Uncle (11 page)

Travis sent Jason off to play video once they cleared the table and sat back down with Evan. "You want coffee, tea?"

"No, I'm good." Evan glanced out the window at the pool. "We should have resisted. Waited until this was over."

"Would you quit worrying? Do you really think that either of us could have ignored the pull between us? The tension would have killed us. Yes, I'm mad. Not at you, but at whoever is spying on us, but I don't regret a damn thing. We will face whatever they decide. I'm not going to ever feel sorry we did things the way we have. If anything, I'm mad that we had to even try to hide it."

"Hopefully I did my job well enough, that even with my conflict of interest we have a strong enough case. I handed in a large file of information. Stuff that didn't have anything to do with you and me. I just hope it's enough."

"It will be. I have to believe that." He stretched his legs out in front of him as he heard Jason laughing from the living room. "I'm nervous about court. Have been all week. Oddly this doesn't make it any worse. I'm relieved we don’t have to hide any longer." Travis shrugged as he stared at Evan. "I can't let myself think I could lose him, I just can't. I know I should be preparing myself for the worst and maybe I'm stupid for not doing so, but I just can't think he might be gone by the end of the week."

Evan stood, coming around to stand behind Travis, bending down and wrapping his arms around him. "No matter what happens, you'll get through it." He brushed his lips over his ear. "I did everything I could to help you."

Something inside Travis snapped, emotions held in for too long bursting forward as tears filled his eyes and then fell down his cheeks. He fought to hold them back but lost the struggle as a hard sob escaped him.

Evan released him, moving around him and falling to his knees in front of Travis as he wrapped his arms around him and pulled him close. "It's okay. You're not alone. We will get through this." His voice was soft as he held the back of Travis's head to his shoulder and let him cry.

Travis struggled to fight back the emotion, but the moment Evan's arms came around him, holding him securely, the tears came harder. He cried in fear of losing Jason, he cried in pain for losing his sister, and he cried for the man holding him, scared somehow he would be taken from him, too. His chest heaved as he fought through the emotions, and held onto Evan, letting him comfort him.

When he was finally able to stop the tears, he pulled back, wiping his face with the back of his hand. He stared at Evan in front of him, embarrassed by his tears and sudden breakdown, fearing that it would only add to Evan's guilt at their relationship. "Sorry." He sniffed. "I just think it's emotional overload."

Evan braced his hands on Travis's thighs, still kneeling before him. "I think you have the right. You've been dealing with so much the last month. Don't feel bad for crying in front of me. I want to be there for you."

"You have been. You have no idea how you have helped me get through all this. My sister's death, this stuff with Jason and the Steeles, you have been my support. I look forward to your visits more than you know."

"I know. Trust me, I know." Evan reached up, cupping his palm to his face. "You help me deal with my baggage as well."

Travis pressed his cheek to Evan's hand, bringing his own up to hold it there. "You sure your job is safe?"

Evan nodded. "Yes. It's nothing more than a write-up and a warning. Told me never to do it again."

"You better not do it again. That would mean you would be cheating on me, because I plan on having you around for a very long time." Travis turned his head, kissing Evan's palm.

"Does that mean we can take that next step and call ourselves a couple?" Evan grinned.

"We've been a couple from the day we met, but yes, we can now officially call ourselves that if you're okay with it."

"Oh, I am more than okay with it." Evan rose up and kissed him.

The sound of Jason's footsteps had them pulling apart. Up until now they had kept it to hand holding around him. Travis wondered how much to share with him, or if they should just let him get used to things like he had been already.

"Uncle Travis?"

"What, Jas?"

"Can I have ice cream tonight?"

Travis looked at Evan and smiled. "I think it sounds good. You want a bowl, Evan?"

Evan stood. "Just a small one."

Travis made his way to the freezer, smiling as Evan sat down and Jason jumped onto his lap.

"They started building my tree house today." Jason told him.

"They did? I didn't even notice. I will have to look when I go back out. Did you get to help?"

"Yep. Even got to climb the ladder with Jake's help. They said it would be awhile before it's done though."

Travis sent a silent prayer that Jason would be around to use it. Sure he would still get visitation, but it wasn't the same.

"Have you decided what color you're going to paint it?" Evan asked as Travis set two bowls of ice cream in front of them.

"I think like the barn is. I like that color."

"I like that color, too. I can't wait until it's done and you can show me it."

"Me, too. Jake said I could even take a radio up there and play music if I was careful."

"Wow, just like a real house." Evan shifted Jason to one knee so they both could eat.

Travis sat down beside them with his own bowl. "Before long he will want a bed up there, too."

"No. I think I would get scared out there alone at night. I will just go up there in the daytime."

Evan and Travis laughed.

"I'm glad. I would get lonely in here without you." Travis sucked the ice cream from his spoon.

"Will you miss me when I go to school?"

"Yes, but you will only be gone a few hours then. I will still get to see you at night." Travis hoped he was telling the truth.

"Grandma said I would have to go to the school by her house. Is that true?"

Travis frowned. "I don't know yet, Cowboy. Remember how I told you a while ago that Evan and I were trying to make sure you get to stay here and then you went and talked to that lady about things?"

"Yeah, a long time ago. She asked a lot about my mommy and daddy." Jason stirred his ice cream into a soft cream.

"It was only about a month ago. Anyway, Evan and I are going to meet with your grandparents the day after tomorrow and we should know for sure then where you are going to live."

"I can't stay here?" Jason's eyes went wide.

"We don't know yet, but we hope so. Evan and I have been working really hard to make sure that you get to stay here." Travis hated seeing the fear in Jason's eyes.

Evan pulled Jason back farther in his lap. "No matter what happens, Travis and I will still be around. I think you will be able to stay here, but we won't know for sure until that meeting."

"I don't want to live with Grandma and Grandpa."

"I know, Cowboy. I promise I won't stop fighting. Chances are good you will stay here with me."

"Can I go to this meeting?" Jason dropped his spoon into his empty bowl.

"No. You're going to stay with Jake while Evan and I go. We will hurry home right after."

Jason hung his head and sighed.

Evan looked over at Travis and mouthed. "Can I tell him about us?"

Travis smiled and nodded.

"Jas, you want some good news?" Evan turned him on his lap so he was facing toward him more.

"What?" Jason glanced up still frowning.

"Do you remember when I first met you and you asked if I was your uncle's boyfriend?"

"Yeah, and you said you were only his friend."

"That's right. Well, that's changed. I'm now his boyfriend."

Evan's smile as he said it made Travis's pulse skip.

"Really. Does that mean you will live here?" Jason looked up at him, some of the sadness fading from his face.

"No, but it means that I will be over a lot, and you and your uncle will come see me at my house. We can go out and do things together, too." Evan told him.

"Like a family?" Jason asked.

Travis forced back the emotion the thought of being a family stirred inside him.

"Yeah, we will be sorta like a family." Evan hugged him tight. "Are you okay with me dating your uncle?"

"Yep. I'm glad you are. I don't want anyone else to date him. I like you." Jason laid his head on Evan's shoulder.

"I like you, too, Jas. As soon as this meeting is over, the three of us will go out and see a movie together or something. Okay?" Evan kissed Jason's temple.

"Can we see the new one about the animals who live on the ice?"

"Anything you want to see, Cowboy." Travis grinned as he watched the two together. "Now, how about Evan and I get you tucked into bed? You will have a busy day tomorrow helping with the tree house."

"But I'm not tired." Jason looked up at Evan as if hoping he could get him to support him.

"It's still bedtime, tired or not. Run upstairs, get in your pajamas, and brush your teeth. Evan and I will be up in a minute to tuck you in," Travis said.

Jason slipped down off Evan's lap and smiled at him. "I'm glad you're going to tuck me in, too. And I'm really glad you're Uncle Travis's boyfriend." He threw his arms around him for a long hug.

Travis watched the two together, and for a moment everything else didn't matter. He was happy, content, and all was right with the world.

As Jason ran off, Evan turned toward him and grinned. "It's good to see you smiling."

Travis laughed. "I have several reasons to smile tonight." He reached over and touched Evan's shoulder. "And each one is because of you. You're good with him. Good for both of us."

Evan bent his head and pressed his cheek against Travis's hand. "I care about both of you."

Travis swallowed, feeling emotions he hadn't dared think about burst forth. Taking a breath he stood, pulling his hand from Evan's shoulder and holding it out to him. "Let's go tuck him in so we can relax."

Evan's hand was warm in his and he drew on the security it brought him. Even though having the courts know about them put his custody case in jeopardy, he was relieved that he didn't have to hide his feelings for Evan anymore. Especially from Jason.

Jason ran from the bathroom as they walked down the hall, meeting them at his door. "See all brushed." He smiled a huge grin, showing all his teeth.

"Good job." Travis bent down and picked him up in his arms. "You get any bigger and I won't be able to lift you."

"You're strong. You can always lift me." Jason wrapped his arms around Travis's neck.

"You pull back his sheets?" Travis glanced at Evan.

Evan moved in front of them and into the room as Travis followed with Jason. When Evan stepped back from the bed, Travis laid Jason down. "Now you need to sleep. I don't want to hear you playing at your desk like the other night."

Jason laughed. "I won't."

Travis tucked the blankets around him and then bent kissing Jason on the cheek. "Sweet dreams, Cowboy. I love you."

"I love you, too." Jason glanced at Evan. "You, too, Evan. I love you."

Travis watched the emotion pass over Evan's face. He stepped back to allow room for Evan to step forward.

"You don't know how happy that makes me. I love you, too." Evan kissed his forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Night." Jason rolled to his side.

Travis made sure the nightlight was on that was by the door and then took Evan's hand as they stepped from the room. Once alone in the hall Travis pulled Evan to him and pressed him up against the wall. "You know he isn't the only one who is falling for you?" He brushed his mouth over Evan's jaw, enjoying the slight scratch of whisker against his own.

"You got a soft spot for me, too?" Evan tilted his head to the side and grinned.

"I haven't felt this way about anyone in… Well, I think we can just leave it at that. I haven't felt this way about anyone." Travis braced his hands on the wall on either side of Evan's shoulders.

"What are we going to do about that?" Evan pressed his palm to Travis's chest.

"Promise me it won't end."

"I can't promise that, but I can promise that right now I can't see it ever ending." Evan moved forward, resting one hand on Travis's waist and kissed him.

Travis moaned against his mouth, pushing him back into the wall and pressing his own body hard against him. One hand moved to comb through Evan's hair as the other reached around to cup his butt and pull him closer.

Passion raged through Travis's veins at the closeness. He'd been so careful up until now to hold back, but now, knowing that they were officially together, that nothing would break them apart, a part of him let loose and he allowed the emotions, both physical and mental, to escape.

He rocked his hips forward, finding Evan aroused and pressing back against him. He broke the kiss, to pull back and gasp for air as they moved against each other. He brought his hands to Evan's hips and pulled his shirt from his pants, sliding his hands up and under it.

The skin was hot under his palms as he moved his hands farther up, bringing one around to rub over Evan's chest. He felt the hardened nipple and gently pinched at it, smiling when Evan gasped.

"Like that?" Travis dipped his head before he could respond to catch Evan's lips for another kiss.

"Uncle Travis?" Jason's voice was like cold water being poured over them. They both pulled back, staring at each other, their eyes filled with the heat they both felt.

"Yes, Jas?" He cursed himself for having spoken to Evan in the hall, so close to Jason's door.

"Just thought I heard you by my door."

"I just dropped something on my way by, Cowboy." He smiled at Evan. "Go back to sleep."

"Night," Jason said.

Travis reached for Evan, holding his shoulder, meeting his gaze as he lowered his voice to a whisper. "We can go two ways. That way." He pointed to his bedroom. "Or that way." He pointed to the stairs leading down, leaving the choice to continue up to Evan to decide.

Evan sighed, as he relaxed back against the wall. He glanced toward the bedroom several times before reaching out and taking Travis's hand in his. "As much as I want to stay, it's best if we wait." He pushed away from the wall and pulled Travis toward the stairs, away from Jason's room. "You have no idea how tempting it is to stay with you. How hard it is to say no. I don't want it like this our first time. I have to work in the morning, Jason is still awake…" He turned at the bottom of the stairs to look up at Travis. "When I do stay, I don't want to have to leave you in the morning. I want to stay with you all day."