Currently, they were in the second playoff spot for their division.
It was theirs to lose if they got complacent, but as the team settled into a solid rhythm in mid-November, Graham had a good feeling in his gut.
He was on pace to have a point-per-game season and personally, things were going well too.
They’d even gone to Gavin and Dakota’s condo for dinner recently.
Graham had been nervous when he arrived with a bottle of white wine in hand and Thad had seemed off too, cracking too many jokes that didn’t quite land.
The conversation between the four of them had been somewhat stilted at first.
It was odd, meshing together the personal and professional. Gavin was the boss but he wasalsoThad’s twin brother, and it was weird and awkward as they carefully navigated various topics.
At one point, Graham almost slipped up and revealed something about their sex life he didn’t want to share with his bossorhis boyfriend’s brother, and he was so flustered he nearly choked on a glass of water trying to recover.
Dakota had patted him on the back, his eyes twinkling, clearly having caught onto Graham’s near slip-up and pathetic attempt at recovery. Dakota smoothly shifted the conversation away from that topic and once Graham stopped choking, he shared a smile with Dakota, grateful to have an ally here.
But, as the night wore on and they enjoyed a delicious chickpea spinach curry and naan bread Gavin had proudly declared he’d made—with a good deal of help from Dakota—Graham relaxed a little.
Dakota was also helpful when it came to making conversation. He had a knack for skirting around the awkward topics, softening the mood when Thad and Gavin got prickly with each other, and smoothing out weird lulls in conversation. He got them discussing date night activities in Boston and on the road, and by the time Graham and Thad left a few hours later, they agreed it had been an enjoyable evening.
It was even something Graham could see becoming a regular thing.
Even more, Thad and Gavin were making some progress on their relationship, which Graham thought could only be a positive thing.
Early one morning, Graham had gone in for some work with the trainers to deal with a tweaked hamstring and had a little time to kill before video review. After, he passed one of the practice rinks where Gavin, Thad, and the O’Shea brothers were playing. Graham had snuck in, watching unobtrusively in one of the shadowy corners as the four of them jostled and laughed, battling for a puck.
They played without goalies, so it wasn’t exactly a game-type scenario, but it was still amazing to watch as Gavin got agorgeouslittle snipe in off a pretty pass from Thad. And watching their exuberant celly after made Graham achingly happy for them.
Things were finally,finally, falling into place for both of them.
The following week, Graham was in a great mood as he dressed in his uniform for practice.
When the doors swung open to let the last couple of guys into the locker room, Graham caught a glimpse of Thad in the hallway and smiled.
Connor nudged him with an elbow. “So, it’s like that, huh?”
Graham glanced over at his captain. “Like what?”
“Like love.”
“Yeah,” Graham admitted, throat suddenly thick. “I guess it is.”
“Good for you, man. And I don’t think I said this before, but lemme know if you get hassled at all. During games or in here or out in public or whatever, I’ve got your back no matter what.”
“Thanks,” Graham said, touched.
He’d known that instinctively.
Even before Connor had started dating Jesse, Graham had seen his staunch support since his brother Kelly came out a few years ago. He’d never doubted it, not for asecond.
But it was still nice to hear. Still nice to know. Even though he hoped he’d never need it.
“So far it’s been good,” Graham admitted as he tugged on his base layer. “This team is great, no one has said shit on the ice and, well, we’re still being pretty quiet out in public.”
“Yeah?” There was no judgment in Connor’s look or tone.
Graham still felt a flash of defensiveness go through him.
