In Love with a Lunatic (joshler)

34. Pretzels

Saturday
October 11

Walking into the locker room, Josh and Dallon begin getting ready for warm-up. Tyler sits on the bench, eyes focused on Ronnie across the room. His nose is bruised, but the swelling had gone down throughout the week.

Dallon somehow didn't suffer any consequences from head butting him. Ronnie never reported him, and the three aren't quite sure why. Maybe because he knew it was deserved. But Tyler doesn't believe that and is silently waiting for Dallon's own karma to bite him in the ass. Ronnie hasn't bothered Tyler since that night, which the brunette is grateful for, but it's only a matter of time before he's back on his bullshit.

Cody walks in a few minutes later and smiles lightly at them, "Ty, Jenna's waiting in the hall for you."

Tyler stands up and is instantly pulled toward Dallon. He kisses the man's lips before doing the same to Josh. Leaving the locker room, he grins at Jenna and her eyes go wide.

"What?"

"What happened to your neck?"

"I have two boyfriends. They each pick a side and go at it, I don't know," Tyler shrugs.

The blonde laughs lightly, "Fair enough."

"How's the babe?"

"He is good."

"It's a boy?!" Tyler exclaims, excitedly.

Jenna grins, "It's a boy!"

The two hug tightly and Tyler kisses her cheek, "I thought you two were gonna have a reveal?"

"We couldn't wait," Jenna giggles, as they disband. "We opened the envelope last night."

"I'm so excited for you guys! Do you have a name picked out?"

The two begin walking to the stands as Jenna answers.

"Not yet. Cody wants Michael, after his dad, for his middle name, so we're trying to think of first names to go with Michael."

"I'm excited," Tyler repeats as they find their seats.

Sitting down, Tyler's phone vibrates with an incoming text message. He gulps, seeing his mom's contact. It's been months since he's heard from her or any of his family, besides his aunt every few days to check in on him.

Mom:
Happy now?

Confused, he opens the attached link and his jaw drops.

"What's wrong?" Jenna asks upon seeing her friend's face.

Tyler smiles ever so slightly, turning his phone to Jenna.

Figure Skating Coach and Former Team Member of Columbus' Toothless Lunatics, Richard Casey, Dead at 64.

"Oh my god," Jenna gasps, grabbing the phone from Tyler's hands. She scrolls through the article as the smile on the man's face slowly becomes bigger. It was as if a huge weight had been lifted off his chest.

"He was killed in a car wreck yesterday," Jenna reads. She looks at Tyler who sits silently, a grin covering his face. Her brow furrows in anger, "Why are you smiling?"

Tyler's face drops and he looks at the woman next to him.

"He was an inspiration for so many skaters and hockey players. Why are you happy about him dying?"

"I-I thought-," Tyler says quietly.

"Just because you're done with skating doesn't mean everyone still involved is bad."

"Jen, wait, no!" Tyler exclaims as the girl shoves his phone into his hands and walks away from him. Slumping into his seat, he feels his eyes start to water. Rolling his eyes at himself, he sighs heavily and forces them to stay calm.