Chapter 19 #2
By the time they pulled out the close win against Chicago, Jamie was ready to be home. He was thrilled to be back with the team, relieved to return to the rhythm that guided his life, but now there was someone waiting for him in Madison.
They had a quick post-game meal at the arena before their flight back to Madison. It was a short flight from Chicago, and Jamie was still wired from the game as he boarded the plane, staring out the window at the bright lights of the city as they took off.
Mitchy settled into the same row, tossing the pillow with a black silk case he took on every road trip onto the empty seat between them. “Battleship?”
Jamie nodded.
They set up their mini Battleship boards with the practiced efficiency of two people who had spent the last six years playing the same game on the team plane together. Some guys played cards, some guys watched movies, and others slept.
Jamie and Mitch liked to play Battleship.
They shot the shit like they usually did, but Jamie was distracted. It would be a little after midnight when they landed, and he knew he should go home and get some sleep. He could already tell his body was going to be sore tomorrow.
That would be the responsible thing to do.
He knew Tyler was working at the club tonight, and he was scheduled to get off around one.
Maybe Jamie could go surprise him. Maybe after they could go home and crawl into bed together, find the kind of bone-deep rest that came from being wrapped around someone close, someone safe. Someone who felt a hell of a lot like home.
“Sully, your move.”
Jamie exhaled, and focused on his board.
He was going to go see his boyfriend when he got home.
It was crowded at The Blue Barn. Jamie paid the cover and slipped in the back, finding an empty table. His body was sore, protesting as he lowered himself onto the uncomfortable chair, but it was worth it if he got to see Tyler.
He pulled his baseball cap low. It wasn’t that he was embarrassed to be seen there. He just didn’t want to draw attention to himself, not when he was at Tyler’s place of work.
A dancer with the build of a wrestler was onstage, dressed in something skintight and sequined, with a matching cowboy hat. Jamie watched him for a moment with a detached appreciation. The man was attractive, sure, but Jamie didn’t have eyes for anyone but his boyfriend.
There was a large crowd, mostly sitting in groups around the low, round tables surrounding the stage. In the back corner of the room, an older man with harsh, angular features in an ill-fitting suit stared at something over Jamie’s shoulder.
He turned just in time to see Tyler walking out from behind the bar.
Mine, mine, mine.
Jamie recognized the uniform, the denim shorts and boots, the glitter brushed over his tattooed skin, giving the illusion of a burnished brass statue. His hair curled around his shoulders, his lips glistened, and Jamie wanted to lick him and then nuzzle his head into the side of his neck.
It had barely been any time at all since he left on the road trip, but he’d missed him.
When Tyler’s eyes snagged on him, a slow smile spread across his face. He moved through the tables, shooting the obligatory sultry looks at the patrons he passed, before running the last few yards to Jamie.
Jamie wanted to stand up, wanted to lift Tyler into his arms and spin him around like they were the leads in a holiday rom-com, but he didn’t want to overstep. He still didn’t fully understand the conventions of Tyler’s work, and the last thing he wanted was to get Tyler in trouble.
“What are you doing here?” Tyler asked, his voice bright and almost breathless as he stood above Jamie.
“Hi,” Jamie said, pretty sure he was smiling like a fool. He pressed his palms to his thighs in an effort to keep himself from touching his boyfriend, from wrapping him up in his arms and never letting go.
Tyler wore a fond expression as he brushed a thumb across Jamie’s cheek. Jamie sighed, leaning into the touch.
“Can I hug you?” Jamie mumbled, his brain a little hazy.
“Probably not a good idea,” Tyler said softly. “Can’t have these folks getting any ideas.”
Jamie opened his eyes, nodding in understanding. “I’m just really fucking happy to see you. I didn’t want to wait.”
“And I’m happy you’re here.” Tyler dropped his hand back to his side. “You played great tonight.”
Jamie felt his chest puff like he was a fucking rooster or something. “You watched?”
Tyler nodded. “I mean, we didn’t watch, but we listened to the play-by-play while we ate dinner.”
“That’s–I…” Jamie began. His chest felt tight, full to the point of overflowing. “Thank you for following the game.”
Tyler’s smile spread over his whole face. “Want a dance, big guy?”
Jamie considered the offer. He wanted that, someday.
He wanted to feel Tyler dance, to see him move his body in a practiced flow designed to turn him on.
But he didn’t want an audience. He wanted to touch Tyler, to show him with his hands and mouth and words how much he cared, how grateful he was to Tyler for sharing the gift of his body with him.
“Not here,” Jamie said, and lifted his fingers to briefly graze across Tyler’s belly button. He watched the muscles contract, the little shiver passing through his boyfriend’s body, and smiled. “Someday, when it’s just you and me.”
Tyler’s eyes darkened. “Fifteen minutes and then I’m done.”
“I’ll be here.”
“Will you come stay at my place tonight?”
“Please.”
Tyler gave him one more lingering look, and then turned and made his way back to the bar.
Fuck, he’s beautiful. Jamie shook his head, still a little baffled at how he’d ended up with this perfect man. He watched Tyler’s hips sway, his tattoos shifting like ripples on the surface of the water as he walked toward the bar.