Full Circle

Clay

Clay grunted, scratching nervously at the back of his neck. He was trying his hardest not to pace the floor, but at this point, his nervous shifting was just as obvious as the pacing would have been. Biting at his thumbnail, he shot a quick glance at Leon.

The large male was reclined on the opposite sofa, focused on the soccer game playing on the television. He was completely relaxed. Clay wished that he could be that unbothered.

If he'd been with Max as long as Leon had and he lived with him, too, maybe he would be that relaxed. But that wasn't the case, and he was nervous.

"You don't think he's trying to build a harem... is he?" he finally broke and decided to share his worries with Leon. The little laugh in his voice wasn't nearly convincing enough.

Leon's eyes never left the screen, but Clay knew he'd heard him. "Max?" he asked eventually, strong brows drawing together. He didn't appear to buy into Clay's insecurities, which was a huge relief. "No."

His mono-syllable ways used to bother Clay. For a long time, he was convinced Leon didn't like him one bit. Which was understandable, considering his disruptive appearance into Leon's relationship with Max. Then he learned that Leon really was a big softie; he was just big on physical assurance more so than words.

It was showcased now in how Leon beckoned Clay over to his seat and slung his arm over Clay's shoulder. Clay was tucked snug into his side, eyes also focused on the game Leon was watching. He had to admit it made him feel a little better. And it reminded him of how marvelously a relationship could grow from the situation they found themselves in for the second time.

Only this time, instead of being the new addition, Clay was having to make space for someone new the way Leon had done for him.

"Max gets what he wants."

And that was that. Max wanted someone new, so here they were, waiting for him to return with whoever it was he'd taken a liking to. Some guy named Lin. If he was anything like Clay, there was going to be terrible jealousy.

"I'm just saying, one more guy like you and me is too many guys."

Leon gave a quick, startled laugh and shook his head. Clay was outspoken to a fault. "Max called him cute," Leon informed, like that answered all of Clay's problems. It kind of did, actually.

Still, Clay felt a hint of doubt. "We'll see about that."

They sat together and finished the game, Clay soaking in the closeness to soothe his anxiety. The new game was Scotland vs. Wales, so Leon flipped off the television. Scotland won last year, and Leon wasn't over that yet. The silence that followed was comfortable, but it didn't last long.

Before they knew it, Max was bursting through the door, all smiles as he led someone by the hand. Relief instantly filled Clay as he laid eyes on their newest plus one. Max was right; he was cute. Not small, probably an inch or so shorter than him, but thin as a rail. And pretty. Huge brown eyes and wavy, pitch-black hair. Pale, with a splattering of freckles over the bridge of his nose, rosy cheeks, and lush pink lips. Clay was immediately interested in him.

Max didn't introduce them right away. He popped his bottom lip out upon seeing his boyfriends' position. They weren't affectionate with one another often, so it was a nice sight. "Look at you two. So sweet," he cooed. Then, he dropped Lin off on the couch Clay had vacated before he came to sit beside Clay. Leon's gaze was focused on the newcomer, but he extended his reach to let Max under his arm alongside Clay.

"Clay, Leon, this is Lin," Max gestured to the young man, who smiled and nodded. A smile only made him more attractive. No wonder Max had taken a liking to him.