DEAR DIARY - GRAHAM

Dear Diary, 

I met a guy today.  

That sounds so stupid. I say that like I don’t meet new people all the time. That’s kinda part of the deal being a pro hockey player, you know? 

But this guy is different.  

For one, he’s the twin brother of my GM. Wild, because I didn’t even know Gavin HAD a twin until Thad showed up. Also, because he just got hired by the Harriers about a month ago.  

I guess technically we “officially” met shortly after he was hired. Tyson, the PR director, brought Thad around and introduced him to the team.  

Word has it that he’s been to prison. Everyone says that in an undertone like it’s some big shameful secret. I dunno. Don’t people deserve second chances? 

On the one hand, I get that working for a pro hockey team is kind of a privilege.   

Like if Jack Malone ever got out of prison,  he wouldn’t deserve to play again. He beat his wife and was a total scumbag to a bunch of women in Evanston.  

But some guy who robbed an electronics store when he was eighteen, then totally turned his life around? Yeah, that’s the kind of guy who deserves a second chance.  

Anyway, so Thad and I nod at each other in the halls of HCI and he’s always around because he’s been doing a lot of the photography and videography for the social media department, but we’ve never really sat down and talked one-on-one about anything.

He’s very flirty. Apparently, he’s bi and he’s always got this smirk, like he knows a lot of people find him attractive. It’s really funny to watch the way people react to him, actually.  

But the other day I was leaving a little later than everyone else and I found him sitting on the floor in the hall. He looked … I don’t know, lonely, maybe? Sad? Definitely not his usual smirky, flirty self. 

So I took a seat next to him, introduced myself, and offered him some of my sports drink. He gave me this little half-smile as he took it but it never really reached his eyes, even when he said he knew who I was.  

And yeah, obviously he’d know who I am if he works for the team, but it seemed rude to assume anything.  

We talked for a little while and I just … I kept getting this feeling that he’s kinda … closed off with everyone. Doesn’t really know anyone in town except his brother and it’s pretty obvious they’re not close.  

So I invited him to grab lunch with me sometime. He looked so surprised by the invite.   

I’ve never had any trouble making friends. Comes in handy as alternate captain, when you’re trying to get to know rookies and stuff, but I’ve never met anyone like Thad.  

Never met anyone who I’m so drawn to and just really want to get to know better.  

He seems like an incredibly interesting person, and I think there’s a lot more to him than he lets on.  

Maybe it’s stupid to think he’ll open up to me but I also get this sense that he’s really looking for connection but not sure how to find it. I could be all wrong, I guess, but I’ve learned to trust my gut when it comes to people. 

We’re gonna grab lunch soon and I’m really looking forward to it. Looking forward to getting to know him better, that’s for sure.  

-Graham 

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