Summertime Loving

After chatting for a while, Travis headed upstairs to find Erik. When he didn't spot him in his room, he guessed he'd be in the basement—the "man cave" Erik's dad had set up before he left. It was exactly the kind of space most guys in their forties would dream of, filled with leather seats, a poker table, and walls lined with vintage memorabilia. As Travis descended, he spotted Erik lounging at the poker table, phone in hand.

"Yo! What are you doing down here?" Travis asked as he approached.

Erik looked up, smirking. "Thinking about selling some of this stuff. Could use the cash. Oh, and guess what—I won that contest. The card you got me came through big time."

"Nice! Congrats, man. So, you were saying?"

"Yeah... I'm serious about selling this stuff. I'm strapped for cash right now," Erik admitted, glancing around the room.

Travis raised an eyebrow. "What'd Tammy say? She's okay with you selling it off?"

"Nah, she doesn't care. Barely even comes down here, so it wouldn't matter to her."

Travis chuckled, shaking his head. "Honestly, I think you're making a mistake. Imagine all the girls we could bring down here, man! You'd be the guy with the best hangout spot in town. Just think about it—this place could be legendary."

Erik looked thoughtful, a grin forming as he pictured it. "Yeah, that does sound pretty cool... But I still need to get this thing."

Travis nodded, already pulling out his phone. "Alright, I'll get it for you. What's it called?"

"It's, uh... it's called Orcette. You can find it on eBay, just... don't open it when it arrives, alright?"

Travis laughed, shaking his head at Erik's secrecy. "Yeah, yeah, whatever, dude.

"Is it a sex toy?" Travis asked with a deadpan stare. Erik sighed, a bit embarrassed, and nodded.

"Yeah…"

Travis raised an eyebrow. "It's, uh, for guys, right?"

Erik quickly nodded, his face flushed. "Of course, bro. I don't swing that way. Not that there's anything wrong with it!"

Travis smirked, holding back a laugh. "Chill, dude. You're not gonna get canceled in your own home. So we're good? You're not selling any of this stuff, right?"

Erik chuckled, relieved. "Nah, I wouldn't dare."

"Cool. Well, I should get going. See ya, man," Travis said, clapping Erik on the shoulder before heading out.

On his way out, he decided to swing by to see Tammy. As he made his way to her room, he couldn't help but feel a bit mischievous. In the game, her room was always off-limits, but here? Everything was accessible. He opened the door carefully, aiming to be polite, and was greeted by the unexpected sight of Tammy mid-change. Her back was turned, bare skin catching the soft, golden light from the setting sun streaming through the window. In a quick three seconds, Travis let his eyes take in the scene, his fingers itching to snap a few mental pictures before he quietly closed the door.

"Oh, crap. Sorry!" he said from behind the door, struggling to hold back a smirk.

A warm chuckle floated through. "It's okay, Travis. You can come in if you need something."

Remembering her playful, uninhibited side, he held back, deciding it was a little early to push things further. "Nah, I just wanted to thank you for dinner."

She smiled, amused by his thoughtfulness. "You're welcome, Travis. Heading home?"

"Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow, Mrs. Johnson."

"Alright, take care! Say hi to everyone for me."

With that, he left her to finish getting dressed, a satisfied grin lingering as he headed down the stairs and out the door.

When Travis got home, he found everyone gathered in the cozy glow of the living room, the soft hum of the movie playing in the background. He decided to join them, figuring it'd be a nice way to wind down. He sat beside Debbie, who was curled up on one end of the couch, while Jenny lounged across from them on another. Yumi was settled comfortably in an armchair, her gaze fixed on the screen.

As soon as he sat down, Debbie looked over at him, a playful pout on her lips. "You cheated on me with Tammy," she teased, her eyes glinting with mock hurt. Travis couldn't help but grin as he slid closer, resting his head on her lap. "Come on, Ma. You know nobody could ever top you," he murmured, looking up at her with a smirk.

Her heart fluttered at the word "mom," but she kept her composure, determined to keep up the act. "That's not going to cheer me up," she said, though a small smile betrayed her.

"I still need someone to help me with chores."

Travis sighed, but a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. "Alright, if that's all it takes, I'll do it."

"Great," she replied, her face lighting up. She gently traced her fingers over his chest, absentmindedly running her nails in small circles as they settled back into watching the movie together.

Travis tried to focus on the screen, but he could feel his heartbeat picking up with each light touch. He took a deep breath, willing himself to stay calm.

'Man, I need to stay strong,' he thought, glancing up to see Debbie's soft smile as they watched the screen.

As the credits rolled, Travis realized he and Yumi were the only ones still awake. The quiet room, lit only by the soft glow of the screen, seemed to deepen the intimacy of the moment. Yumi gave him a small smile, though her exhaustion was evident. Everyone else had drifted off to sleep, sprawled comfortably across her bed.

Travis lifted his head from Debbie's warm lap and sat up, stretching slightly. Guess I better get everyone to their rooms, he thought with a sigh.

He gently scooped Jenny up first, her arms immediately wrapping around his neck, her head resting against his shoulder. She looked peaceful, her face relaxed, and he found himself feeling oddly protective, charmed by how innocent she seemed. After settling her into bed, he returned for Debbie, who had practically melted into the couch, her limbs loose and soft as he carefully picked her up.

As he carried her, he caught a glimpse of her, realizing how beautiful she looked in her relaxed state, her features softened. Determined to keep his focus, he quietly hummed "YMCA" under his breath, grounding himself before laying her gently on her bed.

When he returned to the living room, he found Yumi watching him, her gaze curious and almost amused.

"You wanna make something to eat?" he asked, feeling a sudden hunger. She nodded, and they both headed to the kitchen together.

' She doesn't even have arc beside her relationship with Harold, I wonder if they're dating here as well' he thought, glancing at her as they moved through the darkened house. I wonder if they're together here too.

TO BE CONTINUED.