22. Teddy

Elizabeth offers to take me down to Richmond, even though the drive is at least six hours long, and we leave as soon as she can pack an overnight bag. I think she just wants to hear what happens first, but I'm not in the mood to chat the whole way there.

A weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and yet, my nerves are shot. I know my own mind better than I ever have, my family accepts me for who I am, and I have an ally in my sister coming out at the same time.

The last piece of the puzzle is Jamie.

When we cross the border into Virginia, Elizabeth turns off to get gas. We grab snacks from the mini-mart and head toward I-95 with less than two hours on the GPS. She doesn't turn the music back on, and I brace for the question I know she's been waiting to ask.

"What are you going to say to Jamie when you see him?"

My family calls him JJ, the same as his family since he's James Jr., so hearing my nickname for Jamie from her startles me enough to answer with the truth.

"I don't know. It depends on him."

Elizabeth seems to sense my inner turmoil and doesn't press me to elaborate. She lets me ruminate the rest of the trip until I have to help guide her when the directions get more vague.

Jamie's family home is a mansion on the James River, ironically. West of downtown Richmond in Windsor, the giant house has five beds and five baths and a pool Jamie and I spent a lot of time in. I've stayed over with my own room on multiple school breaks, so when I give my name at the gate they let us pass.

"Damn, JJ's family is fancy," Elizabeth whistles. She met Jim and Naomi in North Carolina when we got our Bachelor degrees, but the Horowitz"s live in a different world than we grew up with. "At least I know there's plenty of space for me to crash. How's the nightlife?"

"Park in front," I tell her as she pulls into their round driveway with the gleaming white stone facade reflecting the mid-afternoon sun. Trying to distract myself, I reply to her without questioning my little sister going out alone in a strange town, "The Fan District always has something going on."

"Cool. Should we bring our bags?"

"Um, maybe we can wait? I don't even know if he's here yet."

"Alright." Elizabeth bites her lip and squeezes my shoulder, "But I don't think he will reject you, TJ. Positive thoughts."

Giving her a tight-lipped smile, I get out of the car and wait for her at the grand front door. Before I can decide if I should knock or walk in like I'm used to, the maid answers the door. She's young, the daughter of their last maid who I met on my first visit to the house, and has dark eyes that contrast her pale skin. Anna took over a year ago when her mom moved back to Israel, and she is always friendly to me.

"Mr. James," Anna greets me with a genuine smile and holds the door wide for us to enter. "I wondered why you weren't with JJ. And who is this? Will you both be staying the night? I made up the blue room for you when they said JJ was coming."

"Hi, Anna. This is my sister, Elizabeth. And we do have bags in the car," I gesture to her old hatchback and Anna looks past me.

"The family is eating on the terrace. Why don't you go say hello and I will help your sister get settled?"

Elizabeth agrees and gives me a shoo motion followed by a thumbs up. They go out to the car and I make my way through the entryway, past the main kitchen and great room to the terrace. The door is open and I see Alan, their chef, bringing plates in. His eyes widen and he nods in greeting, but doesn't stop with his hands full.

"Expanding won't hurt us," I hear Jim saying before I see them. "You know I think of Theodore as a son, too."

His words stop me in my tracks as I look out at the covered seating area, not able to see the outdoor dining table yet. I don't want to interrupt and make them think I'm eavesdropping. Of course, that means I start listening to their private conversation by accident.

"Yes," Jamie's mom agrees and I smile. I think of them as second parents too. "Which is why we must know what's going on between you two."

Should I walk in and ask to speak to him? If he hasn't shared what happened yet, he might be equally confused as I am. I take one step onto the threshold when Jamie's voice freezes me in place.

"I think I'm in love."

Oh.

My hearing goes fuzzy until the sound of plates clattering pulls me out of it.

"In love with whom? Is she Jewish?"

He really hasn't told them anything. I'm not Jewish and definitely not a she.

"Um, no," I can hear the hesitation, but Jamie continues without pausing, "he's not Jewish."

"Well, that's not the end of the world. No one is perfect," Naomi sighs and I wonder if she heard him. Her voice goes up an octave, "Wait…He?"

This makes me nervous for him, and he doesn't have his sister here with him like I did. I decide I need to be there for him for this, and step outside.

"Yeah, I"m not straight."

Good for you Jamie, I silently cheer for his bravery. No one has seen me yet, but I stop walking when he finishes.

"And I'm in love with Teddy."

Naomi and Jim jump up, and I'm worried they might start yelling when they pull him into a hug. Jamie's dad catches sight of me and gives me a smile I can only read as accepting. His parents accept him no matter who he loves, just like mine.

Naomi looks like she might be crying as she leans back to look at her son. "Oh, JJ. Does he love you back?"

"He does."

The words ring in my ears before I realize I've said them. All three of them turn to look at me in surprise. It's true. I love Jamie more than anyone or anything in the world.

Stepping out of his parents' embrace, Jamie approaches, cupping my face in his hands. "I should have said that to you first. I love you. Teddy."

"I should have realized this years ago," I lick my lips and give him a rueful grin. "I'm in love with you, Jamie."

"Oh, shit," my sister curses from behind me, breaking the moment and making me laugh. She's wiping tears from her eyes, "Sorry, that was so sweet."

"Maybe we should go talk somewhere, privately?" Jamie suggests and he steps back to offer his hand.

"Yeah." I weave my fingers with his and wave to his parents, "Hi, you remember my sister, Elizabeth."

"Hi Lizzie, bye Lizzie," Jamie doesn't wait for her to reply, tugging me past my sister. "Mom, Dad, we'll see you for dinner. Or maybe dessert."

His intent is clear, and I know I'm blushing. Elizabeth rolls her eyes and the Horowitz's say they will keep her company as Jamie drags me into the house. We breeze past Anna and head up the wide staircase, making a beeline for Jamie's room.

Pulling me inside, he closes the door, pushing me against the solid surface. "I know we should talk, but I want to love all over your body for running off to New Jersey."

"You want to punish me, by loving on me?" I gasp when he pulls off my T-shirt and starts kissing along the column of my neck. Who knew that was an erogenous zone?

"Yes," Jamie starts working on the button of my shorts, never letting up with his mouth and tongue on my bare skin. "Is that alright with you?"

"More than," I pant and reach for his pants.

We're naked when he finally puts his lips on mine, our tongues tangling as he walks backward towards his king-size bed. When I visited, he would often stay in the blue room with me, since it has two beds. Hell, our apartment has two separate beds.

"We need a new bed," I mutter against his lips.

"What?" Jamie laughs and sits on the edge of the mattress, "This one isn't good enough after our suite on the cruise?"

"No, I mean at home," I nudge his shoulders and he falls back so I can straddle his hips.

"I love that I get to take you home with me. Our home," Jamie runs his hands up my bare hips to tease the V of muscles leading to my erection. "Yes, we need a new bed. What do you need right now?"

"You, I need you." I bite my lip and whisper the rest, "I want you inside of me, Jamie."

"Fuck," Jamie lets out a satisfied growl and flips us so he's hovering over me. "I am more than happy to give you that, Teddy. Whatever you want and need. I'm yours."