TJ's journey to love - 10. Chapter 10

Staring back at me was a picture of Lucas, Me, JC and Trace.

Holy frickin crap!

“TJ what’s going on, I heard you shout.” Grayson asked.

“Come here and look at this” I motioned. He looked at the pictures.

“When and where was this taken?” he asked

“Beats me…. MOM!” I shouted and she came into the living room.

“Yes TJ?” mom said

“Care to explain this picture?”

“Oh you found it huh… I thought I put it away.” Mom replied

“What you didn’t want me to know I met JC years ago?”

“Well not exactly TJ.”

“Mom please explain and stop dragging it out.” Beau and Lucas came downstairs

“TJ what’s going on” Beau asked. I held up the photo album and he and Lucas came over.

“Hey that’s us.” Lucas said

“With JC and Trace”

“Wow we met them before?” Lucas said

“Obviously… Now spill mom.”

“Well TJ, when you were little, your father and Uncle Brayden were stationed at Fort Hamilton in New York. We saw a lot of Jack and Tracy when we lived there.”

“Why haven’t you ever said anything?”

“You really don’t remember do you?”

“Obviously not.”

“Lucas do you?”

“They seemed familiar but that’s it.” Lucas replied.

“Well I guess I need to fill in some gaps. You guys were together every day. I watched Trace and JC while Tracy and Jack were in school. You guys were inseparable and did everything together. JC and you were super close and he always stayed with you while Lucas and Trace would run and play. You both would play house and said one day you’d get married. When your father was transferred it broke my heart to separate you both. You actually packed your bags and said you were living with Jackson. It was the cutest thing I ever saw. You cried for days when we moved to Fort Carson, Colorado. No matter what anyone did you cried and cried every day. Lucas would try to console you but it didn’t matter. After about a month you became subdued and eventually moved on.”

“Why didn’t we ever visit them again?” I asked

“Well we didn’t want to have you go through being separated all over again.”

“Wait… what about when I went to New York with dad when I was little?”

“That was right before we moved. He wanted to take you to the city and show you around. He was excited and wanted you to see what New York had to offer.”

“Is this why dad knew I was gay before I told him?”

“Partially yes, he watched you and JC and could see your love.” She grabbed the book and flipped a few more pages ahead and stopped and handed me the book. There I was asleep curled up to JC in a blanket fort.

“You both built that fort and said it was your home and that no one could enter. I noticed it had gotten quiet and you both had fallen asleep and were cuddled together. I noticed Lucas and Trace were still playing with the blocks and didn’t seem to mind you were both asleep.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Just know we were protecting you from having the heart break. Jack told me JC went through the same heart ache you did and even stopped sleeping in the same bed with Trace for a while.”

“I think I need time to process this.” I got up from the couch and went upstairs to my bed. As I lay there I didn’t know what to think. Is this why I was super attracted to him? Was it an underling sense that he was familiar to me? Why wasn’t I told when we watched him on T.V. Mom acted like she didn’t know who he was. My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Teej?” Beau called out.

“yeah?”

“Can I come in?”

“Sure.” I wonder why he didn’t just come in like usual. Maybe he was trying to give me space. He cuddled up to me on the bed.

“You ok bro? That was a lot to take in.” he said

“I am super confused. I don’t know what to think.”

“Just don’t go postal please. I am not sure I could take it.”

“I am sorry Beau. I am trying to stay calm and sort out my feelings.”

“Well that’s a good start. I can’t believe when you were little that JC was your husband.”

“Me either. I wonder if it is why I am drawn to him.”

“Well life works in mysterious ways.”

“Speaking of, where is your boyfriend?”

“He’s down stairs talking with Mom and Aunt Kat trying to learn more about being in New York.”

Beau was quiet for a few and then I heard light snoring. I just smiled and kissed his forehead. I eventually fell asleep myself. I woke up sometime during the night to find Lucas on the other side of me. He must have come in looking for Beau. I closed my eyes and smiled. At least I fixed a few things in my life I’ve messed up.

***

“Dad I have something to tell you.” Tears were streaming down my face. I was about to become the biggest disappointment.

“I’m… I’m” I lost my voice

“It’s ok son, I know what you are trying to say” He pulled me into one of those hugs that could make you forget anything and everything going wrong

“You’re not mad at me? I am your name sake.”

“Listen mini, no matter what you are my son and I love you. You can still have kids or not but I don’t care. I just want you to be happy.” Dad had tears in his eyes and I could tell how sincere he was being.

“Thanks dad. I struggled with how to tell you.”

“Aww Mini, you can come to me about anything. You know I hang out with Tyler and Murray when they come to visit. We are all guys. What you do in the bed room is your business.”

“Thanks dad and nothing but sleep happens in my room.” Dad laughed.

“I can tell you otherwise. Please do a better job at hiding your porn and stuff. Your mother has come across it and we don’t want your brothers finding it. They are still young and I think your mother would faint if they asked about what they found.”

“Ok dad. I will keep things hidden from Beau and G.”

“One more thing, I want you to promise me that you won’t have sex until you are absolutely ready. I know you may be tempted I just want you to make sure it is someone you trust.”

“Jez dad really, you think I am going to run out and get laid now?”

“Son you are a man and I know how men think. Just promise me?”

“I promise dad.”

“Well this turned out to be a great weekend here at the lake. I’ll race you to the pool.” Dad took off running and did a cannon ball into the pool.

***

“TJ” I heard my name and I was being shaken.

“I’m awake. What do you want?”

“You were crying in your sleep. You ok?” Beau asked

“I was dreaming about dad and when I came out to him.”

“Yeah dad was very accepting of you. I was scared to tell him myself as I thought having two gay son’s he’d flip his lid but when they found us in the restaurant, he was anything but that. He was super happy and told me he loved me and everything was ok.”

“Well at least Grayson is straight.”

“Well he is now but who knows. When I was his age I thought I was too but then things changed. I think I was just following what I thought I was supposed to. When I kissed Jenny it was awkward and something I never wanted to do again. When I kissed Lucas I found myself wanting to kiss him over and over again.”

“I am happy for you. You know that right?”

“I do now but I did have some doubts and a broken nose to prove it.”

“Would you two stop being mushy.” Lucas said

“Awe is my boyfriend jealous?” Beau said as he hopped up and went to the other side and started to tickle Lucas. They got a bit loud and were rolling on my floor. I could see they also were excited. It made me realize that Sebastian and I never really did anything like that. It was mainly movies, eating and him trying to get into my pants.

“Ok knock it off before I have cum all over my floor.” They stopped and grinned at me; then jumped up and started tickling me.

“Stop! I have to pee” I jumped out of bed and went to the bathroom. I went back to the room and they were gone. I grabbed my stuff and took a shower. I went down stairs and had some cereal. There was a note from Mom that she and the grandpas’ went out to the store.

I checked my phone and no one had reached out. I opened Facebook and began to scroll through JC’s page. I saw a lot of pics of him and Trace and various dance pics that he was tagged in by family members.

Well he did say he wanted to hang out today. I clicked on messenger:

T: Hey you still interested in hanging out?

J: Um that would be cool. Trace is being annoying.

T: Want to go somewhere or stay in? I have wheels.

J: We can stay in.

T: OK.. J want me to come get you?

J: Sure

I hollered up to Beau and Grayson I was heading out and drive over to where JC was staying. It was an older neighborhood with a bunch of nice houses. I saw my Mom’s car in the driveway across the street and thought that was odd. I pulled into the Craft’s driveway, parked and then went to the door and knocked.

“Oh hello TJ, if you are looking for your mom she’s across the street at the Woolery house.” Mr. Craft said

“No sir, I am here for JC.”

“Jackson you have a visitor.” Mr. Craft shouted

“Coming Grandpa!” JC responded.

“Hey do you mind if Trace comes? He’s a little bored being here by himself.”

“I guess it’s ok.”

“TRACE HE SAID YOU CAN COME!” coming down the stairs was Trace.

“Awesome. I enjoyed hanging out there yesterday.”

“Nice wheels. I’ve always loved Ford Trucks” Trace said

“Yeah it was my dad’s pride and joy. He wanted the lift kit for off-roading and had a few extras added.” I climbed behind the wheel with JC in the passenger seat.

As we headed to the house they let me know what ever the meeting was about was secretive and that others were involved.

“Others?”

“Yeah dads’ friend Jimmy, Jeff, Murray, Tyler and some lady named Kelly” Trace said

“I wonder what they could be plotting.” I pulled the truck into the garage and told the visitors I’d be right in. I sent mom a text.

TJ: I thought we agreed no more secrets. Why are you at a friend’s when you said you were going to the store.

Mom: TJ I will explain later

Story of my life.. I’ll explain later.

I received a text and thinking it was from Mom I looked at it but it was from Dylan.

D: Remember what I did to you?

D: Here’s a pic to remind you.

I went pale and ran into the house, everyone in the rec room with Grayson showing them the photo album. I ran as fast as I could to my room slamming and locking the door. I went into the closet and sat in the corner, the tears were coming. I could hear knocking and banging at the door and I ignored it.

“TJ Open up!” shouted Beau

“TJ it’s ok the pictures were cute.” JC said.

By this time I was becoming hysterical and crying really hard. Next thing I knew Grayson was next to me and pulled me into a hug while Beau was calling mom.

“Mom come quick something is wrong with TJ.”

That’s the last thing I remember before I fully blacked out.