Chapter 20: Explanations
"Are you ok?" Daniel asked tentatively as he sat down.
Clay plastered on an obviously fake smile as he prepared his automatic response. Daniel squinted his eyes with a look that said, " Don't lie to me." Clay apparently ignored him.
"I'm fine Mr Lu, really," he started.
"I told you it's Daniel, and don't lie to me!"
Clay sighed but the fake smile remained.
"Sorry, Daniel, but really I am fine!"
Daniel sighed and was about to argue that if he was really ok then why did he look like he hadn't slept? However, he didn't get the chance to. Clay's phone started to ring. It was face up on the table between them so Daniel could see the caller Id. Nick, Clay's boyfriend, was calling.
When Clay saw the name, his body sagged and his eyes looked like they were going to shed tears. Daniel's suspicions were confirmed. After standing him up the night before and then Clay looking so haunted today he figured the boyfriend was to blame.
"Don't you want to get that?" Daniel asked.
Clay sighed when it finally stopped ringing. He avoided Daniel's eyes as he made to stand up but Daniel gripped his arm.
"Wait Clay," he slowly sat back down. "Remember I am here if you want to talk ok? My office is always open, and you can call me after hours too."
Daniel nodded but still avoided his eyes. He stood, and left and Daniel sighed. He returned to Aiden who was about to ask how it went when he noticed his expression.
"Just give him time, if he doesn't want to talk now maybe he will later."
---
Clay had returned to the hotel and slumped onto the bed. The stillness of the room started to creep into his thoughts bringing up the memory of the stillness in the apartment before his heart shattered. Instantly, he sat up and grabbed his phone. He had saved Daniel's number but hadn't messaged him.
"Hello Clay," Daniel answered after only one ring.
"Hello!"
"Are you okay?" Daniel asked.
"Are you busy?" Clay asked quietly.
"For you, never. What do you need?" He asked.
"A drink, a large drink!"
---
An hour later, Clay was sitting across from Daniel at a small bar. He had a large southern comfort and lemonade and Daniel was drinking a small whiskey. Daniel watched him down two of the large drinks before taking his time with the third. Clay's cheeks were slowly becoming rosy and he was swaying a little. Daniel figured the small man wasn't a good drinker.
"Clay, can you tell me what happened?"
Clay fiddled with his class before sighing.
"What's to tell? After I waited an hour for him I went home to find him in bed with someone else," His voice hitched and caused Daniel's heart to hurt. "Then just like the coward I am, I left, made no noise or scene."
"I'm so sorry Clay," was all Daniel could say.
Daniel had been cheated on before so he knew how he was feeling right now and knew nothing he could say would make him feel any better. Though, he hadn't been together with the guy as long as Clay had been with Nick so Daniel could only imagine how devastating it was to see that.
"Why are you sorry? You're not my cheating boyfriend."
Daniel smiled at the silly man. When drunk, the younger man's accent was more pronounced and he found he liked the sound of it. Clay's phone rang once again and Daniel decided to answer it.
"Hello, Clay Rodgers phone," he answered.
Clay stared groggily at him. Daniel was unsure if he was even aware of what he was doing right now.
"Who is this? Where is Clay?"
"My name is Daniel, I work with Clay and right now we are in a bar and he is a little incapacitated."
"What do you mean? Is he drunk? Tell me where you are and I will come and get him."
"No, I don't think that would be a good idea," Daniel said as he moved the glass, Clay had been slowly reaching for, further away.
"What? Why not? I'm his boyfriend!"
"Really? I'm surprised you remembered that."
"What do you mean?"
"It's not my place to say. All you need to know is that I will make sure Clay is safe."
Daniel hung up and decided to call it at night. Clay was hanging off his shoulders as they made their way outside. Daniel called for a car and since Clay was in no fit state to tell him where he was staying. So, he had no choice but to take him home.
As Aiden's PA he lived with his boss in his gated house. Which worked for his job and also he had the chance to live in a huge house on Lorcan Street. Daniel was very much a homebody and didn't really have any friends except his boss, Aiden.
His room was small but bigger than where he had lived before accepting the job. Along one wall was a huge bookcase filled with many classics, it was his pride and joy. There was also a king-sized bed and a small set of lounge chairs with a small table in between. He also had a small walk-in closet and an ensuite bathroom.
Daniel placed Clay onto the bed and removed his shoes and jacket before covering him with a blanket. Clay mumbled something in his sleep and Daniel found it very cute. He went to have a shower and then made himself comfortable on the lounge chair. He fell asleep staring at the cute funny man.
---
The next morning, Clay woke up groggily and rubbed his eyes. He groaned as he sat up. t took him a few more minutes than it should of to recognise that he was not in the hotel. He scanned the room and recognised nothing.
"Shit!" he called out turning to the space next to him.
He sighed with relief when he noticed the space empty and unused. Then he jumped when he heard the door open. Clay's head spun around so fast that he had to close his eyes as the pounding in his head intensified.
"Good Morning!" Daniel said with a chuckle.
Clay watched him walk in with a tray and place it on the small coffee table. Slowly, he got up and walked over. On the tray was a plate of toast, a glass of orange and a bottle of painkillers. He happily accept the painkillers and then wolfed down the toast.
"How are you feeling?" Daniel asked once he was finished.
Clay stilled and blushed. It took him a few minutes before he could look Daniel in the eyes.
"Did I do anything embarrassing last night?" he finally asked.
Daniel chuckled, "No you didn't. You did tell me about finding your boyfriend with someone else and walking out without saying or doing anything."
"Oh god!" he groaned. "How much more pathetic can I get!"
"I should tell you that he called once again, and I answered. He wanted to know where you were when I indicated you were unable to come to the phone. I told him that wouldn't have been a good idea and he got angry telling me that he was your boyfriend. I remarked that it was amazing he could remember that then I hung up."
Clay stared at him with wide eyes and an open mouth before chuckling.
"Thanks," he said. "I know I should say something to him but I'm not ready for that. Don't I sound like the biggest wimp in the world?"
"No of course not!" Daniel rushed to disagree. "I was exactly the same when I found out that my boyfriend was cheating on me. It took me several weeks before I finally confronted him. I, much like you, ignored him until I was ready to talk to him."
Clay once again stared at Daniel in shock. He wasn't quite sure what to do with this information.
"You had a boyfriend? I didn't know you were gay," he said.
Ever since he met the sexy man, he had assumed he was straight. Especially, after hearing all the women at the hospital gush over him and his boss.
"It's not something I advertise, as I am a very private guy. That's not to say that I am ashamed or hide my sexuality in any way," he explained.
"Where am I, by the way?" Clay finally asked after a long silence.
"Oh, this is my room. I work and live with Mr Danvers," he explained as he got up and picked up the tray.
Clay followed him out and practically dislocated his jaw as he stared opened mouthed at the most beautiful house he had ever seen. Every room and hallway was tastefully decorated.
"Good Morning Clay, how are you feeling?"
Clay jumped and clamped his mouth shut instantly as they walked into the kitchen and saw Aiden sitting on one of the chairs at the kitchen island.
"Good morning, sir! I'm fine and I am sorry," he said with a blush.
"Don't worry about it, any friend of Daniel's is welcome," he said winking at Daniel when he said the word 'friend'. "Though you are the first."
Daniel blushed a little as he cleared away Clay's breakfast. Clay started to chuckle a little, and Daniel gave him a small glare. which only made Clay laugh harder and Aiden chuckle.
"Anyway Clay, Daniel filled me in a little on what's been going on, I hope that's ok?" Aiden diverted the conversation back to Clay.
"Oh yeah, I mean yes that's fine sir," Clay blushed.
"Feel free to call me Aiden, unless we are at work," he said with a smile that made Clay blush even harder. "Did you live with your boyfriend?"
Clay sighed, "Yeah, I did. I stayed in a hotel the first night, but I guess I need to look for a small place as it will get too expensive to stay in one long term."
Daniel gave a quick look at Aiden who smiled at his friend and nodded. He gave him a grateful smile before walking up to Clay.
"Well, I have a suggestion," Clay looked at him expectantly. "Why don't you stay here?"
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