Page 174 of Game Misconduct

“Yeah.” Tanner dragged his toe along the carpet again.

“Well, it meant a lot to me that you—that you got me that way. That you knew how to ask for what you needed while still giving me space.”

“I’m glad.” Tanner hesitated. “Hey, uh, speaking of my mom, I’d kinda like to tell her about us.”

“Yeah, of course. You’re okay that I told Nicky and Ian about us, right?”

“Yep,” Tanner said. “Definitely. How’d that go, anyway?”

“Pretty good. Nicky’s pretty excited about the idea of you coming to the Rockets.”

“Leif, I don’t—I don’t know anything for sure,” Tanner said. He glanced around to be sure no one was close enough to overhear him, then lowered his voice. “I haven’t even talked to my agent or Gavin yet. Fuck, I’ve still got two rounds to go. I get that you—that you want me there in New York and I want that too but …”

“But what?”

“But I think,” Tanner said slowly, because this was still coming together in his head. “I think I need to focus on the Harriers right now. These guys—they’re myteam. They’re everything to me. I can’t have one foot out the door when we’re about to face the best teams in the league, you know?”

“Yeah, I get that.”

“So, I’m not saying that I don’twantto think about playing with you someday, or what our future could be like. But for now, I really need to be a hundred percent focused on what I can do with the Harriers, you know?”

Leif was silent long enough that Tanner had to bite his lip to keep from jumping in to explain what he meant, to smooth it over if what he’d said had upset Leif, but a moment later, Leif sighed.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. You should focus on your team for now.”

“But I still want you there to cheer me on in the final round,” Tanner said. “Is that okay? Are you good with that?”

“Yeah. Maybe I’ll see if Mom wants to come with me or something.”

“That sounds fun. Are you going to tell her about us?”

“If you want me to.”

“I want you to,” Tanner said confidently. “Silje Vang should know that she’s getting a totally hot son-in-law someday.”

Leif made a choking noise.

“Shit!” Tanner said, smacking his forehead. “I dented you again.”

“Uhh, I’m okay,” Leif said, although he sounded a little dazed. “But you’re the one getting ahead of things now.”

“How about this?” Tanner said with a smile. “For the next couple of weeks, we’ll pretend it’s just like it was a month ago. We’ll get on camera and jerk off together and nothing else. No talk about the future. Just having sexy times now.”

“It’s always about sex for you, isn’t it?” Leif said in that voice that made Tanner know he was rolling his eyes.

Tanner shrugged. “I mean, kinda. I told you I play better when I’m getting off regularly.”

“Well, wouldn’t want to fuck up your playing,” Leif said drily, although he sounded like he was trying to hold back a laugh now.

“Seriously!” Tanner said. “Priorities, babe. I should go though. Call you a little later after I get back from movie night with the boys?”

“Yeah, sounds good. I love you.”

“I love you too, Princess,” Tanner said with a smile.

He hung up and knocked quietly on the door to Mickey and Rafe’s hotel room.

Rafe let him in with a frown and Tanner tiptoed in after him. The room was dark and the movie was still playing, thankfully.