12. Isaac

Chapter twelve

Isaac

T he week after agreeing I needed space and sending out invites to Friendsgiving went by in a blur of regret and longing. Regret over not talking with Leo when he was with me, and longing to play with him again. My hand was getting a workout and I finally gave in. I wasn’t ready to ask for what I wanted, but I did want him in my life.

My dinner party was the perfect excuse to make plans a little further out, without the pressure of being alone with Leo. I messaged my apology for not talking to him all week after putting Dezi down to make dinner. His response was faster than I expected.

Leo

Sure! Sounds great! We’ll all be there with tamales to share! salsa dancer emoji

The excessive exclamation points didn’t feel like Leo, and I wondered if I set the wrong tone. He was not usually so effusive by text, but the emoji was normal for him.

What did I know? I’d been avoiding him all week. Maybe he wasn’t upset by my radio silence and wanted to see me as much as I secretly wanted to see him. The thought made me happy and I started looking up recipes.

A text in my friends’ group chat interrupted my scrolling. They were all sending updates, and I was happy to see that most could make it, though the coworkers I’d invited had turned me down on the offer.

Q

We’ll bring mashed potatoes.

A

and cranberry sauce!

Cielo

Can’t forget Gus and Pumba dog emoji

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.