Page 49 of Dickathlon

But I couldn’t help it.

Ty had a nice caboose.

11

Tyler

Declan: Got practice. Talk later, babe.

“‘Got practice. Talk later, babe.’ Ugh, I love it when he calls me that.”

"Do you love it more than pumpkin spice?" Quinn asked.

"Hmmm. Yes!"

Quinn and I were in line at Starbucks. Pierce had gone home weeks ago, and Quinn and I were busy with the start of the school year and a new gymnastics season. I had decided to stay on as the coach after all. It kept me in San Jose for now.

Pierce and Quinn referred to the reason for my sudden inspiration to be a human being again as ‘The Magic Wang’. And they weren’t wrong, though ‘Magic Wank’ might’ve been more accurate since his hand had done most of the work.

I hadn’t seen him in person since the Nines trip. Between my team’s practices, rehab, and his training, even in the off-season, it hadn’t worked out yet. But that didn’t stop us from texting or talking. I lost count of how many nights I stayed up way later than I should have listening to him retell Freddie’s disastrous dates or his latest training challenge. I thought professional gymnasts had a tough routine, but a decathlete’s life was certainly comparable.

It was with mild shame I looked up the events that made up the decathlon despite watching him compete in Brisbane. With the diversity involved, it would’ve been interesting, to say the least, to watch Declan train. I knew from our conversations he was hoping to defend his title in London, and although it was still years away, he was laser focused.

I had caught myself fantasizing about our lives together. Even that far into the future. It was already what I wanted, what I saw happening. But with my accident, I knew the future wasn’t something set in stone.

I could hope we’d be together, but I’d have to see. Realistically, we couldn’t text and chat over the phone forever. And I knew it was way too soon to think about moving.

But the Magic Wank had helped me learn something else about myself.

I was definitely a relationship guy.

* * *

Luke was happy for me. I, of course, had filled him in on running into Declan and everything that happened in Santa Cruz. I confided in Quinn, but I told Luke everything. That’s why I needed him…like, now. I was thankful he picked up right away.

“Hey, bro. You have a minute?”

“Sure thing. What’s up?” Luke asked.

“I kinda need a favor. What are you up to this weekend? Think Cassie will let you go be a big boy in California for a few days?”

“Shut up. It’s not like that.”

“It’s totally like that.”

“Okay, dipshit. I’ll ask her. You miss me that much?”

I heard him ask Cassie. After all, she hadn’t been his coach for very long. I didn’t want to interfere in his training, or get on her bad side. Or his parents’ for that matter.

“She said I can go.”

“I can’t believe it was that easy.”

He lowered his voice. “I’ve kind of been pissing her off lately. I think she’s sick of me.”

“Well, that works for me then. Text me your flight info once you book and I’ll pick you up.”

“Sounds good.”