blossom ↣ joshler ✓

42. Astonishing

Josh had somehow convinced Kelly to let Tyler come to an out of town game with him the next Friday night.

The game ended at 8:30 and it was a half hour drive back to Columbus but luckily John had been there when he had asked, saying that 'it wasn't a school night and an hour past his bedtime wouldn't hurt anyone'. Maybe the fact he was taking her out on another date helped.

The team had all taken a bus to the school but Josh's coach needed him to bring a few things so he told him he was alright to drive up with Tyler as long as he was there for the game to start at seven.

Josh's team had lost their first game of the season but only by a point. He was bummed but it was bound to happen anyway. He was saying goodbye to his team as they boarded the bus for the ride back while Tyler waited by his side. As soon as the doors were closed they walked back to his car.

"I'm proud of you for trying your hardest," Tyler told him.

"Thanks, baby," Josh mustered a half smile. He was just upset. He felt like he could've done better. He felt like he let his team down.

They got in and Tyler looked at him. "Joshua."

"Yeah?" He sighed.

"You did wonderful, okay? You completed the game the best to your ability. That's all you could do. I'm proud of you even for losing."

Josh gave him a real smile this time, leaning in his pecking his lips. "Thanks, Ty," he started the car and began driving Tyler home. "Before I forget, in about two weeks I'll be gone all weekend for baseball."

"How come?"

"We're playing a school almost two hours out on Friday night so I'll miss half of the school day and it'll be pretty late so Coach is getting us hotel rooms since we don't have any other games that far this seasons so we have the funding."

"Oh," Tyler replied sadly.

Josh looked at him. "It'll be alright though. I'll be back Saturday night we can hang out then if you want."

Tyler smiled. "Okay."

Josh kept driving and they were about ten minutes into their drive when he saw a McDonalds and his stomach grumbled. "Ty, are you hungry?"

"A little. Why?"

"I'm stopping at McDonalds," he said as he turned onto the street so he could get into the drive through. He pulled up and they asked for his order. "What do you want?" He asked Tyler.

"French fries."

"Just fries?"

"Uh..." Tyler trailed off. "Chicken nuggets."

Josh raised an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't like chicken nuggets."

Tyler gave him a sheepish grin. "I lied."

Josh laughed. "Okay two medium fries and a 20 piece nugget," he said into the speaker.

"Anything to drink?" A bored voice sighed.

Josh looked to Tyler. "I'll have water."

"A large water and a large Coke."

Josh was given his total and told to pull forward. He paid and continued to the last window. "Thank you," Tyler said quietly.

"Anything for my boy," Josh smiled easily.

Josh got their food (requesting every type of sauce for Tyler to try) before he pulled into a parking spot for them to eat. "Why didn't we just enter the building?" Tyler asked as he took a drink of his water.

"I don't wanna be around other people," Josh shrugged. "I wanna say and do stupid shit and not be stared at. But I also don't wanna drive and eat so we've parked."

Tyler seemed to understand what he meant because he just nodded as Josh got their food ready.

He ended up tearing the lid off of the chicken nugget container to make two bowls and poured each of their fries in. "Okay. Are you ready for the best feast of your life?"

"Highly unlikely but sure."

Josh laughed as he opened up every single sauce for Tyler to try. He ended up liking the barbecue and honey mustard but everything else was gross. He also said chicken nuggets were gross so Josh took it with a grain of salt.

"So did you actually end up liking the cheeseburger I gave you too?" Josh asked as he dipped a fry in his own barbecue sauce and ate it.

Tyler grimaced. "No I actually didn't savor that."

Josh shrugged. "That's okay," he replied. "I can't wait for you to try chicken strips and chicken sandwiches and chicken fingers—"

"I get it," Tyler laughed. "I appreciate everything you do for me, Joshua."

"I appreciate everything you do for me, baby."

"No I just—" Tyler sighed. "I feel like a terrible boyfriend."

"What? Why?"

"Because you're so kind and astonishing and you do all these things for me and—"

"Tyler," Josh said sternly. "I love you, okay? You're a great boyfriend. I like helping you out and giving you things you haven't had or done before. You're a perfect boyfriend."

"Okay..." he trailed off, unconvinced.

"I promise."

They finished their food with light conversation but Josh could tell Tyler was feeling bad about himself. Josh started driving again and he kept trying to crack jokes or sweet talk Tyler but he could tell he was upset.

Eventually, he decided to leave it and they sat quietly. Josh had his phone plugged in so he went to his playlist and turned the volume on low.

For the next ten minutes he kept thinking about how Tyler felt inferior compared to him just because he was different and that broke his heart. "Ty?" He asked softly.

There was no reply.

"Baby I know you're upset but we need to talk about this."

No reply.

Josh sighed. "Tyler—"

He turned to look at the younger but stopped, his heart melting when he saw Tyler had fallen asleep against the window.

Josh let out a quiet 'aww' and turned the music down a little bit more but not enough that Tyler would notice the volume difference.

Finally, he pulled into Tyler's driveway and parked the car before turning it off. Kelly still wasn't home, thankfully. He looked over to see Tyler still asleep. "Baby," he said gently. "C'mon Ty you gotta get inside."

Tyler mumbled something incoherent and shifted so he was leaning more on the seat. Josh let out a quiet chuckle.

He got out and went over to Tyler's side, opening the door. He grabbed the key from Tyler's pocket and hurried over to the door to unlock it. Leaving it open a crack, he went back to his car and lifted Tyler out.

The younger instantly wrapped his arms around Josh's neck and his heart swelled when Tyler snuggled into his chest.

Josh carried him inside bridal style, shutting the door behind him with his ass. He carefully made his way up the stairs and managed to grasp the handle on Tyler's door to let them in.

He used one hand to tug the covers down before laying Tyler down, taking his shoes off. Josh set the key on the nightstand and smiled as Tyler let out a small yawn and cuddled into his pillow.

Kissing his forehead, Josh walked over to the door and was about to leave when Tyler mumbled something.

"G'night, Joshua," he muttered softly into his pillow, still pretty much fully asleep. "M'love you," he added before a soft snore left his nose.

Josh stopped, a wide smiling overcoming his face. He glanced back at Tyler before walking out and shutting the door.

"I love you too, beautiful," he whispered before leaving.