TJ was rapidly losing interest in trying to make the other man understand that even here there was a pecking order, or that no matter whatever kumbaya-everyone-hold-hands-and-sing gig they had going here, the fact his parents were here meant there were expectations for Thomas because of their position. Whatever delusions of equality these people were living under, it wasn't a trip TJ could share.
"Something about me and still connected to my parents," he pointed out with a smirk. It really wasn't as though anything in his life was a secret and it was all connected to his parents in some way. All roads lead to the Hammonds. Even concepts of debt. TJ wasn't a stranger to borrowing money. He'd borrowed enough from his parents, his brother, for business ventures. The idea have borrowing money in order to eat was...wrong. And he mentally brushed it aside. "And, I'll even let you buy me dinner."