I dozed off for a while, and woke up when the truck slowed for the Ontario off ramp. Besides changing drivers, the truck was being refilled. I took advantage of the stop to use the restroom and buy some snacks.
Returning to the truck, I waited outside while Cody and his dad attended to the refueling and their own personal needs. Keith climbed into the driver's seat. Cody moved into the sleeper unit, and I resumed my place in the passenger seat. Keith looked at me with what was probably as close to a smile as he ever had.
"Are you doing okay, Travis?"
"Yes, I am. Thanks again for the ride."
He turned towards the back. "Cody, why don't you pull down the upper bunk for Travis to use?"
Cody replied. "Okay, I'll do that."
Keith looked back at me. "You can go back there with Cody if you want to. The top bunk is narrow, but you're welcome to use it."
I shrugged. "Whatever works best for you two. I can doze here, too."
Cody looked through the sleeper unit entrance. "Come back here with me, Travis. Bring your pack if you want to. There's plenty of room."
I maneuvered myself and my pack between the seats and into the back. Once into the sleeper, there was plenty of headroom for my five-foot-ten-inch frame.
Cody pulled the privacy curtain closed and latched it. The truck engine and road noise became a muted hum. I was impressed. I sat on the lower bunk while Cody gave me a tour.
"This is a medium-size unit with a microwave, a small refrigerator, a small closet, and limited storage. The larger ones have restroom facilities and even showers. The back and end walls are insulated for temperature and noise control. The lower bunk here is the length of a queen bed and a little more than the width of a twin bed. Go ahead and test it out."
I kicked off my shoes and stretched out on the bed.
"Cool! I guess when you're on the road, it's nice to have all the comforts of home."
Cody sat down on the edge of the bed. "Very true. Now, the upper bunk is narrower and shorter. We can set it up for you, or we can see how this works with two. I've never tried that before."
I pretended to think about it for a few moments. "Sure. I'm game to try it if you are."
I stood up beside him. It was a little crowded for undressing.
Cody laughed. "Dad and I are rarely back here at the same time, and if so, one of us is in bed. We're going to have a few logistical problems, I can see. I'll sit on the bed while you undress."
I took off my cargo shorts, folded them, and set them on my pack next to the bed. With no underwear underneath, I was completely naked. Sitting on the lower bunk, Cody had a closeup view of the central part of my body. He wasn't exactly staring, but he wasn't ignoring it either.
We switched positions. Cody wore boxer shorts. He hesitated for a couple seconds and removed them. Now it was my turn to enjoy the view, and it was enjoyable. Cody was a muscular ranch boy like me, and the important part was about the same size as Trevon's.
He got into bed beside me. Lying side-by-side on our backs, there wasn't any room to spare. Cody was okay with it.
"Let's give it a try. If it doesn't work, we can go back to plan A."
"Are you okay in front, or would you rather be back here?"
"This works."
I rolled over to face the back wall and curled up. Cody curled up behind me. I was used to sleeping with Trevon that way, and I dozed off immediately.
When I woke up a while later, it took me a moment to remember where I was. Cody's arm was thrown over me, pulling me tight against him, his hand over my now-rigid pole. I lay there for a few minutes, trying to determine if he was asleep or awake. Then his hand moved. I put my hand over his, and he tightened his grasp.
He whispered. "Are you okay with this?"
"Yeah, it's okay. I thought for a moment you were my boyfriend. He does that all the time."
There were a few moments of silence.
"You have a boyfriend?"
I maneuvered myself so I was lying on my back.
"Yeah, that's a recent change. And it's part of what provoked the conflict at home."
"So, do you two do it with others?"
"Yeah, we do. It's an open relationship, for now anyway."
His hand explored my upper body. "I'd like to have sex with you. It's not a pay-back for the ride. It's completely up to you."
Twenty-four hours earlier, I'd been having sex with Trevon. With all of the trauma since then, I wanted someone to hold me close and make love to me. All that went through my head in one second.
I moved onto my side facing him. Pulling his head close to mine, I kissed him on the lips.
"I think that would be awesome."
Getting him on top of me in the narrow bed required a little maneuvering, and produced laughter from both of us. Once there, we took our time. I wasn't used to a lot of foreplay, but that's what Cody wanted to do. The fifteen minutes we spent kissing, hugging and exploring each other with our hands relaxed me and took the edge off of the stress of the day. It also made me horny as hell.
Cody paused. "Fuck! I don't have any lube."
I smiled. "I can solve that problem. Reach into the left front pocket of my shorts."
He found the lube and got up on his knees, grinning down at me.
"Are you always this well-prepared?"
I laughed softly. "Yeah, it's becoming a habit to have some around. A recent habit, by the way. My first sexual experience was less than two weeks ago."
He seemed surprised. "How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"Okay, that makes sense. I think I was fifteen my first time. You look a little older than that."
He leaned over and carefully slid his pole inside, and then grinned at me.
"We're both fairly big guys. If this bed were any smaller, we'd be in trouble."
I laughed softly. " Yeah, there's not much room for wild gymnastics, but I bet you don't slip out."
He moved his pole in and out a couple times. "I think it's gonna work."
Cody screwed me slowly and steadily, handling me with the same kind of experienced self-assurance he exhibited driving. The constant hum of the engine and the occasional movement of the truck as it changed speed or direction created an almost hypnotizing experience. Time and space disappeared as we lost ourselves in a cocoon of pleasure and happiness, just Cody and me, writhing together in ecstasy in a small world of our own.
When he finally climaxed, it wasn't the vigorous ending I usually experienced with Trevon and Jalen. It was more like an exclamation point at the end of a long sentence - a punctuation mark which simply noted the conclusion and emphasized the importance of what preceded it.
Kissing me gently, Cody moved beside me. This time, I curled up behind him. Holding him tightly against me, I quickly fell asleep again.
Cody shook me awake as we passed through The Dalles. He was already up and dressed.
"We're making a quick rest area stop about ten miles west of here and switching drivers. If you'd get dressed and help me change the sheets, that would be great."
By the time we pulled into the rest stop, we had the sleeper unit in order. Less than ten minutes later, we were underway again with Cody driving and me in the passenger seat. It was daylight now, and Cody pointed out the changing scenery.
"You missed a lot of interesting country during the night, but the next sixty miles are especially worth paying attention to. You'll notice how the landscape changes as we pass through the Columbia River Gorge. We just left The Dalles where the annual rainfall is fifteen inches. In forty miles, it will be over eighty, with mountains rising abruptly to five thousand feet while we remain at almost sea level. Then the rainfall drops to about forty inches, and the mountains fall behind us as we approach the edge of Portland."
His description was accurate. The central part was particularly beautiful - a zone of unique mountains and rock formations, waterfalls, and dense green forests.
We pulled into Love's truck stop in Troutdale, another gas stop. I gathered my belongings together and stepped out of the truck, glad to have my shirt and sweatshirt on now in the damp early-morning coolness of the northwest coastal climate.
I offered my hand to Keith. "Thanks very much for the ride. You have no idea how much I appreciate it."
Keith shook my hand with a real smile. "We're glad we could help you, Travis."
I had one more request. "Could you please make arrangements for me to use the drivers' shower here?"
"No problem."
Cody and I watched as Keith attended to the truck refueling. I put my arm around him.
"Thank you. Last night was special."
He smiled. "For me too." He handed me a business card. "Text me when you get there, wherever it is."
I gave him a quick hug. "I'll do that."
I had lots of time. I took my shower, got dressed, and looked at my face in the mirror. I was grateful the redness was fading. From this point on, I didn't want to bring attention to myself.
I walked next door to Shari's for breakfast and checked public transportation on my phone. It was simple. A short bus ride followed by a longer light rail ride into downtown Portland.
The light rail stopped directly in front of the Amtrak Union Station. I went inside and picked up my ticket at a Quik-Trak kiosk. I had four hours to wait. I put my bag in a locker, bought some snacks from the vending machine, and with the help of Google located the short connecting path to the Willamette River. I spent three hours walking along the waterfront greenway trails, feeding the seagulls, watching the others who were enjoying the beautiful summer morning.
At two o'clock, I was back at the station watching when the train came in from Seattle. As soon as boarding was available, I was at the gate. The attendant stamped my ticket, gave my ID a perfunctory look, and directed me to my sleeper car. I breathed a sigh of relief. The last barrier had been crossed.
At the train, the attendant welcomed me, checked my ticket, and directed me to my roomette unit at the end of the car. I found it, put my bag on the rear-facing seat and myself on the other, and closed the sliding door to my home for the next thirty-one hours.
It wasn't long before the train pulled out of the station. I watched as the city turned into suburbs, then open countryside. The attendant stopped by to educate me on the meals which were included. I asked for the earliest possible seating for dinner.
Seated with three strangers, I exchanged polite conversation, ate quickly, and returned to my roomette. I took off my shoes and socks, removed my shirt, and replaced my cargo shorts with the Hawaiian-pattern board shorts I'd acquired a few days earlier. Settling comfortably into my seat, I started thinking a little further into the future. At the moment, there were a lot of unknowns, but the light at the end of a very long tunnel was becoming brighter all the time. The abuse was over, and I was moving into a new phase of life.
A younger kid who'd smiled at me in the hallway earlier walked by, looking quickly through the window into my roomette. A few minutes later, my reverie was interrupted by a knock on the door. I slid it open and found the same kid, maybe twelve years old, standing there shirtless and barefoot.
"Can I come in and talk with you for a while?"
I smiled. "Sure, why not?"
I moved my pack onto the floor and he seated himself opposite me. "I'm traveling with my parents and my sister in the family bedroom unit. It's too small and my sister is driving me nuts. I thought maybe I could spend some time with you."
The diversion was welcome. "Sure, tell me about yourself."
He did. In detail. His name was Aiden and he lived in Seattle and was going to Sacramento to visit his grandparents. It was going to be fun. I learned about all the things they were going to see and do. In about a half hour, his slightly worried mother came looking for him. She saw him through the window and slid the door open.
"Is he bothering you?"
I smiled at her. "No. Not at all. I'm enjoying our conversation."
"Well, if you get tired of him, send him to our room."
"No problem."
Aiden had run down. He spent some time looking out the window and making observations about what he saw. Then he sat in silence for a while, watching the world go by - when he wasn't grinning at me and rubbing a bare foot against mine.
Then, suddenly, he wanted to know all about me. Where was I going? Where did I live? Was I in high school? What sports did I play? Did I like video games? I told him I lived in the Los Angeles area and was going home. That was as close to the truth as I could get at the moment.
It began to get dark, and his dad came to get him.
"Aiden, it's time to come to your own room."
"Do I have to? I wanna stay here with my buddy, TJ. Maybe I can sleep here tonight. He only needs one bunk, and there's two. Please?"
"I'm sorry, but that's not the way it works on a train. You need to sleep in your assigned room."
He went with his dad reluctantly, insisting on a hug before he left. I closed the door. It had been a fun way to spend an hour or so.
Ten minutes later, Aiden's dad knocked on the door.
"One of the beds in our unit is broken." He smiled. "Aiden insists his buddy TJ will let him sleep in the upper berth in his room. The attendant says it's unusual, but if it's okay with all of us he'll ignore it."
I grinned at him. "Aiden's buddy TJ is cool with it."
Aiden arrived shortly wearing pajama bottoms and a huge grin. He helped me set up the two beds and climbed into the upper berth. I got him settled in. He insisted on a good-night kiss.
I crawled into the lower bunk. Aiden leaned his head over and looked at me with a grin.
"Can I come down there and sleep with you?"
I smiled up at him. "There's not enough room. You better stay up there."
He didn't press the issue. As opposed to his parents, what his buddy TJ said wasn't to be argued with. Soon his steady breathing told me he was asleep.
I was sure Aiden was beginning to explore his sexuality, and I was sure I knew what he'd learn about himself. I'd have been happy to help him out with that, but he wasn't quite ready for what I had to offer.
I got my first full night's sleep in days, and woke up feeling like a new person. I lay there quietly watching the sunrise. Aiden was still sleeping.
At six o'clock, Aiden's dad was at the door to fetch him. We'd be in Sacramento soon, and he needed to get dressed. Fifteen minutes later, he was back to tell me goodbye and give me another hug. With his parents absent this time, the hug was longer and included a little exploration of my back muscles. My suspicions were being confirmed.
I could see my younger self in Aiden. I remembered something Grams had said recently: "We've both understood you for several years, maybe even before you understood yourself." Perhaps I'd gained some of that insight, too.
After breakfast, I pulled out my phone. It was time to make some arrangements. I was going to text Gramps first. He'd already started the conversation.
"Train ticket? Where are you?"
Gramps checked his credit card accounts regularly. He knew what I was up to, and I'd have bet anything he hadn't told anyone yet, not even Grams.
"Can you meet me at the LA Union Station at 9:00 this evening?"
The answer was instantaneous.
"We'll be there. May I tell your mother you're on your way here before she reports you missing?"
I thought about that for a few seconds. I loved my mom, but my trust level was low. I'd planned to call her later, but I wouldn't mind passing that off to Gramps for now.
"Yes, and please tell her I'll contact her after I get there."
During the day, I ate two more meals with strangers and engaged in polite conversation. In between, I watched the California coastline go by, interspersed with stops in small and large towns. I needed no other diversions. The only thing that would have improved the day would have been Trevon in the other seat.
By seven o'clock, we were well past Santa Barbara and approaching the urban area. I was both excited and nervous. I knew there would be information from Twin Falls, and arrangements to be made for the future. I'd be having a long and serious talk with my grandparents. And Trevon would be there waiting for me. That was the most important part.
I left the train and walked into the crowded station, the largest in the Western United States. Trevon and I spotted each other immediately. I'm sure the grin on my face matched his. He gave me a hug and wouldn't let go as I cried with relief on his shoulder. Gramps and Grams were right behind him, and they got equal time.
The drive home was silent. Trevon and I sat in the back seat holding hands. That was all we needed.
As we approached the now-familiar neighborhood, Trevon leaned forward. "Gramps, I know you'll have a lot to talk about with TJ. Could you please let me off near my apartment?"
Gramps had other ideas. "I can if you wish, but I think it would be a good idea for you to come home with us. Yes, we have a few things to discuss tonight, and there will be more in the morning. But you're part of our family now, and you should be included in the conversations."
I didn't hesitate. "I agree."
Once inside the condo, we sat around the kitchen table. Thanks to modern technology, Grams already had coffee ready. Gramps opened the conversation.
"A few facts to start with, Travis. I spoke with your mother twice today. The first was this morning once I had your approval. I told her you were coming here and would call her after you got here." He smiled slightly. "She and the sheriff's office seemed to have the mistaken impression you were with Josh and his parents. It's good she didn't report you missing because that would have made you a runaway, a crime under the archaic laws of Idaho."
"When I spoke to her late this afternoon, she'd followed your lead and filed a spousal abuse complaint. Your father is now in the Twin Falls County Jail on two charges of assault and battery against household members, a felony offense. Your mother and I agreed you should stay here for now under the custodial agreement we have for vacations, and that we'll revisit the situation before the end of the summer."
I interrupted. "If my father is in jail, who's gonna help Mom take care of the ranch?"
Gramps smiled. "I'm glad you're thinking of that, but keep in mind you're not responsible for that problem. For the short term, your uncle will manage both ranches with Josh's assistance and hired help. That's another thing we'll revisit at the end of the summer."
"To continue, your mother gave the sheriff's office your new contact information. They called me, and advised they'll need more information from you, but they'll arrange for interviews and depositions to be done here if possible. You may have to go back to testify, depending on how the case against your father proceeds."
"Now, although I'm sure I know the answer, you need to tell me what you want to do at the end of the summer."
I took a few moments to gather my thoughts. "I want to stay here if at all possible. I want to be with Trevon, but it goes beyond that. Even if my father is out of the picture at home, Mom made it clear she doesn't accept my sexuality and doesn't believe I'm in love with Trevon. I wouldn't have acceptance with my peers or the conservative community either. I don't belong there now. I think the only way I can be myself is to stay here."
Gramps nodded his head. "That's what I expected. Your grandmother and I also feel it's in your best interests to stay here, and we'll do our best to support that. There are several paths to achieving that goal, but most will require legal support. We'll make an appointment tomorrow with our lawyer to discuss the right approach. In the meantime, this will be your official address." He smiled slightly. "I think Trevon wants your physical address to be elsewhere, and at least for the summer that will work."
He looked at the clock. "It's nearly midnight in Twin Falls. You should wait until morning to call your mother." He turned to Trevon. "Will you be spending the night here with Travis?"
Trevon smiled. "Does Smokey the Bear shit in the woods?"
We all broke up laughing. Leave it to Trevon to break the tension.
Trevon and I went to my bedroom and got ready for bed. Once there, we lay on our backs holding hands while I told him the whole story from the time I'd last seen him. I told him about everything, including my sex with Cody. There weren't going to be any secrets between us.
Trevon made love to me once, slowly and tenderly and for a very long time, wiping away all the distress of the past couple of days. No one could send me to another dimension like Trevon could. He wasn't concerned about the loud happy moaning he was causing, and where I was I didn't even know I was doing it. And if the noise carried outside of the bedroom, no one ever reported it.
I woke up early and did some communicating while I was alone. I sent a text to Cody telling him where I was and thanking him again for the ride. Then I sent one to Josh thanking him for his support and telling him I'd call later in the day. His reply made me smile - he'd put the poster up in his bedroom, and his parents loved it.
Finally, I made the phone call to Mom. It was a tense and difficult conversation. She said she had good support from family and friends, and was moving on. But I also learned she'd filed the spousal abuse complaint only after her parents and brother had encouraged her to do so. The message was clear that it had been done for my benefit, not hers. I got the impression she resented my interference in an abuse pattern which had become normal to her. It was clear we both had some individual healing to do before we could develop a new relationship. When the call was over, I was even more convinced I'd done the right thing by leaving.
Trevon got up and we made breakfast. The grandparents still weren't up, so I left them a note telling them where I would be and that I'd be back later.
Carrying the pack containing all of my personal possessions, I walked the now-familiar four blocks with Trevon to his apartment. I insisted on using my key to let us in, and we climbed the stairs. Familiar smells of breakfast came from the kitchen.
The apartment seemed empty. Then I saw the hastily-made banner above the TV which said, "Welcome Home TJ". Gramps, Grams, Jalen, Hunter, Terrell and Molly all appeared from the hallway where they'd been hiding. Tears ran down my cheeks as they all gave me hugs and kisses.
I looked at Trevon. "You knew."
He was grinning from ear to ear. "Of course."
I gave him the biggest hug of all.
Then I looked around at what was now my family, and smiled with happiness.
I was home.
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