Page 138 of Game Misconduct

Can we talk about this later on the phone?

OMW home now,Tanner promised. His ride was only two minutes out.

Call whenever you get there.

“You’re really not mad?” Tanner asked after the call connected. He stripped out of his clothes, tugged on his most comfy pajamas, then settled on the bed.

“No,” Leif said, looking confused. “Seriously. Why would I be mad at you?”

“You totally disappeared after I cancelled on you.”

“Technically, I disappeared after you asked what I did with friends for fun.”

Tanner sighed. “Youknowwhat I mean.”

“Do I?”

“Leif,” Tanner said because he was kinda going crazy here. “I’m being serious.”

Leif sighed. “Look, it wasn’t aboutyou. I was at the practice facility and one of the guys on the team sat down to talk to me. That’s all.”

“For twelve hours?” Tanner scoffed.

“It hasn’t been twelve hours. It’s been eight hours, max, and I spent over an hour of that in traffic on the way back from Westchesterandtook a shower and got ready for tomorrow.”

“Well, it feltliketwelve,” Tanner pointed out.

“You are so dramatic.”

“Leif!”

Leif rolled his eyes. “Tanner.I was talking to ateammate. He apologized for not sticking up for me in the locker room the other day.”

Tanner frowned. “Wasn’t that a couple of weeks ago? Or did something else happen after that?”

“It was a couple of weeks ago. I guess he’s been feeling bad about it lately. He wanted to apologize and he promised to do better.”

“Oh, that was nice of him. I still don’t see how it took twelve hours.”

“It was less than eight! And he invited me to his place to talk,” Leif said with a shrug. “He lives near the arena and wanted privacy for our conversation.”

“How come?”

“Because he’s also queer and didn’t want to discuss that around some of our teammates.”

“Ohhh. He’s not out though?”

“Not really? I mean, his friends and family know. He just hasn’t really dated anyone because he’s hung up on some guy he’s known for years.”

“Ooh,juicy,” Tanner said. “Tell me more.”

“I think I’ve already told you too much.”

“Leif!”

Leif grinned. “Look, I am not going to tell you more about his personal life or who he is. All I’m going to say is that we hung out, took his dog for a walk, and?—”

“Ooh, dog tax. Dog tax!” Tanner said excitedly.