Thad let out a shaky breath.
Graham might look innocent and still be getting his feet wet with men, but Thad had a feeling he was going to massively test his restraint. Especially since Graham had been right about Thad being into the idea of feeling like he was corrupting him.
You’re gonna be a problem, aren’t you?he sent back.
You asked!
Guess I did.
You mad?
No. But I’m not going to talk dirty to you tonight either. Go take your shower.
It would be better with you in it.
Thad swallowed thickly, thinking about his fantasy on the plane. Guess it wasn’t quite so far out of reach now, was it? Even if it would have to be in a hotel room or Graham’s condo, since Thad’s dinky apartment bathroom was never gonna work.
Someday,he said.G’night.
Night.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Graham was in a great mood the following morning as the bus carried them to the practice facility in New Jersey.
It took everything in him not to let his gaze stray to where Thad sat at the front of the bus, talking with some of the other social media people.
Last night had been …
Graham shivered, thinking about the feel of Thad’s body against his and what he’d said. How Grahammatteredto him. That he wanted to do thisright.
And the text conversation after Thad was back in his room …
Graham smiled at the thought of Thad calling him a problem.
Hewantedto be a problem for him. Not in a way that made his life worse. But he wanted Thad to want him so much he couldn’t stand it. He wanted Thad to think about him as much as he thought about Thad.
“You look awfully happy there for a guy who broke up with his girlfriend recently,” Connor said gruffly, shooting him a sidelong glance.
“Oh.” Graham blinked at him, scrambling to come up with an explanation. “Well, I guess it’s a relief to know we’re not holding on to something that isn’t going to work for either of us. I wanted it to work this past summer but I—I think I was just kidding myself about that.”
About a lot, he added silently.
Connor nodded. “I get that. It was fuckin’ rough after Viv and I split but I did feel”—he paused like he was searching for the right word—“well, I guess you’re right.Relievedis the only way to put it. I didn’t like it but I liked knowing we weren’t in fuckin’ limbo anymore. We were done and we could both move forward finally.”
“Was it hard for her after you started dating Jesse?”
Connor looked surprised by the question, but he nodded at that too. “Yeah, I think it was. It was, well, it was real complicated all around. What with the kids and she had some feelings about what her role had been as a—well, they were WAGs at the time—and I think it was hard for her to feel like she’d been replaced by someone who fit better in the hockey world than she ever had.”
“Yeah, makes sense.”
“But it got easier. She and Jesse get along well now. I mean, I don’t think they’re ever gonna be best friends and hang out without me or the kids or anything, but they work togetherforthe kids no problem. Sometimes the two of them take the kids horseback riding together and that seems to go well. I think Viv’s reluctantly charmed by him.”
Connor jerked his head toward the back of the bus where Jesse and Tanner were loudly cackling about something. “Jesse’s ma says he could make friends with a lamppost, and I believe it.”
Connor frowned. “Why? What made you ask about Jesse and Viv?”
“Oh.” Graham scrambled to come up with an explanation. “Uh, well, I mean I guess I’m hoping that, um, Madison and I can stay friends, you know?”
