Free Uncle by E. M. Leya

show him.
    Evan grabbed his bag and followed.
    As Evan changed, Travis rushed up to his room to do the same. As he pulled his suit on, he smiled as he thought about how comfortable he was with Evan. And it wasn't just him. Jason seemed drawn to him as well. Despite the case hanging over his head, he could almost put the custody battle out of his mind when Evan was with them.
    Once changed, he made his way back downstairs to find Evan and Jason both carrying things out to the patio beside the pool. He grabbed the plate of sandwiches and took them with him as he moved past Evan, trying not to stare at the way a light mass of hair covered his chest and trailed down over his stomach. His own body stirred as he thought about brushing his fingers through it.
    Turning away, he took several steadying breaths as he grabbed the iced tea and several plastic cups to bring outside too.
    "Thanks again for making this. I'm going to owe you a week's worth of meals after all this." Evan took a seat.
    "Hopefully you will have plenty of time to pay me back." Travis took a seat beside him. "Jason, come eat." He called over his shoulder to the boy who was wandering closer to the pool. "You know you have to eat first."
    Jason came running over with Flossie following him. Travis shook his head. The dog was no longer his. She belonged to Jason. One more thing Jason would lose if he had to go live with the Steeles.
    Everyone reached for the sandwiches and started to eat in silence. Travis raised a brow as Jason pulled his sandwich apart, but smiled as he started to eat it section by section, only sneaking the crust from his bread to the dog at his feet.
    "Flossie isn't going to know what to do without you for the next few days." Evan poured himself some more tea.
    "I was just thinking that I no longer have a dog. She belongs to him. I don't remember the last time she slept in my room for the night." Travis wiped some mayonnaise from his fingers.
    "Can I take her with me to Grandma's?" Jason asked.
    "I would let you, but I don't think Grandma would be too happy about it." Travis told him. "But I do need to talk to you about something before you go." He glanced up at Evan.
    "What?" Jason asked.
    Travis took a deep breath and tossed his napkin down on the table. "I don't want you to worry, but I want to explain some things to you before you hear them from your grandparents. First is Evan. He is going to drop by your grandparents while you are there and I need you to know why."
    "You're coming to Grandma's?" Jason looked excited.
    "For a few hours." Evan smiled. "But listen to your uncle first, okay."
    Jason nodded, looking back at Travis.
    "Your grandparents are trying to make it so you live with them and not with me. Evan is in charge of seeing what it's like for you at both places and helping to make the decision on where you are going to live." Travis fisted his cup, hating that he needed to talk to Jason about this at all.
    "But I want to live here." Jason sat up straighter, pulling his hand from the dog and resting it on the table. "I will just tell Grandma and Grandpa I want to stay here."
    "It's not that easy. You can try to tell them, but I'm not sure they will listen. Anyway, that is why Evan is here, and why he will be dropping by your grandparents. I just didn't want you to be surprised when he suddenly showed up there."
    "But I don't want to live with them." Jason's voice held a slight tone of panic.
    "It's okay, Jas. I am doing all I can to make sure you can stay here. Your mommy and daddy wanted you to stay here. I think your grandparents just miss you, and want you with them. I promise to do everything possible to keep you here with me." Travis reached across the table and took Jason's hand. "I want you here with me, too, Cowboy."
    Tears filled Jason's eyes. "I don't want to go over there. What if they don't let me come back?"
    Evan shook his head. "They can't keep you until the judge makes his decision, and that won't happen for a while