Gavin skated closer, checking him lightly. “Because I wanted to hang out with my brother, you dumbass.”
Thad laughed. “I think you’ve spent too much time with the O’Shea brothers lately. You’re starting to sound like them.”
“Mmm, probably,” Gavin said with a rueful smile.
“No such thing!” Finn joked as he skated up to them. “We’re a delightful family.”
“Well, I don’t know about that,” Gavin teased, then he and Finn were tussling.
Pat appeared beside Thad, gliding so silently Thad jumped when he registered his presence.
“Fuckingchildren,” he said in a disgusted tone.
“Such immaturity,” Thad agreed in a disgusted tone. “I can’t believe it. And to think, they have people convinced they’re pillars of the community and leaders in this organization.”
Pat nodded, shaking his head at the sight of Finn, who’d gotten Gavin’s jersey up and over his head. “Disgraceful.”
Finn was a lot leaner than Gavin, but scrappy, apparently.
Thad was tempted to pull his phone out and record this to post on social media—it would absolutely go viral—but this time with his brother felt private. Too important to share with anyone but the O’Sheas.
Who had a much, much less complicated relationship than the Racine twins, but who still knew what it was like to fight and forgive a brother.
Thad liked both Pat and Finn, even if he always felt like he was way out of his league skating with them.
Gavin flailed, unable to see his opponent.
“This is why you always buckle your fight strap, numbnuts,” Thad called out, the sound echoing around the otherwise quiet practice rink.
Gavin managed to get his arms around Finn and knock one skate out from under him, using his bulk to drag Finn down to the ice.
“I wasn’t expecting a fight this morning,” Gavin said, sounding a little breathless as he stood, tugging the jersey down and fixing the strap. Finn lay on the ice, laughing.
“You fuckin’ should,” Finn countered as he got to his feet. “Have youmetus?”
“Look. Are we gonna fuckin’ play today or what?” Pat asked, leaning on his stick and looking bored.
“Yes!Finally,” Thad said.
And they were off, laughing and shoving as they chased the puck up and down the ice.
Thad got flattened by Pat against the boards at one point but he also managed to get a puck in off a beautiful setup from Gavin.
They celebrated together, and the moment was so pure and sweet and joyful Thad had to turn away and grab a towel, pretending to mop at sweat on his forehead and not the tears threatening to spill down his cheeks.
He’d missed this so fucking much. Gavin had been right. This was a good way for them to reconnect.
Half an hour later, Thad was sweat drenched and laughing as he got off the ice, following the guys to the locker room.
Gavin turned back to look at Thad as he took off his helmet, grinning because, for once, they’d fucking managed to beat the O’Shea brothers. Thad felt a sudden ache in his chest because Gavin wasn’t the boy he’d been the last time they’d celebrated like this in an actual game.
Silver threaded through his hair and beard, and he’d had a heart scare last winter and they weremennow. Men with jobs and real lives and …
Well, Gavin has that anyway, Thad thought wryly.
Thad was only now starting to get his shit together.
That was the problem with being in prison, Thad admitted to himself as he stripped off his gear in the locker room, vaguely aware of the O’Shea brothers joking around with Gavin while they all did the same.
