Page 18 of Game Misconduct

“One white wine spritzer coming up!” Ryan said in a cheerful tone and walked away to the bar.

“Wait, I’m confused. Isn’t he retired?” someone farther down the table muttered. Rafe, maybe.

“Yes,” Zane Murphy said with a laugh as he took a seat next to Gabriel Theriault. They were off to Tanner’s left and across the table. “We both are.”

“Dude, wait, are you guys coming out of retirement toplay? Because that would be siiiick,” Tanner said excitedly as the idea hit him.

“No,” Zane said, still sounding amused. “I’m assistant GM for Team USA. They announced it last year when they unveiled the tournament plan.”

“Ohhh, right, right,” Tanner said, deflating. He sort of remembered that. He would swear that sometimes shit just went straight in one ear and fell out the other. He probably should know who his assistant GM was though.

Whoops. Way to make a great impression there, Clayton.

“Dude, I fuckingwishwe could play,” Ryan said, sliding in on the far side of Leif—across from Zane—and handing over the spritzer. Leif shifted closer to Tanner, like he was afraid he was in Ryan’s way or something.

“We’dneverwin if you did,” Mickey said in a mournful voice.

“You’re not gonna anyway,” Nico chirped. “Team Canada for the win.”

Voices rose up from around the table as discussions about rosters got heated again.

In the middle of the discussion, Tanner peered around Leif to look at Ryan. “So if you’re not playing here, what are you doing?”

“Commentating,” Ryan said beaming. “This tourney needs some personality, not just some stuffy old dudes who played four hundred years ago.”

“Right on,” Tanner said, reaching across Leif to high-five Ryan.

Leif let out a little annoyed huff. “Do youmind?”

“No,” Tanner said truthfully. Leif smelled good so he didn’t mind being all up in his space. “How’s your spritzer?”

It looked like he hadn’t even touched it.

“Uhh.” Leif grabbed it and took a sip. “Good. And thank you, Mr. Hartinger.”

“Mr. Hartinger?” Ryan hooted. “Oh fuck no, dude. Call me Ryan.”

Leif shrugged. “You’re just …”

Tanner kinda got it. Ryan Hartinger was abig deal. Sure, maybe La Bouche had been the first NHL player to come out of the closet but Ryan and Zane had been the first couple to come out. The first couple towinStanley Cups together.

And now they were married and had kids and were, like, peak couple goals for players who wanted to have it all.

Hell, the whole reason everyone was here drinking together tonight was because Ryan was the one who had gotten the Out in the NHL app going in the first place. For once, Tanner kinda agreed with Leif.

“I told you it would be weird for guys if we came to hang out,” Zane told his husband, his tone almost apologetic. “It’s different now that we’re not players anymore.”

“Doesn’t have to be,” Ryan said, shrugging as he tipped back his own drink.

“But I’m a GM?—”

“Mon chum!” Gabriel called out, his face lighting up. Everyone turned to look at Noah Boucher strolling toward them with Jesse Webber by his side.

Tanner scowled. See? He wasn’t the last one there at all! They’dliedto him.

Gabriel stood, grabbed La Bouche by the shoulders, and kissed his cheeks. Noah laughed and kissed his cheeks back, both of them speaking in rapid fire Québécois as they smiled at each other.

They’d played together for years in Toronto before Gabriel was traded to Evanston. It appeared no time at all had passed.