Page 118 of Game Misconduct

Leif snorted. “No. And I’ve definitely never fucked them.”

“Tell me about the last person you fucked,” Tanner said.

“Uhh.” Leif cleared his throat. “It was you.”

“Yeah? Me too actually,” Tanner said. “I mean, you were the last person I fucked.”

The tension left Leif’s body so fast he fell back onto the mattress. “Yeah?” He stared up at the blank white ceiling, the image whirling for a moment.

“Yeah. I mean, I wasn’t like,tryingor anything but …”

Leif closed his eyes and did his best to pretend like Tanner hadn’t just plunged a hot knife into his chest.

“Oh, before I forget,” Tanner said, interrupting himself. “Shit’s about to get busy for me. We’re heading out on a west coast road trip. Vegas, then the California teams.”

“So?” Leif said, his tone a little shorter than he intended.

“So, uh, I was just letting you know,” Tanner said. “You’re heading down to Florida next, right?”

“Yeah.” Leif rubbed his temple.

“So if we’re kinda busy, I don’t want you to think I’mignoringyou or something.”

“Right. Thanks.”

“Are you okay?” Tanner asked slowly.

Leif sighed. “Not really.”

“Princess …” Tanner said and his voice was so soft it made a lump rise in Leif’s throat.

“I’m fine.”

“You just said you weren’t okay.”

“Ignore that.”

“What if I don’t wanna?”

“I could hang up on you,” Leif pointed out.

“Then I’d be sad.”

Leif opened his eyes, propping himself up on one elbow. “Would you?”

“Yeah. Of course. Talking to you is super fun.”

“Even when I’m not feeling very fun?”

“Yep. I just like hearing your voice.”

Tanner was so matter of fact, like he hadn’t said the single most devastating thing Leif had ever heard.

“You do?” he croaked.

“Duh. So talk to me.”

“About what?”