“The good news is,” Simon said leaning in. “Trying, even if you fail, can lead to somewonderfulresults.”
“On the screen or in bed?” Thad asked, because he couldn’t resist.
“Yes,” Simon agreed with another sly smile. “And that’s all I’ll say aboutthat.”
Later that evening, as Thad and Graham stood outside in the snowy courtyard of Graham’s apartment complex and watched Murphy pace around, nosing through the snow to find a place to pee, Thad looked over at Graham.
“Hey, I need to ask you something.”
“Sure, what is it?”
Graham looked happy and content, and Thad hated to disturb him. But this was too important not to bring up.
“Do you want kids?”
Graham blinked, scrunching up his nose. “Where didthatcome from? Oh … from seeing me with Noah and Simon’s twins?”
“Yeah. I mean. Twins run in my family, obviously, and it got me thinking.” Really, he’d been thinking about it since Christmas Eve. Since his mom had brought it up.
But tonight had been a big reminder he couldn’t ignore it completely.
“I mean …” Graham shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Thad smiled faintly. “Children weren’t part of your five-year plan?”
“No, actually.” Graham tilted his head as if he was thinking hard about it. “No, love was on the list. Winning a Cup. Honestly, I was kinda ambivalent about everything after though.”
“Hmm,” Thad said thoughtfully. “What about marriage?”
“Honestly? Since dealing with Cory and Brody’s wedding shit, it’s not high on my list,” Graham said. “I mean, I had a great time there but it seems a little … much.”
“Sure,” Thad said. “But not everyone invites 300 people and has hand-engraved invitations.”
“I think it was hand-calligraphy actually,” Graham said. “And I know. There are ways to make it a whole lot less … over-the-top. I … I don’t know. I guess, yeah, I probably assumed I would get married, but I don’t think it’s a huge priority of mine. Why? Doyouwant to get married?”
“Not really,” Thad admitted. “But right now, I’m not sure if that’s what I actually want or because I never thought it was something I’dhave. Same with kids. Like I think I don’t want them but maybe it’s also because my parents are fucking awful and I have all this shit to still unpack with Harlan and?—”
“So, we don’t have to decide anything tonight,” Graham said with a shrug. “Or even this year. You do your work with Harlan, and we’ll figure it out as we go.”
“You’re okay with that? Making it up as we go along? Not having a five-year plan?”
Graham shot him a bright grin. “The moment I met you, having a plan went out the window.”
“Did it though?” Thad asked with a laugh. “I mean, you found love. The team is doing well. You could definitely check off that goal of yours if luck is on your side.”
“Let’s hope,” Graham said, reaching to rap his knuckles against a nearby tree. He dropped his hand and took Thad’s, his fingers cold as he threaded them together. “But I guess I’m okay with leaving the rest of my life open to whatever feels right at the time. Maybe you showed me it’s good for me to … let life take me by surprise, sometimes.”
Thad shuddered. “Except for being with you, I can’t say I’m a big fan of the way life’s surprises have worked out for me.”
“Then maybeyouneed a five-year plan. Like getting a show at one of those galleries Simon mentioned …”
“Maybe,” Thad agreed with a small laugh because he could see Graham already getting excited about the idea.
Whatever he said, he was a planner at heart. But, hey, if he wanted to play some things by ear, Thad was fine with it.
“But I mean it, we don’t have to decideanythingtoday,” Graham pointed out. “Let’s enjoy being together. Let’s focus on the team and us for now and we’ll figure out the rest as we go.”
“I like that,” Thad said, leaning in to kiss Graham’s temple.
