It had barely been any time at all since he left on the road trip, but he’d missed him.
When Tyler’s eyes snagged on him, a slow smile spread across his face. He moved through the tables, shooting the obligatory sultry looks at the patrons he passed, before running the last few yards to Jamie.
Jamie wanted to stand up, wanted to lift Tyler into his arms and spin him around like they were the leads in a holiday rom-com, but he didn’t want to overstep. He still didn’t fully understand the conventions of Tyler’s work, and the last thing he wanted was to get Tyler in trouble.
“What are you doing here?” Tyler asked, his voice bright and almost breathless as he stood above Jamie.
“Hi,” Jamie said, pretty sure he was smiling like a fool. He pressed his palms to his thighs in an effort to keep himself from touching his boyfriend, from wrapping him up in his arms and never letting go.
Tyler wore a fond expression as he brushed a thumb across Jamie’s cheek. Jamie sighed, leaning into the touch.
“Can I hug you?” Jamie mumbled, his brain a little hazy.
“Probably not a good idea,” Tyler said softly. “Can’t have these folks getting any ideas.”
Jamie opened his eyes, nodding in understanding. “I’m just really fucking happy to see you. I didn’t want to wait.”
“And I’m happy you’re here.” Tyler dropped his hand back to his side. “You played great tonight.”
Jamie felt his chest puff like he was a fucking rooster or something. “You watched?”
Tyler nodded. “I mean, we didn’twatch, but we listened to the play-by-play while we ate dinner.”
“That’s–I…” Jamie began. His chest felt tight, full to the point of overflowing. “Thank you for following the game.”
Tyler’s smile spread over his whole face. “Want a dance, big guy?”
Jamie considered the offer. He wanted that, someday. Hewanted tofeelTyler dance, to see him move his body in a practiced flow designed to turn him on. But he didn’t want an audience. He wanted to touch Tyler, to show him with his hands and mouth and words how much he cared, how grateful he was to Tyler for sharing the gift of his body with him.
“Not here,” Jamie said, and lifted his fingers to briefly graze across Tyler’s belly button. He watched the muscles contract, the little shiver passing through his boyfriend’s body, and smiled. “Someday, when it’s just you and me.”
Tyler’s eyes darkened. “Fifteen minutes and then I’m done.”
“I’ll be here.”
“Will you come stay at my place tonight?”
“Please.”
Tyler gave him one more lingering look, and then turned and made his way back to the bar.
Fuck, he’s beautiful. Jamie shook his head, still a little baffled at how he’d ended up with this perfect man. He watched Tyler’s hips sway, his tattoos shifting like ripples on the surface of the water as he walked toward the bar.
CHAPTER 20
TYLER
DONE FOR THE NIGHT
Tyler couldn’t stop smiling as he leaned against the bar, trying to catch Tessa’s attention for a quick drink of water.
Jamie was there. His burly, hockey-playing boyfriend had come to seehim, at work, in the middle of the night. Despite looking perfectly put together in a navy peacoat over a deep green sweater and gray slacks, he could tell Jamie was exhausted. His green eyes had taken on a sleepy haze that made Tyler want to wrap him up in a blanket like a burrito and put him to bed.
He’d broken a cardinal family rule earlier, and had kept his phone at the table while he and Rowan ate an early supper before he went to work. Jamie had shown him how to get live play-by-play game stats and a local radio broadcast from the hockey league website. Rowan had asked a million questions, but they’d listened to the game together.
Tyler figured they could break the rules for Jamie.
They’d both cheered, their cheeks full of rice and beans, when Ollie scored off of Jamie’s rebound. Rowan had been fussy, complaining about a sore tummy through most of the afternoon, but the game had provided a good distraction.
