Page 19 of Leo

Q

We’ll bring mashed potatoes.

A

and cranberry sauce!

Cielo

Can’t forget Gus and Pumba

Chuckling, I gave thumbs up reactions to their messages. The three of them lived together, with Q and A the dominants and Daddies to Cielo. They had two bulldogs, and I had to hope their puppy was potty trained. Dezi was going to love them, so I just had to make it clear we weren’t getting a dog.

Ash

We’re bringing twins and wine. The cat said he’s staying home.

Jefferson

The wine is in case they decide to cry the whole time.

Ash and Jefferson had welcomed twins, Mimi and Carter, by surrogate a month before, and I was glad they would be coming. I had been isolated after becoming a dad full time, and I didn’t want that for them. Having two would be even more work, so I was glad they had a solid marriage.

Shepherd

We’ll still be at Roman’s parents out of state, but I’m making extra stuffing and a tray of mac-and-cheese I’ll drop off Wednesday. Let’s make plans soon!

Ant

Maxx and I are helping his mom and sister host that day, but I’ll send stuffing and some pecan pie tartlets with Cielo!

Not all of my friends could come. Shepherd and Ant both owned restaurants and would be working on Thanksgiving, so they were spending the weekend with family. The fact that Roman’s family welcomed their queer, polyamorous triad made me happy. I appreciated their contributions, and I would definitely be making plans with them in the new year when they were less busy.

Christian

Z and I are bringing green bean casserole and the corgis, so hopefully that’s not too many little feet?

Four dogs, two babies and a toddler, plus Nacho at the feet of ten adults in my condo? I only had six seats at my table with the leaf in, plus three stools at the bar, but there were also four seats in the living room. It would be a squeeze, but the timing was open for people to come and go. There would be an hour or two with everyone in the same room, but I welcomed the chaos if only for one day, just to see them all.

The more the merrier!

My friends sent heart reactions and cheering gifs, and a warmth spread through me. I missed them all, and not just because I felt the absence of engaging in kink like they all got to do in their relationships.

When I moved across the country after college, I didn’t know where to begin making friends. The X Club community that Q, A, and Shepherd ran, and we all belonged to, welcomed me with open arms.

My dad wouldn’t be around forever, and I wanted Dezi to have more than me in her life. Leo had shown me how important it was to give her that.

If I also wanted my friends’ opinion on the adorable boy who had borrowed his way into my heart? That was for me to admit when I was ready.

Chapter thirteen

Leo

With a container of tamales in hand, I led my sister and nephew into Isaac’s building. No matter how hard I tried to talk Cam out of attending this dinner, she refused to change her mind.

“I’m looking forward to chatting with Isaac,” Cam told me, and it did nothing to quell my nerves. “Nacho, are you excited to have dinner with Tío Leo’s friends?”

“Yes,” Nacho cheered as we stepped off the elevator. The tray of empanadas he was holding almost upended. “Oops, I got it.”

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