CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The plane ride back to Boston was quiet, with guys choosing to do their own thing or talk quietly rather than play cards or video games.
Everyone was exhausted by the back-to-back overtime losses, and no one seemed in the mood to socialize.
Graham mostly dozed, waking long enough to see Thad get up and go to the bathroom.
Connor was awake, watching footage of what looked like his son Nolan’s hockey game on his tablet, and Graham debated for a moment before he nudged his knee, asking to be let out into the aisle.
Connor did it with a distracted grunt and Graham thanked him with a pat on the shoulder.
He didn’t even know why he’d gotten up. He wasn’t going to go in the bathroom with Thad or anything. He wasn’t that stupid. Even if he thought two guys of their size and stature would fit, which was doubtful.
But he was there when Thad left the bathroom and the smell of his cologne and the brush of his fingers when he discreetly tangled them with Graham’s was enough to settle him somehow.
“Come to my place when we get back?” Graham murmured under his breath.
“Yeah,” was all Thad said but he squeezed Graham’s fingers and let go, heading back to his seat.
Graham stood in the bathroom for a few minutes, pointlessly flushing the toilet and washing his hands to make it seem like he’d used it and not merely desperate for an excuse to touch Thad.
Graham couldn’t remember if he’d ever been like this with anyone. So aware of them, so eagerly on edge to touch them. To spend time with them.
He’d cared about Madison, he really had, but this was … this was something different. Something special.
He could feel it in his bones.
When they landed in Boston, Graham stepped off the plane, glad to be home.
It was late, the air cool with a crispness that only came this time of year and he always associated with hockey.
He shivered on the tarmac for a moment before he strolled over to Thad. He hadn’t gotten his car back from the shop yet, and Graham was grateful because it allowed him to casually offer to give Thad a ride home.
No one gave them a second glance as they strolled to where Graham had parked. They loaded his vehicle with their bags, then climbed inside. Graham started the car, turning on the heated seats and cranking up the temperature before he held out a hand.
Thad took it immediately, squeezing once, then leaving their hands loosely clasped together on the center console.
“Is it stupid to say I wish I could touch you all the time?” Graham asked softly, rubbing his thumb across the back of Thad’s hand.
“Not unless it’s stupid for me to say I want that too.”
The low, rough sound of Thad’s voice made Graham shiver. He looked Thad in the eye and was reminded of the conversation they’d had outside of Thad’s apartment during training camp.
God, had it only been a few weeks ago? It felt like they’d barely begun. And yet, this felt so right.
A short rap on the window made Graham jump and he hastily let go of Thad’s hand, hoping the person standing there hadn’t seen anything.
He pressed a button and the window rolled down. “Uh, hey,” he said, realizing it was Erik Wyatt. “What’s up?”
“Uhh.” The kid scratched the back of his neck. “I think I have a flat tire. They’re gonna arrange to get my car towed back to the hotel but do you think you could give me a lift?”
Graham stifled a sigh.
What he wanted was to get home and get naked with Thad. But he was an alternate captain. He was supposed to be setting a good example and taking care of these lost little hockey players who didn’t have their shit together yet.
He glanced over at Thad. “You mind?”
“Nope,” he said.
“Hop in,” Graham instructed Erik. “Are you staying at the hotel the team uses for callups and trades? I’ll put it in my GPS.”
Erik said yes, then climbed into the back seat with his luggage.
Relief washed over Graham when he realized he could probably get away with dropping Erik off first. The kid was from fucking Saskatchewan anyway. He probably didn’t know Boston at all or have a clue where Thad lived anyway.
Still, better safe than sorry.
They talked about the game a little as Graham navigated through the mostly empty streets of Boston. The city was quiet at this hour, the traffic so much lighter than during the day.
It didn’t take long before they arrived at the hotel where Erik was staying. Graham felt a little guilty for pretty much dumping the kid off on his doorstep, then peeling away.
But damn, all he wanted was a little time alone with Thad.
Thad smirked as he sped toward his apartment, foot a little heavy on the accelerator. “Eager much?”
“Shut up,” Graham muttered, turning back to focus on the road. Okay, he really didn’t need to get in an accident though.
In his peripheral vision, Thad stretched. “It’s okay. I know you want all this.”
Damn it, Graham did. It didn’t mean he had to admit that though.
“Ehh, you’re okay,” he said, fighting back a smile.
“Okay?” Thad sounded downright offended.
“Yeah, you know. You’re okay in bed, I guess. Fine. Nothing special though.”
“Fuck, I’ll show you okay.” Thad settled a hand on Graham’s thigh.
“I will crash this car if you get your hand on my dick,” Graham warned. “And you know what that means.”
“No sex?”
“Also, cops. I feel like you’ve probably had enough of them.” Graham winced as soon as the words came out, afraid Thad would take it the wrong way but he merely laughed.
Thad squeezed his thigh. “I sure have. Trust me, I fully intend to keep my nose clean from here on out.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” Graham agreed, surprised by a sudden yawn.
Thad snorted. “So much for all the big talk about sex. Why do I have a feeling you’re going to pass out the minute we get to your place?”
“No idea. I didn’t just play back-to-backs that both went into overtime or anything,” Graham said drily.
“Definitely not.”
Thankfully, it was only another fifteen minutes to his place, and he parked in his designated spot and got out of the car with a relieved groan. The exhaustion really hit a few minutes later as they trudged down the hall toward his condo door though, dragging their bags behind them.
Honestly, Thad was right.
Graham might have the energy to shower with Thad but he wasn’t sure if he’d be up for anything else tonight. Thankfully, he knew Thad would understand.
Graham dug in his bag for his keys, smiling as he heard the sound of barking begin inside. He unlocked the door with a happy sigh, eager to see his dog and get Thad to bed.
“Home sweet home,” he said and dragged Thad in after him.
“Hi there, buddy,” Graham said in a stupid voice, scooping up Murphy and hugging him to his chest. “Did you miss me? Did Mrs. Glass take good care of you while I was gone?”
Murphy licked his nose.
Thad tried not to laugh. He liked the Yorkie, even if he was a yappy little shit sometimes.
He still couldn’t believe Graham had a dog named after Zane Murphy. He’d given Graham so much crap about it when he met the dog the first time.
Graham had reminded him he’d been a teenager when he got the dog and asked what was wrong with naming it after his hockey hero?
It was doubly funny to Thad now that Graham had realized he was bi.
Sure, a hockey crush. That’s what they all claimed.
Or at least Thad assumed Graham was bi. Graham certainly didn’t seem to have any qualms about being with a guy.
Thad still wasn’t sure how he felt about Graham saying it was being attracted to him specifically that was the difficult part. On the one hand, it was a little flattering to realize Graham had never been interested enough in another guy to act on it.
On the other … he wasn’t entirely sure what Graham meant by his “Thadness” even if he had teased him about it.
That could really go either way.
Graham gave Murphy another scratch behind the ears before he set him down. “Let me check on your food and water, boy,” he muttered. “Even though Mrs. Glass totally spoils you rotten. Doesn’t she?”
The old lady a few apartments down took care of Murphy while Graham was on the road.
Thad had met her once and she was nice, if a little quirky. She did take great care of Murphy though. The dog stayed in her apartment while Graham was gone and got lots and lots of attention.
Now, Murphy scurried over to Thad, his nails clicking on the floor with every step. He jumped, putting his front paws on Thad’s knee and whining softly, looking up with pleading brown eyes.
Graham glanced at them both with a soft smile and Thad sighed and picked up Murphy. “Hey, dude. Did you miss me too?”
He pulled his head back before Murphy could lick his nose. He liked dogs but he didn’t like their slobber on his face. “Gross. You need to train this dog. Licking isn’t the answer to every question.”
Graham leaned against the kitchen counter and gave him a slow once-over. “Isn’t it?”
Thad snorted. “Not when one of you is a canine.”
“Fair.” Graham yawned, then smothered it with the back of his hand. “Ugh, I’m wiped out.”
“Me too.” Thad gave Murphy a few more pets before he set him down. “You want to head to bed?”
“So, I, uh, usually like to shower after a flight.” Graham’s voice was weirdly casual.
“Yeah?” Thad asked, hoping this was going where he thought it was. His heart rate kicked up a few notches but he didn’t want to assume anything. If Graham wanted it, he was going to have to ask.
“Yeah. Are you up for keeping me company?” Graham bit his lip.
“Fuck yes,” Thad said hoarsely, pleased he wasn’t too wiped out to fool around a little at least. “Lead the way.”
Ten minutes later, Thad followed him into the roomy glass-walled shower and tried not to roll his eyes at the design. Thad really didn’t get the trend.
Didn’t people understand what a luxury it was to have privacy in a bathroom?