always having my back. You’re the best friend and business partner a guy can have.

Darren…you are a brother to my husband, which makes you a brother to me.

Thank you for always being there for Anson, and in turn, being there for me.

I want to thank everyone who voted for me to receive this award, everyone who works or has worked for You Belong, and for those who trust us with their lives daily.

You have brought so much joy to my life. ”

I swipe a stray tear that leaks out of my eye, then zero in on my husband.

“Anson…you are my entire world. You taught me to love myself when I didn’t even realize I wasn’t.

You gave me unconditional love, family, and you have made me the happiest man in the world.

I wouldn’t be half the man I am without having the best man by my side. ”

I hold the award up, and the applause nearly shakes the walls down in the building—the loudest coming from the table with my family…from my husband.

When I get back to the table, I’m immediately swept into Anson’s arms. He’s crying freely, his hold on me so tight I can hardly breathe. He grabs my face in his hands. “God, I love you. So fucking much. I’m so damn proud of you.”

“I love you too, bashful. I’m proud of us.”

He hugs me for as long as he can before Jeremy is there to do the same, followed by Darren, Elias, Carly, and then Cheryl.

“I’m so proud of you,” she tells me. “And you were always meant to be my son.”

“Thank you, Mom.” My voice breaks on the title in a way it hasn’t for a long time.

I honestly don’t remember most of the rest of the night. I just know one minute I’m taking my seat again and the next, I’m back at the hotel, stripping my husband out of his clothes the way he said I could.

“You gonna mark me up real good tonight?” Anson asks and I growl in return. He loves when I bite him, suck on his skin until the purple marks of our passion are left behind.

“Fuck yes. You’re mine and you always will be.”

We fall into bed naked, where I fulfill every promise we made until we’re both crying out our release together. I know this is where I’ll be, with this man, loving him, being loved by him, for the rest of my life.