“That you were with Graham?”
Thad nodded.
Gavin stepped back, shrugging. “Well, when I got to the pub, I didn’t see either you or Graham. I ran into Violet, and she said you were looking for me. I asked where you were and she said the last time she saw you, you were heading toward the bathroom. I know I can be a little dense but even I could put the pieces together, especially when I opened the bathroom door and could hear what was happening.”
“I don’t know,” Thad said teasingly. “You are pretty dense …”
“Hey!” Gavin protested. “Wait, no, scratch that. You’re probably right. But I’m not that denseanymore.”
“That’s more like it.”
“I am sorry I overreacted though. I’m happy for you.”
“Yeah?” Thad asked.
“Yes. In fact, I think maybe you two should come over for dinner soon. Your first official invite as a couple. How does that sound?”
“Uhh, isn’t that a conflict of interest or something?” Thad asked.
“Whatisn’tin this fucking league?”
He had a point.
“Yeah, I’ll ask Graham if he wants to.” Thad’s head was spinning. He’d gone from an orgasm to thinking he was getting fired to dinner party invites.
Jesus, what the fuck, Gavin?
Though, growing up, their fights had been like this too. Quick to flare up hot, then equally quick to die down. Their parents had never understood how they went from acting like they were about to kill each other to going back to playing.
Still, these days, it left him feeling a little shaky. Especially because the stakes were so much bigger now.
“Christ, I could use a cigarette,” Thad muttered, patting his costume for pockets he knew weren’t there.
“Fuck. Me too.” Gavin collapsed into a chair near the fire.
Thad stared in shock. “You smoke?”
“Well, no. Not in years. Not since I got cleaned up.” Gavin dragged a hand over his face. “But tonight, I might make a fucking exception. Even if Dakota will kill me.”
Thad settled into the chair beside him with a groan. The fire felt good, radiating heat and thawing the bare parts of his thighs. His arms were still cold, the cape attached to the armor thin and useless.
But Thad didn’t want to go inside. Didn’t want to break this fragile truce between them.
“Hey. Can you promise me one thing?” he asked after a while.
Gavin glanced over. “Depends. What is it?”
“Don’t, uh, mention the love thing to anyone, okay?”
Gavin turned to face him, his eyebrows drawing together in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“I haven’t told Graham I love him yet,” Thad admitted.
“You’re going to though, right?”
Thad gave him a disbelieving look. “Dude, I might not have a lot of experience with a relationship like this but evenIknow I need to tell him how I feel.”
“Just checking.”
