“You can always offer to switch it to a lunch meeting,” Gavin offered.
“You do like to bribe people with food, don’t you?”
“Hey, it works.”
They both laughed.
“Thanks for being flexible aboutmyappointment the other day,” Amelia said. “Thankfully, it was only a small issue with the insulin pump, but I can never be too careful.”
“No, of course. Your health is the most important thing,” Gavin said, his tone reassuring.
Graham vaguely remembered Gavin’s assistant was a Type 1 diabetic.
A former Harriers’ player also had the disease, and the team had done a big promotion to raise awareness a few years ago. Amelia had consulted with the players on it and Graham had really liked working with her.
“That’s why we do these walks and talks, right?” she asked cheerfully as their footsteps resumed. “It gets us both moving more. How have you been feeling lately? I’ve been meaning to ask.”
Thad let out a relieved breath and Graham patted his chest, feeling the too-quick beat of his heart.
“Really good,” Gavin said. “It’s a process, but my cholesterol levels are getting better, and yoga has done wonders for the tension headaches.”
“Not to mention offloading half the work to Finn.”
Gavin laughed, his voice beginning to fade into the distance. “Yeah, that hasn’t hurt either. Honestly, I think …”
When Graham could no longer hear them at all he turned to look at Thad. He looked a little dazed and faintly sweaty.
“You okay?” Graham asked.
“Jesus.” Thad shook his head, his palm pressed to this chest. “No. That could have been bad.”
“At least it didn’t happen while I was blowing you,” Graham pointed out.
Thad gave him a faint smile. “There’s that.”
“Or they could have spotted a puddle on the tile and opened the door to look for a towel or wet floor sign and come in to clean up.”
Thad grimaced. “Don’t remind me.”
“Hey,youwere the one who pulledmeinto a cleaning closet,” Graham said with a laugh.
Thad’s worried expression softened. “Yeah, I did.”
“So, I’m just saying …”
“No, I get it.” Thad rested his forehead against Graham’s. “Maybe we should keep our pants zipped while we’re at work though.”
“Oh fine,” Graham said with a sigh. “If you want to be old andboring.”
“Oh, fuck you,” Thad threw back, looking a little more relaxed.
“Mmm, not right now. I’ve got a promo event to do. But later tonight …” He arched an eyebrow. “You’re on.”
Thad was still making quiet, inarticulate noises when Graham left the supply closet.
And ran smack-dab into his goaltender.
“Jesse!” he yelped, frantically hoping he didn’t look too rumpled. And, oh God, what if his breath smelled like cum?
