He might be right.
Graham’s excuse for using the bathroom had mostly been to get away from Jesse’s intense scrutiny but thankfully he did actually have a semi-full bladder.
So, like Anker, he did his business, tucked himself away, then washed his hands.
A band was playing tonight so the pub was extra loud as Graham left the bathroom. They sounded fine but for some reason it was grating on his nerves.
Instead of heading back into the thick of it, he pushed open the door to the patio.
There were people out there too, mostly seated at small tables or around the firepit. But along the far side of the courtyard was a long, narrow bar-type setup with stools spaced evenly along it.
A couple sat at the far end, engrossed in their conversation—or each other, Graham thought wryly as he watched the guy settle ahand on her thigh—that they were paying no attention to anyone around them.
At the other end was Thad. He appeared lost in thought, fiddling with a pack of cigarettes but he looked up when the door shut behind Graham.
A jolt of something went through Graham, so quick he wasn’t even sure what it was. He felt like he should walk away, pretend like he hadn’t seen Thad or something. Not because he didn’t want to talk to him but because he wanted it somuch.
Too much, maybe, he thought ruefully as he walked over to Thad anyway.
He’d felt anxious since Thad left the other night, wondering exactly where they stood. Had Thad decided this whole dating idea was too much for him?
Except … there was so muchheatin his gaze as the stood there, pack of cigarettes frozen in his hands, staring as Graham walked toward him.
He looked fucking sinful tonight in a pair of black jeans, a simple white T-shirt, beat-up black leather jacket, and Harriers’ baseball cap. The jeans molded to his thighs and ass that rivaled nearly any pro hockey player’s, and his chest looked so broad and firm under the white T-shirt.
Graham wanted to press his hands to Thad’s chest and lean in to kiss him.
He wanted to feel the rasp of Thad’s facial hair against his cheek and the strength of his arms as he hauled Graham even closer. He wanted Thad’s naked body against his, and …
Damn it, there were people around and he couldn’t do any of that.
Graham hadn’t seen anyone from the Harriers’ organization out on the patio, but it was still a public space, and one surreptitious photo from an eagle-eyed fan could blow upeverywhere.
Most people here were respectful of players, but the risk of someone seeing an opportunity to out a player who’d never dated a man publicly before was too high for Graham to risk.
They all knew what could happen if something hitJockGossip.
“Hey,” Thad said huskily when Graham stopped an arm’s length away. “What are you doing out here?”
“It was a little loud in there,” Graham admitted. “I needed a break.”
“Yeah, same.” Thad licked his lips, fidgeting with the pack of cigarettes.
“You can smoke if you want,” Graham said with a shrug. “You look like you need it.”
Thad looked surprised. “Yeah? I thought you hated it.”
“I do but you seem kinda … antsy,” he pointed out, suddenly wishing he too had something he could fiddle with. Like a drink. Even a glass of water would be fine.
Anything to keep from reaching out and touching Thad like he wanted.
Thad glanced down at the slightly mangled pack. “Yeah.”
But he made no move to light one up. Instead, he glanced up, his brow furrowed, and said in a low voice, “We should talk tonight.”
A flicker of worry went through Graham. “Is that as ominous as it sounds?”
Thad looked confused. “Ominous?”
