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Charlie’s was a hometown style bar about twenty minutes from Hughes Castle. Tyler had no idea where in the city they were. If they even were in the city at all. But Charlie’s seemed a good fit. He had half expected the bar to break out into a cheery “David!” when the three of them entered the bar. Kenneth had declined the invitation, stating that he had better things to do than get drunk. David said he needed to loosen up, or he was going to lose something.
Mora was already sitting at the bar as they entered. She raised a mug to them as they entered. “Cousin!”
“You started without us,” David accused.
“Sorry. You need to drive faster. Aw, no precious cargo? I was hoping I’d get to pick on Wild Child tonight.”
“Just the boyfriend.” David clapped a hand on Tyler’s shoulder. “You remember Tyler.”
“Of course. It’s good to see you again. Why no Dylan if you brought me the boy toy?” She took a drink of her beer and settled her gaze firmly on her cousin.
“They’re fighting. I’m showing Tyler a good time.”
“Then why the hell is he hanging out with you?”
“Better us than Ken,” Dakota countered. “Beer, gents?”
“Ah, not for me,” Tyler declined. “I don’t drink.”
Dakota seemed to double-take. “Really?”
“Uh, for starters, I’m still underage. But no, I don’t.”
“Soda? Or something non-alcoholic?” He offered instead.
“A coke would be great,” Tyler shrugged.
Dakota gave a signal to the bartender. A moment later, the grizzled man went to work putting together a pitcher and some glasses for them. “How about we find a table?”
Mora nodded picking up her glass. “The big booth in the corner is open.”
“Let’s do it,” Dakota picked up the tray and laid down a bill on the counter for the bartender. “Thanks Hank.”
“No prob,” the bartender replied before going to the other side of the bar.
David and Tyler slid into one side of the booth while Dakota and Mora took the other.
“So, explain the male model thing,” Tyler requested, folding his hands on the table. “I didn’t want to ask at dinner last night.”
Mora shrugged. “I was born with a very masculine physique and it pays extremely well.”
“But you’re not trans?”
She shook her head. “I identify as genderfluid or non-binary when pressed. But I don’t take testosterone or dress to one gender. I’m good with she-her pronouns.”
“And sexuality? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking. I’m nosy that way.” Tyler grinned.
“Pansexual,” she replied. “I’ll fuck anyone as long as they can hold an intelligent conversation for at least ten minutes.” She gave him a cheeky sort of grin over the top of her drink.
Tyler laughed. “You probably have a smaller dating pool than I do.”
“Oh god, you have no idea,” she sighed. “Gay guys hit on me, thinking I’m a dude, girls don’t bother because they think I’m queer, and everyone in the middle seems to be stupid as hell.”
“You’re too picky,” Dakota replied. “I already told you I’d fuck you. You just have to ask.”
“Dude, that’s my cousin.” David raised an eyebrow at him.
“She’s hot,” Dakota replied. “In that I’d-do-a-dude way.”
“Thanks Dakota,” Mora replied, sarcasm dripping from the words. “I’m not that desperate. I’ll call you when I’m too lazy to replace batteries in my arsenal of toys though.”
“An entire arsenal, huh? That’s kind of hot too,” Dakota teased. “You should make videos. I’d pay for that. Earn a little extra dough.” He rubbed his thumb against his fingertips in her direction.
“Gross,” Mora wrinkled her nose. “It’s bad enough I tape my boobs to do open shirt shoots. I’m not baring all for some faceless audience on the internet.”
“I never said you had to post it on the internet,” Dakota replied. “I’ll buy straight from the source.”
Mora sighed and rolled her eyes into the bottom of her glass before refilling it from the pitcher. “Okay, we can stop this conversation any minute now.”
“What about Kendall?” Tyler asked. “You came together last night, but he’s marrying someone else?”
Mora winced slightly. “My relationship with Kendall is weird and hard to explain. We’re best friends of a gigantic age gap who have occasionally slept together. A lot. And I kind of live in the apartment he owns.”
“All things I do not need to hear from my baby cousin.” David lifted his beer to his lips. “Or, really, anyone ever.”
Mora laughed. “Anything exciting happen today?”
“The Wild Child, as you call him, may have broken up with the boy toy today,” David filled her in. “I’m pretty sure it’s just temporary.”
“Oh?” Mora looked more closely at Tyler. “I guess it is kind of suspicious that Dylan would bring a boy home to the parents. You must be something special.”
“I keep trying to tell him that, but he’s adamant that he doesn’t want a real relationship.” Tyler hid his face into his coke.
“That boy doesn’t know what’s good for him.” Mora mused. “He’s too self-absorbed. It’s the creative, artist thing. Everything has to be about being in excruciating pain all the time.”
“Yeah,” Tyler agreed, “but, I’ve been there and done that already. I guess that’s what happens when you get mixed up with a kid. Seriously, poor decision making on my part.”
The table laughed. Mora covered her mouth with a hand to keep from spilling her beer.
“Very astute observation there,” Mora managed. “It can be hard to remember that Dylan is only–oh wow, seventeen soon. But either way, he acts like he’s got his shit together. He’s more mature than some adults I know. But then, he has this knack for doing the stupidest thing that just reminds you that he’s still a child.”
“Trust me, no one knows that better than me,” David rolled his eyes. “I want to pop him in the face every time he gets into one of those shitty clubs and tries to go home with some seedy looking guy. It’s like he’s got ultimate beer goggles. Except, I know he’d never drink beer. God forbid.”
“Tries?” Tyler asked.
“Okay, so sometimes he succeeds,” David admitted. “But we do keep a close eye on him. We have security personnel that follow him and intervene when necessary. We can’t stop him from being an idiot and one day we’re not going to be there when he needs us. That’s part of why the Senator and his wife are so gung-ho about him cleaning up his act. He’s getting older and while he’ll always be entitled to some kind of protection, he’ll be on his own soon enough and fully capable of telling us to get lost.”
“Maybe you not being there is a jolt he needs?” Tyler mused.
“You know I just read about this French company that kidnaps people–no, I said that wrong. I mean, people pay this company to kidnap them and basically put them through their survival paces. I wonder if we could get the ‘rents to agree to that for WC,” Dakota suggested. “That could be seriously fun.”
“I’m pretty sure that might be a trigger for several of our employees,” David pointed out. “We’d have to put together a fresh team.”
“Bah. I’m sure we can find a reason to ship Dylan to Paris for a weekend. Let the French handle it.”
“Are you seriously suggesting we have our boss’s teenager kidnapped?” David raised an eyebrow.
“Hey, I’m offering a legitimate suggestion for taming the beast,” Dakota replied. “Just brainstorming here.”
“Yeah well, we’re not doing that so keep thinking,” David retorted.
The conversation turned more amiable; Mora talked about some gigs she had coming up. Tyler talked about the upcoming road trip to the festival in Milwaukee. David and Dakota talked about some more entertaining false alarms around the Castle, as well as preparing the East Wing for a film crew in the coming weeks, and a wedding taking place in the gardens and West Wing later in the month.
“So,” David said, putting an arm over Tyler’s shoulder as they exited the bar late that evening, “how has your trip been?”
“Aside from the whole possibly being dumped thing, it’s been pretty fun,” Tyler admitted. “And I like Mora; she’s clever.”
“She liked you too.” David smiled. “So, back to Casa Montgomery?”
“I guess so,” Tyler agreed. “Gotta be up bright and early for the silent trip back to Tynan.”
“No worries,” David promised. “If it gets completely awkward, you can sit with me in the front. And I’ll turn on singing music. That’ll piss him off.”
Tyler grinned. “Sounds like a good time.”
***
...It wasn’t a good time.
Dylan was belligerent the entire time. He complained loudly about David’s, rather good, singing. Tyler continued to scribble away at the song he’d started writing days before, in the unreturned notebook. The pen scratches were apparently even more annoying than the singing. Rather than speak up about it Dylan opted to huff loud sighs in response.
David dropped Tyler off first. After he’d parked at the curb, Tyler leaned up, between the seats to hand David a sheet of paper.
“Thanks for showing me a good time last night.” Tyler smiled at him, purposefully vague while Dylan glaring at them. “I had a lot of fun. Tell Mora to text me. You should too. I’ll send you that mix I told you about.”
“Will do, Tyler,” David replied. He tucked the sheet of paper into his inside jacket pocket.
On a whim, Tyler decided to really get Dylan going, leaning forward to press a kiss to David’s cheek. “Maybe we can do it again, the next time I find myself in the city.”
“I look forward to it,” David nodded, a small smirk crossing his face.
“Pop the trunk. I can grab my own suitcase.”
“Of course, sir,” David agreed. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Tyler got out of the car.
As the car rolled back into the street, Dylan practically exploded.
“What the fuck was that?”
“What do you mean, sir?” David’s calm demeanor was back.
“You showed him a good time last night?”
“Yes,” David admitted, “Dakota and I took him to Charlie’s and met with Mora. It was my understanding that you wanted me to keep him occupied and away from you, sir.”
“I didn’t want you to hit on him,” Dylan exclaimed.
“Excuse me, sir?” David pulled the car up to the curb of the Donaldson house.
“What did you do with him?”
David slid into park. He turned in his seat to look at him. “I told you what we did, Dylan. Nothing happened. And why are you so concerned? I thought you were through with him.”
Dylan pursed his lips tightly together.
“Perhaps you need to accept that you need to grow up a little more. You’re going to fall in love, Dylan. You’re going to fall out of love. Instead of denying that it’s happening, just let it. Give the poor guy what he wants or stop stringing him along. He’s a great guy. He’s not going to wait forever.”
“I didn’t ask you for advice,” Dylan retorted.
“It’s not advice,” David replied. “It’s a warning.”
Dylan frowned further. He let himself out of the car. “Something else I didn’t ask for, David.”
“Look,” David got out of the car as well, following Dylan around to the trunk. He grasped the younger man by the shoulders, “While yes, your parents pay me, I do care what happens to you. You have an entire army of people who care about you and what you do to yourself. Stop trying to wall yourself up and keep us out.”
“I like you better when you’re in military mode.” Dylan pushed him away. “Stop being so preachy. Did something happen between you and Tyler or not?”
“Of course not,” David sighed. “He’s too young for me, and you know perfectly well I’m primarily straight.”
Dylan scowled up at him again. “Primarily being the key word there. Stay away from him.”
“Man up,” David suggested, swinging open the trunk. He handed Dylan his suitcase from its confines. “Then you won’t feel threatened by me.”
Dylan stepped back onto the sidewalk. David turned on his heel to get back behind the wheel of the sedan. As he watched the car pull away, he knew that the decision was already made for him. Whether he wanted to accept it or not. If life was going to move on, so was he. And he’d have to let go of everything he’d come to know as normal.
***
Tyler was just throwing a frozen pizza in the oven for dinner when his cellphone bleeped in his pocket. He wasn’t sure how to react seeing a text message from Dylan on the screen. He took a deep breath before sliding open the message.
[DYLAN:] I kno u wnt w/ D&M last nite. D said nthng happened, but i need u to tell me that too
[YOU:] What do you mean he said nothing happened?
[DYLAN:] smthng did?
[YOU:] We went to a bar w/ Dakota and met Mora. We talked, they drank, and he took me back to your place.
[DYLAN:] u didnt kiss him
[DYLAN:] or more
Tyler sighed heavily. There were a few places he could take this conversation. None of them particularly charming.
[YOU:] Even if I did, you made it clear you didn’t want anything else to do with me.
[DYLAN:] I was mad @ u
[YOU:] And as far as I knew, you weren’t talking to me ever again.
[DYLAN:] So smthng happened and u dont want 2 tell me
[YOU:] Nothing happened last night. Nothing will happen. I like David, I had a good time with him, but there wasn’t anything sexual about it.
[DYLAN:] Promise?
[YOU:] I promise.
[YOU:] Does that mean that you forgive me?
[DYLAN:] u didnt do nethng wrong I overreacted
[YOU:] Then we’re good?
[DYLAN:] We r good & I’m sorry
[YOU:] Can I see you soon?
[DYLAN:] Maybe 2morrow? No sleep last nite. going 2 nap 2day
[YOU:] Call me when you wake up. I want to see you ASAP.
[DYLAN:] We’ll see
Tyler grinned and shoved his phone back into his pocket and turned back to his pizza.
***
“Before I let you in, are we going to have to have a big lengthy conversation about the whole I love you thing?” Tyler asked upon opening the door to Dylan later that night.
“Do we have to?” Dylan asked.
“No,” Tyler relied. He pulled him over the threshold into the kitchen and closed the door. “But, it might be good to know where exactly we stand. You know, face to face and not over a text.”
Dylan took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I over reacted.”
“And?”
“And while I know you want to hear me say it back right, I can’t do that.” Dylan looked him in the eye as he spoke. “I want to have a fun summer with you.”
“I’m just a summer fling,” Tyler filled in the holes. “This was never going to be more than that.”
Dylan shook his head. “Honestly, I didn’t expect you to be even that. I like you, a lot. Far more than I expected to. But, I’m going back to New York eventually and it isn’t like you’re coming with me, Ty.”
Tyler nodded slowly. “Okay. At least I know where we’re at.”
“Are you okay?” Dylan asked.
“Yeah,” Tyler nodded, “I’m fine. You’re right. This whole thing, probably isn’t going to go anywhere after the end of August. We’re in two different places in life.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you. I could have said that better.”
“Jesus Christ.” Tyler went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. “Dylan. I hate that you’re only sixteen. That is the worst age possible. You blow everything up so much bigger than it has to be. You’re so self-absorbed you can’t you even see the good stuff right in front of you.”
“I’m sure I should be offended by that.”
Tyler set down the bottle before turning back to Dylan. He reached up, gripping his shoulders tightly. “Dylan, I told you I loved you and you haven’t said a word about it. Instead, you’re trying to break up with me in advance.”
“I don’t want you to be expecting more from this.”
“I already do,” Tyler admitted, dropping his hands to his sides. “I know that you’re adamant about this. I’m going to keep hoping that you change your mind. We’re not that far apart when you’re in New York. An hour and a half, maybe? The band can move anywhere. Who’s to say that in a few months we won’t be in the city anyway? Are you telling me that if I manage to get to the city that you wouldn’t want to see me?”
“Of course, I’d want to see you.”
“But it’s more important to you that you’re free and clear to fuck around.”
“It’s not about sex.”
“I think we’ve come to know each other pretty well over the last month and, honey, it’s always about sex.”
“I don’t know what you want to hear,” Dylan replied. “I texted you and I apologized.”
“Yeah, and now we’re back to fighting because you can’t be honest about how you feel.”
“Because it’s completely pointless to tell you that I love you too when we’re stagnant. We’re not going anywhere Tyler.”
“But you do love me?”
“We’re from two totally different places–and I’m not talking about New York versus New Jersey.”
“You’re turning this into a class thing? You’re a preppy rich boy and I’m just some hick?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“But it’s true,” Tyler replied. “It doesn’t matter how we feel about each other because I am never going to be good enough for you.”
“I never said that.”
“But you’ve thought it.”
“No,” Dylan shook his head, “you were great this weekend. It’s not about you fitting in with my family.”
“Then what? What makes it so hard for you to just admit that you want to be with me?”
“I don’t know,” Dylan admitted. “It’s just always in my head that it’s me that isn’t good enough.”
“Let others decide that for themselves,” Tyler replied. He sighed, pulling Dylan closer and wrapping his arms around him. The younger man fit tightly against his chest. Just right. He held him for a moment until Dylan’s hands came up against his stomach, pressing softly.
“Ty, I can’t breathe.”
“Sorry.” Tyler released him. He picked up the bottle of water. “You want something to drink?”
“No thanks.”
“C’mon.” Tyler took his hand and led him through the house toward his bedroom. In his room, the TV was on a marathon of some 90s sitcom. The bed was wrinkled but not unmade. Tyler’s acoustic guitar was laying against the pillows along with the stolen notebook and a pen. He let go of Dylan’s hand to set the notebook on the desk and moved the guitar to the closet.
“Are you working on something?” Dylan asked, desperate to return to some kind of normalcy.
“Maybe,” Tyler replied. He grabbed the remote and turned the volume of the TV down to just above a hum. “Take your shoes off and get in bed.”
Dylan sighed. “You know, if I’ve accepted anything this summer, it’s that you can’t fix everything with sex, Tyler.”
“I’m not going to have sex with you. I just don’t want your dirty shoes in my bed.” Tyler put the water on the side table and pulled off his shirt before taking a seat on the mattress.
Dylan blushed. He kicked his sneakers off near the door. He was still wearing the light-colored jeans and one of the polo shirts he’d bought on their shopping trip together. He’d never wished more for his layers of black to hide in.
Tyler shifted down the bed and turned on his side, waiting for Dylan to join him. “Just lay here with me for a while, okay?”
“Want me to hit the light?”
“Sure.”
A moment later, the room was cast into the eerie glow of the TV. Dylan slid onto the bed next to Tyler. Tyler wrapped his arms around him and nuzzled his neck.
“Let’s stop fighting, okay?” Tyler reached up, brushing his fingertips over Dylan’s hair. “I feel that all we’ve been doing is poking and prodding at one another.”
“I know,” Dylan agreed, “and it’s my fault. I want us to be on an even playing field, and we just end up arguing.”
“It’s obvious we have two very different ideas of where we want this relationship to go and we’re just going to have to see what happens. So, maybe we should stop worrying about what happens when September comes and just enjoy the rest of the summer, okay?”
“Okay,” Dylan nodded. “I just always know where something is going and it’s usually not far.”
“I meant it when I said I loved you,” Tyler promised. “And that means I want whatever you are willing to give me.”
Dylan shifted, turning against Tyler and wrapping a leg around his hips. “How do you even know? It doesn’t make any sense. You’re so adamant about it but we’ve known each other for like three weeks.”
“Because I’ve spent about ninety percent of that time with you,” Tyler kissed him. “That’s like cramming a 3-month relationship into one.”
“Point taken,” Dylan mused.
“It’s okay if you don’t think you feel the same,” Tyler told him.
“I just don’t know,” Dylan shook his head.
“Well, stop worrying about it now and lets just go to sleep.”
“It’s seven o’clock. It’s not even dark out.”
“I know, but I was out until three AM and I had band practice when I got back. I’m exhausted.” Tyler admitted, snuggling up against Dylan’s chest and closing his eyes. “Plus, you were still mad at me, so I didn’t even get to see you before I did crawl into bed last night. I didn’t sleep well.”
“I didn’t sleep well either,” Dylan admitted. “But I went to bed the minute I got back.”
“You don’t have to sleep. You can watch TV or whatever,” Tyler told him. “I just want to be with you.”
“Okay.” He reached up, stroking his hand through Tyler’s hair. “I’m not going anywhere.