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The plane ride back home wasn’t quiet.
Not in the slightest.
His teammates bustled about, drinking, talking, laughing- far too loud and jovial for the fact they just lost to the Florida Panthers. A loss that Jeremy felt entirely alright with putting on himself.
Jeremy wasn’t sure if the bustle was better or worse than it just being silent. Silence would lead to thoughts. Thoughts would lead to too many thoughts. Too many thoughts would lead to a road he never wanted to go down, but a road that found him regardless of his wishes. Far too often, at that.
He wasn’t in the most talkative mood, but it wasn’t like anyone was bothering him on purpose anyway. Why would they?
5-2.
He knew that the last one wasn’t his fault and that there was a real shot at a win when they were within one, but hell- rationality sort of went out the window when you were even close to a position to blame yourself for ending your team’s seven-game win streak. Maybe if he dove right that one time- hugged the post- kept his leg down- fuck. Fuck.
Jeremy rested his head on his seat's headress when he felt the unwelcome thoughts creep in. He felt a slight tug at his eyes, but he ignored it, focused on keeping his head back and taking deep breaths.
Should have put Ully in- should have put Ully in- should have fucking put Ully in.
Jeremy wasn’t even sure how long he’d been thinking about it before he heard someone snap him back to reality.
“Jer? Sway- earth to Sway. Ground control to Major Swayman-” Jeremy heard suddenly, his head snapping up from its uncomfortable angle against the cold window.
He looked up to see Linus, blond hair further illuminated by the reading light of the seat right behind him. The tips of his hair were slightly darker than the rest of his hair, and his smile somehow managed to shine even brighter in the shitty airplane lighting.
Jeremy immediately suppressed the thoughts he had about how lovely his goalie partner managed to look in that light. Thoughts about the tips of his hair, the edges of his cheeks, the darkened blue of his eyes. Those were not thoughts you had about your goalie partner.
“Huh-” He said quickly- quietly. He looked up, inhaling deeply as he pulled his left AirPod out and set it down in his lap. “Ully. Hey man.”
Jeremy cocked his head slightly, still not having gotten entirely used to Linus’ mustache. Hell- he wasn’t used to his own- asking him to be aware of his goalie partner’s was too much.
“What’s going on?” Jeremy said with a smile, hoping to make it abundantly clear to his disgustingly perceptive partner that he was a-okay. It was a bit of a task. He knew he had more tells than most people should. But at least nobody really noticed them. Nobody except Linus, of course.
“Nothin’, nothin’. What’re you up to?” Linus asked, sitting down on the empty seat next to him.
“Uh… nothing really. The old Pearl Jam and stare-out-the-window. Kind of hungry. Tired.” Jeremy replied with a small smile. It wasn't entirely a lie. Hell, it was mostly the truth. He really, really could go for some chicken parm.
“I get that. Tough game.” Ullmark said awkwardly. This was new. Words just flowed around Sway, and Linus thought that it was a horrible time for that capability of his to just stop.
Jeremy stayed silent, choosing the wrong moment to inhale softly through his nose. Linus, perceiving it as a sniffle of sorts, turned over his full attention and took a hard look at him.
“Tell me you’re not blaming yourself,” He whispered softly, a look on his face that Jeremy genuinely could not place.
Jeremy wasn’t sure what it was about Linus’ words that flipped a switch inside of him, but the aggressive denial that was dying to come out was killed in a matter of seconds as he closed his mouth without having said a word.
“I hate lying. Especially to you.” He said softly, not taking his eyes off of the backpack in front of him.
“Jer-”
“No, it’s fine Ully. It’s a learning experience. Always is. My poor stats though,” He said, ending with a chuckle, but unable to clear the corner of his mind that was indeed, thinking about his stats. He shoved a hand in his pocket, running his index over his thumb and off, the way he always found himself doing when he was nervous. He wasn't sure what he was nervous about- not really. Linus made him feel safe. He knew that. He wasn't sure what the problem was.
“Jeremy.” Linus said seriously, setting his hand down firmly on their shared armrest.
“I’m kidding, Ull. Relax.” He said with a small grin. He hoped it was able to send the message across. He was fine. In the grand scheme of things, he was fine. There were more important things than his save percentage or goals against average. He had the season ahead of him. He was fine.
He was also a little too focused on the way Linus was touching his arm.
Noticing his eyes, Linus’ face ran hot for a moment before he removed his arm from the armrest and placed it in his lap.
“You’re not. You’re thinking about them.”
“That’s not a crime.” He said defensively, immediately chastising himself for saying that rather than just denying it.
“It’s not. But Jeremy- you’ve played six games. You almost shut the Blackhawks out the other day. After you recovered from an injury that everyone was damn terrified about- I refuse to let you blame yourself.” Linus said, almost indignantly. His brows were furrowed, and his hands were trying their damn hardest not to be up in the air and gesticulating maniacally.
“Damn terrified, huh?” Jeremy gave him small a shit-faced smirk, putting up his first line of defense. Humor was always a good wall. It was easy for him after all- sunshine incarnate. It was good. Easy. Most of the time, people didn't even know he was putting up a front. That's how good he was. For everyone except Linus, he guessed.
“Don’t act like you don’t know,” Linus said, his eyes unconsciously tracking down to Jeremy’s knee and back up.
He hated thinking about the Penguins game. He absolutely despised thinking about the fact that if he wasn't pulled Jeremy wouldn't have been in net. He hated thinking about the fact that if he hadn't been pulled, the play wouldn't have happened the way it had. He hated it all.
Jeremy however, was having a hard time focusing on anything Linus was saying to notice. Linus was a difficult man.
In terms of paying attention to him, it was a hell of a task. The vast amount of things you could look at was boundless, and for Jeremy's hyperactive mind, only paying attention to one thing about his goalie partner was always, always a challenge. It only looked like he was paying his full mind. Holy hell was it difficult to pay attention to an angry, perturbed Linus Ullmark when he was being an angry, perturbed Linus Ullmark.
The way his brows furrowed in, the way he held off on breathing for long pauses- the way his blue eyes just sharpened whenever he could even sense that Jeremy’s self-doubt was creeping in.
The bastard was perceptive and reactive as hell, and it was nothing short of terrifying.
“Yeah. Yeah.” Jeremy said quickly, snapping himself out of his wholly unwelcome line of thought. “No, you’re right. I was pretty scared too, you know. That was a hell of a win though. Pens, I mean.”
“Still feel terrible,” Linus said quietly, settling further into the seat and clicking his seatbelt. It was apparent that he intended to be there for a while, to which Jeremy couldn't discern whether he was thankful or not. He loved Linus- being near Linus, he meant. It made him feel safe, welcome, important. The way they meshed was baffling, and undeniable from their first meeting, but it was a bit of a curse too. The man understood him far too well. It was a little disturbing, really.
“Lord. Ully. That was not your fault, I will slap you square across the face if you blame yourself for that shit again.” Jeremy said, exasperated.
He was dog-tired of Linus’ argument that if he’d never been pulled, Jeremy wouldn’t have been in goal and that the exact play that got him injured probably wouldn’t have even happened to him. And that even if the play had happened, he’d rather that it would have been him.
Because that’s something guys say to each other- right? Bros. Dudes. Yeah. Yeah, no. They were normal goalies.
“See how I feel now?” Linus said with a smirk, leaning back in his seat and turning his head with a smile. It was his turn to wear the shit-faced grin.
“Linus,” Jeremy said incredulously, rolling his eyes slightly. Nonetheless, he smiled, pulling out his phone to pause the Pearl Jam that had been playing quietly in his right ear. In an effort to do so, he unlocked his phone on accident, letting Linus see what he’d been looking at prior to his arrival.
The smile that had been present on his goalie partner’s face vanished in a flash as he furrowed his brows at Jeremy and looked down angrily at the phone.
“Twitter. You’re not serious.”
“No, I wasn’t- I was just- I clicked on it on accident. I have Messages in the same folder and so... yeah. You know. Accidents.”
“Cut the bullshit Sway,” Linus said. God, he hated that godforsaken app.
He hated everything about it. He hated the instantaneous nature. He hated the anonymity. He hated the way it enabled a moment’s heat and hatred to be immortalized for the world to see. He hated how hard it was to ignore.
He hated the fact that the best goalie he’d ever known had been sitting alone on their flight back to Boston reading absolute bullshit about him and his game.
“Jeremy,” Linus said, furrowing his brows. He gave a quick glance at the time on his own watch and held out his hand. “Now.”
“What?” Jeremy said, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “No.”
“Give me your phone.”
“Ully- god, what? Whiff the smelling salts too hard? I’m not giving you my phone.” He said, immediately snatching his hand away and putting it in the pocket closest to the window.
“Give,” Linus said simply leaning over and shoving his hand into Jeremy’s pocket to take it.
Why did his partner seem to have such an aggressive lack of boundaries, Jeremy thought. Holy shit Linus, this is not societally acceptable, he wanted to say. But he never really got what he wanted, did he? All that really came out were garbled grumbles.
Jeremy really had to suppress a thought then. In doing so, he gave up his defenses of covering up his phone with his hands and simply surrendered it to Linus. Whatever arbitrary amount of time he’d take his phone for would have to be better than the inevitable, unwelcome result of the struggle that they were having.
Linus looked satisfied as he held Jeremy’s phone in his hand.
“Remind me never to unlock my phone around you ever again,” He grumbled softly, his lip giving into a slight pout.
“You would have been in the clear if you weren’t using that godforsaken app to wallow.” Linus scoffed, still incredulous at the fact he managed to nab Jeremy’s phone.
“I wasn’t wallowing.”
“You know that not a single one of those people would last half a period in your shoes.”
“In my skates,” Jeremy corrected with a small laugh. Deflection was never not fun for him.
“Fine. Fine, in your skates,” Linus said, trying hard to sound irritated. Jeremy Swayman was a difficult man not to smile at. He was also a difficult man in general. Especially for him. Maybe only for him. Hell.
“I don’t know man, there’ve been some pretty decent EBUGs. You know?” Jeremy said with a small smile.
“Sway.” Linus said. God, he was exhausted with this man.
“Yeah. Sorry, Ully. Yeah, I know what you’re saying. You’re nice.” He said the last part softly, letting himself smile- really smile- for the first time since Florida picked that lead up.
“I’m not being nice. I’m being truthful,” Linus said definitively, a frown picking up on his face again.
“Yeah. Yeah, I know. I’m just having a hard time believing you I guess,” Jeremy said, more sadness in his voice than he wished he put across.
The sight broke Linus a little more than he wished it did. His goalie partner being sad about a less-than-decent showing should not have been able to have this effect on him. The way Jeremy's shoulders sagged, the dullness in his eyes and smile- god, nobody should have been allowed to make him feel that way. No one.
“I know,” He said softly. “It’s hard, yeah? It’s a humbling job in a humbling sport. But damn it Swayman, you’re damn good at your job. And those- what’d you call them last year- when they were saying things about me- talkative faces- on Twitter aren’t worth a damn minute of your time.”
Jeremy’s eyebrows shot up slightly when he heard Linus use his last name fully. He never did that outside of a joking context, not really. And hell, him struggling to find a phrase in English should not have been as adorable as it was.
“Your accent comes out real strong when you’re angry.” Jeremy smiled as he looked on in slight adoration. An angry Linus was also an endearing Linus. It was always a source of confusion for him. “And it’s talking heads. I like talkative faces a little more though.”
Linus was silent for a moment before a smile broke onto his face. “Promise me that you’re going to stop caring.”
“That’s a difficult one,” Jeremy said, maintaining his own smile.
“I know. We’ll work on it, alright? Both of us.”
“Both of us, huh? Sounds solid.” He said with a grin. He really, really wished his heart wasn’t beating as fast as it was in that moment. Good god, he needed a cure for whatever the hell it was he had for Linus.
“Deal, then,” Linus beamed, holding out his hand.
Jeremy met it, his mind reregistering how damn soft Linus’ hands were like he did every time their hands touched.
Linus gave Jeremy’s phone’s lock screen a glance as he returned it to him.
He looked at his watch and cocked his head to the side. “I’ll be back. Save my seat.”
Jeremy held off on saying that he didn’t think anyone was dying to sit there and just gave Linus a simple nod. “‘Course.”
Jeremy felt the weight of his phone in his hand again, smiling softly as he watched the Face ID lock click around.
His phone opened immediately back to Twitter, which he sighed at. He gave the back of Linus’ head a quick glance as he walked back up the aisle to the back of the plane.
Quickly, he swiped up from the bottom of his phone, watching as the Twitter window swiped itself to hell, where it belonged.
Jeremy opened his playlist again and hit shuffle for the third time tonight. Just by sheer probability, it was going to be a Pearl Jam song, but holy hell he didn’t expect it to be The Fixer.
When something’s dark, lemme shed a little light on it.
When something’s cold, let me put a little fire on it.
If something’s old, I wanna put a bit of shinin’ on it.
When something’s gone, I want to fight to get it back again.
He supposed he would have to fight to get it back again. He hated that he agreed with what people were saying about him, but hell- if you never bleed, you’re never gonna grow. Right?
He closed his eyes, again, resting his head against the window.
Eddie Vedder always managed to knock him straight of of a slump. Or into one, for that matter. He wasn’t even sure how long it had been before he felt himself slowly slip into the beginnings of slumber. It would have gotten him too- had it not been for one thing. A loud pop that jolted him all the way back to life.
He sat up quickly, his heart in his throat from the noise. When he opened his eyes, he fully registered what the hell had happened.
Small shiny pieces of plastic littered around his feet.
Marchy stood in front of him with an empty cardboard cylinder. Bergy stood with an arm around him, a party hat slightly askew on top of his head.
“Happy birthday, baby!” Brad yelled, trying his damn hardest to pop a party popper that had already been popped.
“Happy birthday Sway,” Patrice smiled, stepping aside to reveal the rest of the crew jumping up from where they’d hidden behind their seats.
“Happy birthday!” Resounded through the aircraft, a goofy smile melting onto his face when he turned around to see the entirety of his team engaging in the festivities.
He had no idea how the hell to admit it, but dear lord- he forgot his own birthday.
He saw Pasta wearing two party hats on his head, with JD, who presumably had his party hat stolen by Pasta.
He could see Fliggy and Hallsy handing out party blowers while Gryz and Chuck handed out more party hats to the rest of the plane.
He genuinely had no idea what to say.
“Holy fuck,” He laughed to himself quietly, finding it difficult not to notice the absence of a certain man, but he pushed for words to say regardless. “Holy shit.”
“Happy birthday man!” Carlo grinned, clapping him on the back from the seat behind him.
“Thank you guys,” Jeremy said quietly, slightly in shock at what the hell this team will do for each other.
He registered the smiling faces of everyone on the plane, and for a moment, he forgot about the hell they had all just endured. He was genuinely surprised at how it managed not to matter that quickly.
“I’m just a little…” He trailed off, cocking his head to the side. He couldn’t believe that his teammates did this for him. “Lord, uh… fuck, thank you.”
“Alright boys,” Marchy yelled promptly, a determined look in his eyes that Jeremy wasn’t entirely sure he liked. “Like we practiced. Bergy, blindfold him.”
“What? Brad, we never practiced anyth- I don’t have a blindf-" Patrice said, slightly frantic at his orders. “Bradley!”
The plane broke out into giggles at the scene- Bergy and Marchy were definitely a sight to behind. Nonetheless, they followed Brad’s orders, an off-key rendition of Happy Birthday ringing in his ears.
He looked to the front of the plane, and then the back, taking it all in. He was still in goddamn shock.
He’d been looking at the front seats as the boys closed out the song when he felt a hand on his back.
The man he’d been so selfishly thinking about the entire time had seemed to materialize next to him again, a grin on his face, and this time, a cake in his hand.
“Ully-” He said in surprise, looking between him, the cake, a beaming Marchy, and a tired Bergy trying to subdue him. “Linus… what?”
“Happy birthday Jeremy,” He said with a smile, signaling with his head to sit down.
“God, Ully- this was your doing?”
“Birthdays are important.” He said matter-of-factly, earning an ‘amen!’ from Marchy.
“Linus,” Jeremy said, still incredulous at it all.
“You deserve this Jer,” He said softly. “I’m so proud of you.”
God. God- this man was trying to kill him. There was no way. He was about to spontaneously combust. It was fine, he thought. 23 years was a good run. Oh, well 24 now.
“Thank you,” He said quietly, unable to take his eyes off Linus'. His hands were a little shaky, and he could feel his vision blur ever so slightly, but he did his damn best to ignore it. "God, Ull, thank you."
Jeremy would have personally judged their conversation as quiet, especially in a loud-ass plane, but the wolf whistles that arose from around them attested otherwise.
“Obviously, we couldn’t have candles, but uh… make a wish and I’ll light a candle for you when we get on the ground?” Linus said sheepishly. As if everything he’d already done wasn’t enough for him.
Jeremy wasn’t sure how to say it. That he already had his wish. That he was best friends with a guy who meant so damn much to him- that he played hockey for the best damn franchise in the NHL, that he could witness his alternate trying to do the worm down the airplane aisle while their captain- desperately tried (and failed) to stop him.
“Alright, done.” He beamed, getting up and acknowledging the rest of the plane. “Good lord, y’all- I don’t have words. Thank you. Fuck.”
“Happy fuckin’ birthday Sway!” Someone yelled in the back, maybe Chucky. Jeremy couldn’t fully make it out.
‘Woo’s and cheers resonated around them, and Marchy eventually gave up on the airplane worm. The cake was divvied up and distributed by the time Jeremy really came down to Earth.
This was his team. Through that loss- through every loss, this was his team. And his team had a really fucking quick turnaround.
And his goalie partner- god, he couldn’t be more grateful for that man. He wasn't sure if there was a better one in existence. One that understood him on that level- one that he could never see himself tiring of.
As if he read his mind, Linus started speaking immediately.
“This cake is pretty good, huh?” He said through a mouthful, smiling as he looked to his side.
“Understatement,” Jeremy mumbled, looking at him with a grin. “God, Ully- I can’t believe you did this.”
“Well, Marchy helped a good bit. You can tell from the enthusiasm, can’t you? Fliggy, but that goes without saying…” Linus said, taking another large bite of cake.
“Still. Ull,” Jeremy paused, trying to build courage. He wasn’t sure what he was building toward, but hot damn did he want it.
“Hey guys, let’s settle a bit back there,” They suddenly heard their pilot’s muffled voice from the speakers. “We’re beginning our descent.”
“Looks like those candles are nearer in your future than I thought,” Linus smiled to himself, finishing up his plate of cake and setting it down on the seatback. “Oh, I gotta put that up.”
“I’ve got the candles, but the lighter’s in my car,” Linus said, a little too focused on putting his seatback tray table up.
“Yeah. Sounds good. Not that you have to, I mean- hell man, everything you’ve done today… It’s more than enough.” Jeremy said softly, finishing up his last bite of cake. He could only wish the plane ride was longer.
“Ridiculous. You’re getting that wish.” Linus dismissed him as if he had just told him he saw a one-eyed unicorn using its horn as a skewer for Lucky Charms marshmallows.
Jeremy only nodded and gave Linus a smile.
Meaningful silence stood between them for an indeterminate amount of time as they observed the sounds of the rest of the plane. Jeremy wasn’t sure he minded the sound anymore. Hell, who was he kidding? He stopped minding a while ago.
“Give me a minute, yeah?” Linus said quickly, not waiting for a response as he grabbed his trash as well as Jeremy’s and headed to the back of the plane swiftly.
Jeremy only nodded ceremoniously and rest his head on the back of his seat.
“Alright boys, make sure those seatbelts are fastened.”
Jeremy looked back to see Linus jogging back to the seat and strapping himself in.
“Just in time,” He smiled, observing the tired features on his goalie partner’s face. His eyes were slightly sunken in, and the circles under his eyes were considerably darker than usual. God, the mustache. He couldn’t take his eyes off the mustache.
The plane landed quicker than Jeremy thought it would, and Jeremy slouched a little at the thought.
Going back home to an empty place and nobody to keep him from miserably staring at his phone and reading garbage wasn’t exactly an enticing thought, to say the least.
The plane landed and everyone managed to be on their way after a few half-drunken ‘happybirthdaysway’s, but Jeremy hung around with Linus as he walked them to his car.
“Alright,” Linus cocked his head, far more analytical thought on his face being shown than appropriate for the situation.
“Alright, alright, alright,” Jeremy smiled, trying to hide his shivers as he leaned against the car. He may have forgotten to pack appropriately for the return to Boston on their Florida road trip. Holy hell, he needed to get back to Alaska. It couldn’t have even been less than 40. Oh, how little Sway would be so disappointed in him. “You owe me a wish?”
“I do.” Linus grinned, looking up to notice Jeremy shivering. “Cold?”
Jeremy immediately shook his head vehemently. “No.”
“You’re cold,”
“I’m fine!”
“Here,” Linus said, rolling his eyes at his stubborn-as-hell goalie partner. He took his coat off quickly and singlehandedly draped it around Jeremy’s shoulders.
“No- Ully- then you’ll be cold,” Jeremy said, fighting it.
“I’ll be fine. Sit.” Linus said, occupied in thought as he opened the passenger seat and allowed Jeremy to sit down. The car might have been a worse beast than outside, but at least he had the coat he was forced to take. Linus reached over his lap and opened the glove compartment to pull out a small Zippo.
“Close your eyes,” Linus said quickly. “You know what, just turn around.”
Jeremy silently did as he was told, twisting so he got a view of the driver’s window.
He could hear the crinkling of plastic and the flick of the lighter before he saw Linus run around to the driver’s side with his hand protecting the flame.
“Make a wish,” He smiled, holding up what might have been the most glorious sight Jeremy had ever seen.
It was a Hostess Cupcake with a small yellow candle in it. The wax had started to drip onto the chocolate a little, but Jeremy couldn’t care less. He genuinely could not give less of a shit.
“Ully…” He said quietly, his eyes dead focused on the man’s face illuminated by firelight in the dark car.
“Sway, make a wish!” Linus said, laughing at the younger man’s sincerity over a plane cupcake with a candle in it.
“I would if I didn’t already have it, shit,” Jeremy said, still not blowing out the candle. Something about Linus’ face in the firelight was a little too beautiful to give up.
“Jer…?”
“Why’d you do all this Ully? Really,” Jeremy said quietly, a little scared of the answer.
“Sway-” Linus chuckled awkwardly, hoping to portray that the answer was obvious. It was obvious, right? Jeremy was his best friend. It’s his best friend’s birthday. Come on. It was what any good friend would do.
“Linus.” Jeremy said, it now being his turn to be tired of the bullshit.
“The candle’s about to go kaput Jeremy, if I were you I’d really-” Linus said nervously, trying to divert the words that were bound to come flowing out.
Without hesitation, Jeremy blew out the candle instantaneously, diving to meet Linus’ lips in the dark.
The kiss was just as soft as he expected, Linus’ hand almost immediately going up to hold his face. He could feel his light stubble brush against his own. His mustache was a severely different story. He was pretty sure that he’d be able to feel that thing with fucking nerve damage. Holy hell did he need to get him a razor.
Out of nowhere, Linus pulled away- almost violently. “Sway.”
Jeremy’s heart dropped to his feet at the look on Linus’ face as he backed away into the shotgun car door. “Shit- shit, Ully, I didn’t mean- fuck. Fuck, I’m so sorry.”
Jeremy turned to unlock the car door, frantically fumbling with the handle. It felt like he was fumbling everything today.
“No, shit- Sway,” Linus said quietly, grappling at his wrist. He got a good grip, reeling the younger man back in. “Jeremy. Listen. I'm just trying to make sure that this is really what you want. I know it's been a hard day- but Jer, the last thing I want is to take advantage of you in any way-”
Jeremy brought a hand to Linus' face, running a thumb over his bottom lip in an effort to cut him off.
“I've wanted this since Buffalo was unfortunate enough to lose you. Since I was lucky enough to become your partner on the ice. Of course this is what I want.” He said with a smile, straining his eyes to observe Linus’ expression intricately in the murkiness of the dark car.
“Guess we had the same wish then, huh?” Linus gave into a slow grin, his pensive expression breaking.
Jeremy found himself at a loss for words. It was rare for him. He found something to say in almost every damn situation. Something- oh, hell, who was he kidding- everything about Linus like this made him speechless. It was too good to be true. It had to be.
“Linus,” Jeremy paused, turning back fully to his goalie partner. “If this is a joke…”
“No joke. I swear.” Linus said quietly, not taking his eyes off Jeremy’s.
“No need to say anything else then,” Jeremy said quietly. A smile grew back onto his face as he took Linus’ hand in his own and closed the distance between them again.
Jeremy definitely lost track of the time that he was locked with Linus, only pulling away when he suspected he was turning purple.
“God, Ully. Hell of a birthday kickoff.” Jeremy said, breathing a little heavy as he glanced at himself in the rearview. Scrunching his nose, he ran a hand through his hair.
“Kickoff, huh?” Linus said, bringing his hand up to Jeremy’s head to mess his hair right back up.
Jeremy only laughed and thought about how to retaliate. He couldn’t come up with a damn thing.
“Thanks, Ully,” Jeremy said quietly planting a quick, soft kiss on Linus’ lips before pulling away. “For everything.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re goddamn incredible. Don’t you dare forget it?” Linus said, shivering slightly as he realized how hellishly cold it was in his car.
He jammed the keys into the ignition, letting the car roar to life. He probably should have done this earlier.
“You’re way too good to me, you know that right?”
Linus only rolled his eyes. He hoped it said enough.
Nobody could be too good to you. You know that. You have to know that.
It came out a little differently, though.
“Happy birthday Jeremy.”