TJ's journey to love - 35. Chapter 35

“Rusty?” Mark said

“Yeah it’s me, I thought I’ve never seen you again” he said as ran towards Mark and embraced him and both men were crying.

“I am so glad to have found you, I have wanted to contact you for years but after my parents died I was shipped off to Vermont to live with my Aunt and Uncle and a few years ago moved to Oakland to live with my cousin.”

“I’ve missed you so much and I was devastated when you left abruptly.” Rusty said

“My parents didn’t want a gay son and they were dead set on your dad paying them. They threatened to go to press and wanted me to go to a conversion camp. I don’t know what happened one day I went off to hide during the day like I usually did and came home to an empty house and found out they had driven off some cliff, it was terrible.” Mark said and started to cry

“Oh Mark I had no idea. I had run away and was found a few days later as my dad had someone looking for me. He had sent me to be with my mom in England for a while and I came back for college.” Rusty said

“I had looked for you online but since I didn’t know you were in England I couldn’t find you.” Mark said

“Well sorry to interrupt, but I am glad you guys are together again.” I said smiling

“Wait a minute TJ, did you set this up?” Rusty said

“I pled the fifth.” I said smiling and walking away with JC

“I hope they can reconnect and rekindle their love.” JC said

“If we can do it so can they.” I said grasping his hand and walking out of the house. We went back to our hotel and went online looking at real estate. To get what we want in the city it will be expensive and I wasn’t too fond of the place the realtor told us about. It lacked the style and essence I was looking for. I had expanded out search and found a place in Oakland that had what I was looking for at a reasonable price. I called out agent and asked him to arrange a tour tomorrow.

“Hey babe, Dad and Pops anniversary is coming up would you mind if we jet back to New York for it?”

“Sure, that would be awesome. I want to try and lock down a place here before we go if at all possible. Those condo’s in LA and San Diego that Jeff did the walk through for us were awesome finds and are locked down. I just want a place here in northern California.”

“Ok we can check out you place in Oakland and I hope it is as lovely as the pictures. Now can I interest you in some real estate of mine?”

“I don’t know, it’s kind a tubular place and likes to go into dark holes…” I said laughing

“I love to play hide the sausage.”

“I guess we can make noises” I said with a smirk. We got naked in record time and made love.

The next morning we drove over to Oakland to tour the house. It was listed for $2.5 million and had 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. JC was giving me shit about the size but I assured him with the amount of family that will visit we will need the rooms and we can have our own home offices. The neighbor was nice and the house was as lovely as the pictures. I asked our agent to draft an offer at $2.4 million and he said he would and send it to us for signature. I reminded him to use TJJP Properties on all documents and not to disclose who we were. I also provided a check for escrow. We headed back across to San Francisco and went to Buff Boys for me to meet with the manager and owner to let them know I was leaving. They were holding my job for me as I was super popular and they wanted to keep me.

When we arrived the club still wasn’t open but they were prepping the place. I saw Brooks helping clean the stage and running a dust mop so it wasn’t slippery. I caught his attention and waived.

“Hi Bruce and Big Mike” I said greeting the owner and manager.

“Jack, it is so glad to see you” Big Mike said

“People have been asking about you for days” Bruce said

“Well that is what I’ve come to talk to you about. First my name is really TJ and Jack was a name I chose to use when I moved here to hide from my family. Apparently they knew where I was but left me alone. Second, I wanted to tender my resignation in person as I have another job at a company that was left to me.”

“You can’t be serious Jack, I mean TJ. You bring a lot of our money and people love you. I really want you here.” Big Mike said

“TJ, you have been a great asset to us and I’d love to keep you here. Could you do both jobs?” Bruce said

“No I can’t. You see I am majority owner of a security firm and I need to help revamp it as there have been a lot of issues as of late” I said and JC snickered

“What am I going to tell people?” Bruce asked

“They couldn’t have thought I’d be here forever.”

“TJ, you are young and a gorgeous hunk. We thought we’d have a few more years out of you.” Bruce said

“Tell you what, let me work on revamping my company and if I have time I’ll let you know.” I said

“Sounds fair” they both agreed. I thanked them and we walked out.

“Sounds like they wouldn’t take no for an answer” JC said concerned

“I told you I was popular but didn’t think I was that popular. I am not planning on having any time because any time I have will be with you.” I said. We left and went back to the hotel. I called and checking in with Kellan and asked him to do a check on Bruce and Big Mike and gave him what info I had. I wanted to make sure blowing these guys off wouldn’t bite me in the butt. Since I hadn’t planned on a return trip to NYC so soon, I called the local airport where our company jet was kept and arranged to fly back home tomorrow.

As I was watching TV with JC, we got the offer letter to sign from our agent. Everything looked fine and we initialed it. The company was set-up but shows as a subsidiary of BHO to protect who we are. I told JC we should buy houses and rent them to have some additional income.

The next morning on the flight to New York I noticed JC was a little distracted.

“Everything ok babe?”

“Yeah just trying to decide what to get my parents” he said

“Let me know if you need any help.”

“Will do.” He replied. That was a strange interaction; something is up as he has been overly involved in his phone. We got to New York in late evening and had dinner with mom. She had made meat loaf and mashed potatoes.

“Have Grandpas’ moved into the house yet?” I asked

“They will be here next week sometime; they are excited to be closer to the family.” Mom said

“How’s Grandpa Joe?”

“He’s doing ok but they aren’t sure how long he will make it. The drugs those guys had given him got into his system were supposed to kill him not give him Alzheimer’s.” Mom said with tears coming down

“I can’t believe that Brayden did all of that just to get BHO”

“People will do anything for money.” Mom replied

“Got that right” JC chimed in

The next morning I was sitting at the counter having breakfast when I got a facetime from Miles.

“Hey Miles, what’s up?”

“WE’RE ENGAGED!” Miles and Brooks shouted

“Congratulations guys! I am so happy for you. Who asked who?”

“Well funny story, we both had rings and had brought them on the date last night and waited for the perfect opportunity and we kind of blurted it out at the same time.”

“That is so awesome. I am happy for you both.” I said

“We wanted to you to know as you mean so much to us.” Brooks said

“You guys too. I am surprised you are both up at this hour.”

“We have been too excited and been up and wanted to call you before we go to bed.” Miles said

“Well congratulations, go get some sleep.”

“Thank you TJ” they both said

JC came down looking tired

“Someone keep you up last night?” I asked

“Yeah you know that hot guy that lives nearby? He wanted to have a good time after being at his mother’s.” JC said with a wink

“Brooks and Miles got engaged.”

“Congratulations to them” That’s good news.

“Yeah I am excited for them.” I replied

An email came through telling me that the sellers accepted our offer.

“We got the house!” I shouted

“Great news but I am sorry to rain on the good news parade but I am meeting dad soon to go over his surprise for pop. I will let you know when and where to meet us.” JC said

“Ok, I guess I’ll hang out here.” I said dejectedly

“Its ok babe, trust me you don’t want to be there for this. He is making Trace and I do this thing and we need to rehearse and I don’t want to hear you laughing at us.”

“Ok I will find something to keep me occupied.” He kissed me then he was off

I tried calling Kevin but he was busy and couldn’t talk. I knew Beau and Lucas were due back but I didn’t know when. It seemed everyone but me was busy. I was getting depressed and went upstairs when I heard Tristan

“You ok brudder?

“I’m bored and don’t know what to do” I hope he heard me

“I heard you. You are the bestest brudder.” Tristan said

“Yes you da best” I heard in stereo

“Who was that?”

“It me Jack and me Josh” they replied oh man I am going crazy. I decided to sleep. I woke hearing a whisper

“T2 Wake up” I sat up and looked for Tristan

“Tristan?” I called out my phone rang

“Hey babe” JC said

“Hey how’s rehearsal?”

“It’s done and we are ready for you to show up. Come over to Julliard dad is using the auditorium for the show.”

“Ok, should I dress casual?”

“Most definitely.”

“See you soon, text you when I get there.”

I showered and got dressed and walked over to Julliard. I went in the main entrance of the auditorium and didn’t see anyone. I texted JC and didn’t get a response and the doors were locked. I heard some music coming from inside and then the one door opened and out came a shirtless and sweaty JC. I stood there with my mouth hanging open as he looked so hot I wanted to jump him.

“Hey babe” I said and JC proceeded to get down on one knee. What is happening?

“Tristan James Michaels Jr, six years ago you walked back into my life. We met here when you came to audition to fulfill you dream of attending Julliard. I came out of the auditorium just like this sweaty and shirtless and you stared at me like you are now. I knew right then you were still infatuated with me after all these years. You got caught staring at me by taking a door to the head. I helped you up and I know you felt what I did by the look in your eyes. I didn’t see you again until we took a trip to Cincinnati to see my grandparents. I begged my dad and pops to take me not to visit my grandparents but I wanted to see you again. I talked to my grandmother and she agreed to help me create a situation where I could see you again; as luck would have it was on Christmas. You are the first and last person I think about when I go to sleep. You have the biggest heart and are so kind. That is one of the things that I love about you. You are a big brother not only to Beau and Grayson but to Tristan, Jake and Josh. You think about others before yourself, even when things may not be going well. You saved Cody without knowing it, you got Rusty and Mark back together. You stand strong in all situations no matter what. You’ve over come so many obstacles that I could go on but there is one thing I want to ask. Tristan James would you make me the happiest man and be my husband?”

‘Before I could answer I heard Tristan “you better say yes brudder”

“YES! YES! YES! Jackson Paul Craft-Woolery, I will be your husband” JC stood up and kissed me and then I heard a huge round of applause. I looked up to find Mom, Grayson, Beau, Lucas, Trace, Tracy, Jack, Kat, Kellan, Jordan, Christian, Cody, Kevin, Jeff, Tristan, Jake, Josh, Mark, Rusty, Brooks, Miles, Grandpas’ Ron and Tony standing there clapping.

“Wait a minute… is it even your parent’s anniversary?”

“No, I had to get you here somehow and what better way than to trick you. Do you forgive me?”

“Yeah I guess I can.” I said as I leaned in for another kiss.

The End