In Love with a Lunatic (joshler)

24. Like an Animal*

(*Closer -Nine Inch Nails)
(*smut)

Saturday
May 17

"How do you think Ty's dinner is going?" Josh asks, leaning his head back against the couch cushions.

It's Saturday night, nearing seven o'clock. With no plans, Josh and Dallon decided to hang out at Dallon's house since Tyler had dinner plans with his parents. Tyler hasn't talked to his mom in two weeks, the night of the after party. He isn't even sure why he agreed to go to dinner with her, knowing it was just going to be one big lecture that would end in him walking out anyway.

"Hopefully good. I know he wasn't too excited about it," Dallon passes the bong to Josh after taking a hit.

"What do you think his mom wanted to talk to him about?"

Dallon shrugs, blowing out smoke, "Skating probably. It's all she cares about and the fact he hasn't been to the stadium other than for finals in, what? Two months?"

"He's still healing."

"I know. But Kelly Joseph does not care. She didn't care the first time, she doesn't care this time. In fact, I'm pretty sure she cares even less, if that's possible. Plus," Dallon clears his throat, taking the bong back from Josh, "without him performing, his name becomes lower on the recognition board or, like...basically his stats and reputation get overshadowed by other skaters, y'know, and I just know his mom is not happy about that."

"I don't understand her," Josh mumbles. "How do you not realize your own kid isn't happy? I mean, it's not like he hasn't told her directly to her face more than once."

Dallon shakes his head with a shrug, "I've known Tyler for six years and she's always been this way."

"Is his dad the same way?"

"No, but he doesn't try to help him either. He doesn't say much, but he goes along with whatever his wife says, so he's not much better, in my opinion."

"I miss him."

"Am I not good enough for you?"

"You're alright," Josh teases. "But I miss our baby."

"I know. I miss him too. It feels incomplete without him."

"What are your parents like?" Josh asks after a moment.

Dallon sighs, "If you find out, let me know."

"You don't talk to them?"

"I don't know my parents. They were both kind of...estranged while I was growing up. I was raised by my grandparents, and only ever saw my parents during the holidays if I was lucky. I moved out here when I was 19, haven't talked to, heard from or seen them since."

"You're 25?"

Dallon laughs, "That's what you took from that?"

"No, I...sorry," Josh smiles slightly. "I just thought you were 23."

"Thanks, boyfriend."

Josh smiles and leans his head on the man's shoulder, "I'm sorry. To be fair though, I thought Tyler was 16 when I first saw him, but then I saw you flirt with each other and figured you wouldn't openly do that if he was a minor."

Dallon snorts, "Tyler stopped growing when he was an infant."

Josh smiles, "What does he call you?"

"What does he call me?"

"Yeah. Like...we call each other baby, but what do you two call each other?"

"He calls me Dumpling."

Josh snorts, "Dumpling."