TJ's journey to love - 9. Chapter 9

JC Woolery is in my house!!!! OMG Total fan girl moment.

Wait, who is the guy that looks just like him but has a different eye color. Is JC a twin?

Mom was busy hugging everyone when I stood up. I could see some sense of recognition in JC’s eyes as I approached and then he smirked. God was he cute.

“Tracy and Jack this is my oldest Tristan, he goes by TJ. TJ these are friends from high school Tracy Craft and Jack Woolery, their boys JC and Trace and these other wonderful folks are Tracy’s parents Stan and Beth Craft.”

We all said hello and did some handshakes. I got the same electrical feel when I shook JC’s hand. He held it a bit longer too.

“How’s your head? Avoiding run ins with doors I hope.” JC said

“This is the boy you told me about?” Trace said

“Yeah Trace this is the guy I told you about.” JC replied

“Ummmm yeeeeaaahh I’m good.” Pull it together TJ

They both had impeccable smiles. We all went and sat in the living room and that is when the rest of the family came in. Mom introduced them and everyone was making small talk.

“Emily is that Lasagna you are making?” Tracy asked

“Yeah it smells really good in here. I remember you being a decent cook too.” Jack replied

“Well you are in for a treat. My father in-law Tony has been making tons of food, you’d think we had an army living here. I am sorry to hear that your oven went out today Beth.” Mom said

“Thank you Emily. I’ve been on Stan to look at the oven the last couple of days as things have started to take longer to cook.” Beth replied

“Had this not been a last minute trip, my dad would have stayed in town instead of going to see Stephanie’s family.” Jack said

“Will he be back before you leave?” Mom asked

“Yeah I decided to take a vacation and come home to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city. It can get to you after a while. I also wanted to see the work Murray had done on his place.” Jack replied

“You wanted to take a vacation here? I would have gone anywhere but here.” I said

“You’ll have to excuse TJ he hates Cincinnati. We’ve only been here a few weeks and he can’t wait to get out. He’s excited to be going to Julliard for college.” Mom said

“Mr. Craft, aren’t you the new dean?” I asked

“Please call me Tracy, Mr. Craft is my dad. Yes I am, I wasn’t expecting the promotion as I feel there were better qualified people but they insisted.” Tracy replied

“You know I am going there too.” JC stated

“Really! I mean that’s cool” Jeez TJ pull it together.

“Yeah I had several schools offer me spots even though I never applied but I wanted to stay close to the city”

“That’s not the only reason” Trace said

“Shut up Trace.” JC said as he punched him in the arm.

“So how long have you been dancing?” JC asked

“Since age 5 and I love to dance. It relaxes me and takes me to my special place.”

“Just like dancing on a star… huh Tracy.” Jack said making him blush. I wonder what that was about.

We talked about dancing and I hung on every word JC said. He is soooo cute.

Grandpa Tony came and called us for dinner.

I took my usual seat and they put JC across from me and Trace was to his left. We had dinner and I swear to god that he was playing footsie.

After dinner the parents and grandparents went to the living room to talk and we kids went to the rec room.

Beau and Lucas were playing some game on the switch and Trace and Grayson were playing air hockey, so that left JC and I to do whatever.

“Anything you’d like to do?” JC asked.

So many ideas ran through my head and many of them involved us doing hanky pankey.

“Um not really, we could sit and talk if you’d like.” I replied. He smiled at me. I melted right there.

“Sure, is there anywhere private we can go?”

“We could go to my room?” I replied we headed upstairs.

He walked into my room and looked around and just smiled… SHIT. He’s all over my walls.

“I take it you are a fan” JC said and laughed.

“Yeah just a little bit” I blushed and looked down and he just smiled and sat in my computer chair and I took the bed.

“You know JC, I watched you dance and you are talented and inspiring.”

“Thank you. I tried out for the show and didn’t think I would win as I though there were much more talented folks.”

“It was a nail biter for sure. Everyone here voted for you.”

“Awe shucks. I will have to thanks your family. Who is this in the picture?” he was pointing at the picture of Dad and I before he deployed. Dad always had us take pictures as he wanted something current to have with him. I had a copy printed and kept it next to my computer.

“That’s my dad. He passed away in October while fighting overseas.” I started to tear up.

“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. I didn’t know.” He moved to the bed and pulled me into a hug.

“It must be so hard to lose a parent. I can’t imagine that and right before a holiday.” I could smell his cologne and he smelled really good.

“Thanks. He is my hero and I want to continue making him proud. Just lately I haven’t been so good at that.”

“There are times when we do good things and make our parents proud and times where they are disappointed in us. It’s just life and we have to do all that we can, we are just human beings.”

“I know what you mean. Lately it has been so hard to do the right thing. I feel like I’m failing.”

“Well you are grieving and sometimes that makes us a bit crazy.”

We were interrupted by Grayson.

“Hey JC, I was asked to come get you as your dads’ are ready to go.”

“Um thanks little man. Let them know I’ll be right down.”

He looked at me and I could feel this connection like he was trying to read my mind. He leaned in and kissed me. I was blown away and couldn’t speak.

“I’ll see you tomorrow; if you are free.” With that he smiled and walked out of the room.

I sat there dumbfound. Lucas and Beau came looking for me and found me with a smile on my face sitting there.

“What happened to you?” Beau asked

“Oh nothing” I replied as my phone chimed.

I had a Facebook friend request from Jackson Craft, so that’s what JC stands for.

Beau and Lucas just kept looking at me.

“I think your brother is in love” Lucas said

“No DUH. He’s always had a thing for JC and you know that.” Beau replied

“Well come on Teej, spill the beans.” Lucas whined

“Well we talked and he kissed me.” I whispered the last part and touched my lips.

“HE KISSED YOU!” Beau shouted. No way.

“Yeah he did and he asked me to hang out tomorrow.”

“You better do it. Get to know the boy.” Lucas said

“TJ and JC sitting in the tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G” Beau started to sing

I got up and started to tickle him and told him to stop teasing me. He eventually relented and just smiled at me.

“Since you were up here you didn’t see how well Trace and Grayson bonded. It was like he was part of the family.” Beau said

“Well G is a great brother and friend to many people. He was probably trying to make him feel welcome. I doubt there was any motive or anything else behind it. Mom would freak if we were all gay.”

“You’re right, maybe they bonded over being the straight brothers.” Lucas said

“Who knows, I am going down stairs for a drink.”

I went and got a bottle of water and went to the living room looking for mom. There on the table was a photo album and it was open. I began looking through it. There were mom’s high school graduation pictures. One was a group shot and I recognized Mom. Uncle Murray, Aunt Kelly, two people who looked like Tracy and Jack, and some people I didn’t recognize. I continued to flip through the book as I've never seen it before. There were pictures of Mom and Dad. I stopped on a page of me and I dropped the book on the floor.

“HOLY CRAP!”