Re: At Home
He should have been mocking Travis for the sappy commentary on his eyes. But, deep down, there was still a spark of romanticism that TJ hadn't yet managed to cut out. So, instead of mocking, he melted. God help him, he thought it was sweet. "In that case, you're forgiven for giving her the bigger teddy bear," he teased, unable to hide the soft smile Travis' words caused. "Keep talking like that, though, and you'll never have to worry."
"What? No!" TJ shook his head. He might have said more about sweet-talking and declarations that turned him into a mush the likes of which he'd never live down if his brother ever found out. But, he was mortified that his attempts at making Travis better had actually implied the opposite. "That wasn't what I meant at all. I was trying to say you're far too good for me. Fuck, I really suck at this."
He shrugged. "There isn't much about any of our sex lives that isn't public knowledge whether we like it or not. Dad's affairs and my playboy reputation are particularly entertaining reads, I'm told. But, it's not that Mom's opinion matters more. It just...with my Dad's history of fucking the staff, cheating on Mom, and screwing everything with tits, his opinion on who I'm with really doesn't count for much. Hell, I'm not sure he even knows about Sean. They were divorced by then and he wasn't really around much. He knows about the fact I tried to kill myself, but I don't think he knows why." Not that TJ thought he'd care. It was just a stunt to him. "But, yeah, there's only so much hypocrisy I can take. His disapproval comes more often about the drugs and jobs."
When summed up like that, the two of them together sounded like insanity. It was insanity and they were so screwed. The problem was that TJ couldn't seem to care. He wasn't the most courageous or fearless person. This had nothing to do with bravely facing a crazy situation. It came down, once again, to the selfish man who didn't deny himself the things he wanted. He wanted to be with Travis. And, as long as that was what they both wanted, TJ was all in.
"How about, for tonight, it goes full circle back to how this day started?" he suggested, grinning, as he moved his hand far less innocently over Travis' chest. "This birthday boy wants some time to fully appreciate the best gift he's gotten all day before his birthday's over."