Joey sat down across from Damon, a warm smile on his face.
Damon had called him right after his training session the day he arrived in LA, and they had made plans to meet up. They had a lot to catch up on.
Damon looked Joey up and down, taking in his new appearance. "Talk about change, you've changed, Joey. You look... different."
Joey chuckled, His eyes creased at the corners. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. My brother's been taking care of me, and I've been studying hard. I'm planning to enroll in college next year, so I've been hitting the books."
Damon nodded, impressed. "That's great,"
Joey leaned in, his eyes sparkling with interest. "So, how have things been? Did the event go well?"
Damon's face lit up with pride. "It was amazing, Joey. I wouldn't be in LA if it hadn't. Let me tell you all about it."
Damon launched into a detailed account of his time in Stockton after Joey had left.
He told him about the fights, and soon it didn't take them long to get back in track, talking about the UFA, the recent matches, it was like they hadn't parted.
Damon's curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, "So, how's your brother doing in the UFA?" Joey's face lit up with a grin.
"Pretty good. Although he's not getting a title shot anytime soon, he's making his way up the ranks." He leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed.
Damon nodded, a mixture of admiration and envy on his face. "Man, that's good. Good for him. As long as he's getting fights..."
He trailed off, his eyes clouding over with a hint of disappointment. "I can't say the same about myself," he added, his voice tinged with a sigh.
Joey eye's sparkling with persuasion. "One drink, you can drink water, right?" He raised an eyebrow, his voice filled with mock innocence.
Damon shook his head, his expression unyielding. Joey chuckled, undeterred. "No? One girl, then?"
He grinned, his eyes glinting with mischief. "No, wait, two or maybe three?" He kept throwing offers at Damon, his voice filled with teasing humor.
Damon wasn't interested in any of the parties, foursomes, or orgies Joey was offering.
He shook his head, his expression firm. "No, Joey. Just no."
Joey's grin faltered, but only for a moment.
He laughed, a deep, rich sound that filled the cafe. "Alright, alright. I get it. You're a lost cause, Damon." He shook his head.
Joey's eyes lit up with amusement as he leaned back in his chair, his expression relaxed. "I'll just have to find another way to get you to loosen up, Damon." He smiled, a sly glint in his eye.
Damon pulled his head back, raising an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Pause, that's crazy," he said, his voice laced with amusement.
Joey's eyes widened, and he realized what he had just said. His face turned bright red as he protested, "You damn fucker, you damn know I didn't mean it that way!"
Damon didn't give up on the joke. He grinned mischievously, his eyes sparkling with humor. "Maybe I should find you some girls instead," he suggested, his voice sounding innocent.
"But of course, if you still prefer... your taste, who am I to judge?" He raised an eyebrow, his expression playful.
Joey's eyes narrowed, his expression a mix of annoyance and amusement. "You're just trying to get a rise out of me, aren't you?" he asked.
Damon smirked again, taking a long sip of his drink. "It's like you're not even trying to stop, huh?"