But she grimaced and did something on her phone. “Ugh. Probably better not.”
They made small talk as they waited, and Thad still hadn’t arrived by the time the ride share did.
“You want to take this?” he offered.
She shot him another wary look, and he felt a little horrified when he realized how much women had to worry about to get home safe. What the fuck was wrong with dudes?
“No ulterior motive,” he assured her. “I was going to share a ride with my boy—um, a buddy and he isn’t out here yet, obviously. If you want, I can talk to the driver about canceling my ride and ask if he’ll do a new one for you. No pressure though.”
“Oh.” The remaining worry on her face disappeared. “Sure. If you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind.”
The driver grumbled but went along with it, and it wasn’t long before she was speeding away in the car.
Graham debated if he should wait to do anything until he saw Thad or order a new ride altogether. Thankfully, Thad stepped outside as Graham hovered his thumb over the app, internally warring with himself.
He ordered the ride as Thad stepped closer.
“Sorry it took so long. I figured you probably left without me,” Thad said.
“Probably should have,” Graham agreed. “But I put a woman in it instead.”
“Nice of you.” Thad glanced over. “Was it the hot brunette?”
“Yeah,” Graham said, a flicker of jealousy going through him.
Thad gave him a crooked smirk. “Perfect. I think Gavin’s convinced I was going home with her. Which is inaccurate butconvenient.”
“Yeah?” Graham asked, relaxing a little.
“Yeah, he gave me a little lecture on not giving up on the guy I have a thing for.” Thad’s smug look deepened.
“You told him there’s a guy you have a thing for?” Graham asked, surprised.
“Uhh, only vaguely.” Thad adjusted his ball cap. “I made sure I didn’t give us away.”
“No, I’m sure you were careful,” Graham said. “I was just surprised.”
“I honestly wish I could tell him about us,” Thad said more quietly. “Maybe he’d be able to help me figure out how to be a decent boyfriend to you.”
He looked so worried it made Graham’s heart ache.
“Hey, you’re doing fine as far as I’m concerned.” Graham reached out, then remembered he couldn’t hold Thad’s hand in public. He stuffed both hands into his trouser pockets instead.
“Even if I bail on you in the middle of the night?”
“I figured you had your reasons,” Graham said quietly. “We probably shouldn’t talk about them here though.”
“You’re probably right.” Thad shifted back a little.
A cool breeze caught Graham across the back of his neck, and he shivered, hunching his shoulders. A moment later, he felt the brush of skin-warmed leather as Thad draped his jacket around Graham’s shoulders.
When Graham shot Thad a surprised glance, he gruffly said, “You looked cold.”
“I was. Thank you.”
Graham probably shouldn’t accept the jacket, but the feeling of being enveloped in that warmth, with the scent of Thad’s cologne settling around him like a hug, felt too nice to shrug off. To refuse.
