The only problem was, they had very little time together even when they were both awake.
It wasn’t for lack of trying, but with the constant travel and Thad picking up some slack in the social media department because one of his co-workers was out following an emergency appendectomy, there wasn’t much they could do about it.
They’d had a few careful hookups in hotel rooms on the road, but Graham was really looking forward to being homealonewith Thad again.
They still hadn’treallytalked about why Thad left. All he’d said was that he’d had insomnia for years and wasn’t used to sleeping next to someone.
Graham understood, at least on some level, but it was still frustrating.
He would have liked to have woken up with Thad’s arm draped around his waist. He wanted to know what it would feel like to wake up to Thad’s hand wrapped around his cock or wake Thad up with coffee and a blowjob. He wanted to smile at him across the kitchen table as they ate breakfast.
But Thad wasn’t in a place where he could do that and, well, Graham was trying to be understanding and supportive.
It just … kinda sucked. It always left Graham feeling like Thad viewed him as a hookup. And he knew it wasn’t true. Nothing Thad did or said otherwise backed that up.
But there was a stupid nagging voice in the back of Graham’s head that wondered. That doubted.
What if Thad wasn’t ready for something serious?
“You planning to shower someday or stew in your own filth?” Connor asked as he walked past, a towel wrapped around his waist and water darkening his auburn hair and beard.
“Uhh,” Graham said, realizing he was still mostly dressed in his gear while nearly everyone else was done showering or at least heading in there. He caught a glimpse of Crawford’s bare ass disappearing into the showers and glanced back at his captain. “Yeah, just a little out of it this morning, I guess.”
“Everything alright?” Connor narrowed his eyes.
“Yep, everything’s great,” Graham assured him.
Later that morning, as Graham walked into the dining area to grab lunch, guys were still talking about Halloween costume ideas. He still didn’t have a clue what he was going to do for his.
Graham’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out as he waited in line for his turn. He’d half-hoped it was a message from Thad, but it was from his sister instead, asking about what color boutonniere he wanted.
Confused, he texted back.I dunno. Whatever color goes with the bouquets?
Obviously. I mean which of those options do you like.
Which of what options?He asked.
Boutonnieres!
What am I supposed to be looking at??
They eventually figured out the pictures she’d sent hadn’t gone through properly and by the time Graham had his food, the re-sent photos had arrived.
He browsed through them while he ate and at one point, Tanner leaned over, peering at Graham’s screen. “Ooh, who are you chatting with? Is she hot?”
Graham scowled and pressed a finger to Tanner’s forehead, moving him out of the way. “Dude, you have no respect for privacy.”
Tanner shrugged. “It’s overrated.”
“No, it isn’t,” Rafe and Mickey said in unison.
Tanner rolled his eyes at them. “Seriously though, who’s the girl? And why is she sending you flower pics?”
“She’s mysister,” Graham told him. “And she’s sending me flower pics because I’m in her wedding later this year, you dipshit.”
“Oh.” Tanner slumped back in his chair. “That’s boring. I thought maybe you were dating someone new.”
“I told you I was taking a break from trying to meet women,” Graham reminded him.
