Just Do It (TannerBraungardtxDylanMitchell)

23: Coming Out & Presents

Tanner wore actual clothes for once- ripped skinny jeans, a thin long sleeve shirt and a Santa hat to top it off. Much to his dismay, he wouldn't get away with only a pair a tight underwear today. He thought of it as a gift to his mother.

"FaceTime Seventeenth Steven." He said into his phone and waited.

"Hey, Tanner. Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, babe. Are you still gonna be able to go to my dad's today?"

"Yeah, for a few hours after church because then we have to go somewhere for a family dinner and yeah, whenever church is over."

"Okay, I miss you. Can't wait to see you."

"Me too, but I gotta go. We're leaving. Love you."

God, Tanner would never tire of hearing that. Dylan said it oh so casually now, like they used to, but Tanner knew that their love was anything but casual.

His moment of bliss was interrupted by a slap to the back of his head. Tristan sat on the couch beside his little brother with a scowl.

"Aw, don't be like that. There's no need to be jealous that I have an amazing, sexy boyfriend that loves me and you don't." Tanner patronized in a childish tone.

Tristan merely rolled his eyes and yelled for Taylor to grab him a cookie on her way to the living room. It was tradition. They had homemade waffles for breakfast, then opened presents together in the upstairs living room. Then they'd go to their dad's house, where grandma and grandpa Braungart, their cousins Owen and Logan, and basically their entire family gathered for a family dinner and more presents. The only thing different about this year is he would be introducing Dylan as his boyfriend, instead of just his friend.

"Hey, kiddos, let's open presents!" Kim was a very Christmassy person.

Even though they had plenty of money, their gifts to each other weren't extravagant. Bluetooth headphones, shoes, etcetera. Tanner gave his brother a Bob's Burgers snapback just because he knew Tristan loved the show.

By the time all the gifts were open, the living room floor was covered in a rainbow of wrapping paper pieces and Tanner was sorely missing his boyfriend. He couldn't wait to give him his present later that evening.

Then they were cleaning up. Taylor and Tristan left to take the trash out, so Tanner had a moment with his mom.

"Mom?"

"Yeah?"

He bit his lip, not knowing how to put all of his sudden thoughts into a coherent sentence. "Just thanks for being my mom and loving me and shit."

He was shocked when Kim wrapped her arms around him. They didn't really hug besides when they were saying goodbye to each other, or something like that. It was nice. But kind of awkward. So they pulled apart and went their separate ways to get things ready.

On the way through town, Tanner sat in the very back seat of his brother's jeep and called Dylan.

"Babe, it's everything okay? I said I'd call after church."

"Yeah, everything's fine. I just wanted to remind about whenever we agreed you wouldn't spend money on me."

"I know, beautiful. I only spent fifty cents."

"Dude, I told you I didn't want anything!"

Dylan rolled his eyes, ducking behind a door so his mom wouldn't see him. "Shut up, stupid. I'll see you later."

Tanner blushed. He was so smitten.

But he was stern on Dylan not spending any money on him. The Mitchells had eleven kids and didn't come from money like the Braungardts. There wasn't anything Dylan could give him except himself. As cliche as it sounds, all he wanted for Christmas was Dylan.