Page 184 of Game Misconduct

He could be happy for Tanner, for his dad, for the rest of the team.

After a quick walk down a set of stairs and through a winding corridor, Leif found himself standing in the tunnel, Mandy’s fingers still tightly clenched around his as they stared out at the chaos on the ice. Other SAPs were waiting, other family members of players and coaches too.

His mom had come to the game tonight, but she wasn’t with them now, hadn’t wanted to cause any distraction or fuss.

Leif watched as the guys continued to pile on each other, shouting and hugging and shaking each other. His heart ached at the sight of guys ruffling Tanner’s sweaty hair and the way they beamed at him.

He was soadoredby this team. Their heartbeat.

It almost made Leif feel bad for wanting to drag him away from them.

But he thought of Tanner mumbling in his sleep last night—something about bananas and a monkey andlove you, Princess—and he knew that he’d do whatever Tanner wanted.

Whatever would make him happy.

If he wanted to stay with the Harriers, they’d make it work. If he wanted to come to New York and their GMs could manage to agree to the trade, that was even better. But it would be up to him.

Leif watched as the ceremony began, the league commissioner, Andrew Hale, presenting the Cup to Connor O’Shea, like he always did.

What was not normal was that Jesse was standing beside him.

Leif had never seen a captain and a goalie receive the Cup together but a moment later, he understood that it was about more than their relationship and the lights-out way that Jesse had played. Connor’s shoulder was too fucked for him to even lift the trophy on his own, but together, he and Jesse carefully hoisted it over their heads.

For a moment they stood there, grinning at each other, the love and appreciation for each other so bright and vibrant that Leif could see it and almost feel it from where he stood. They skated their lap together and Leif—along with some of the cheering crowd—let out a little gasp as they kissed under the Cup before handing it off to Graham.

Leif held his breath as he watched Tanner hoist it and he wasbeaming. He was smiling so wide it made Leif’s chestachewith happiness for him.

After every player had made their lap with the Cup, the SAPs and other family were allowed on the ice. Leif made a beeline for his dad. His beard was a little scruffy and he was crying openly too.

“You did it!” Leif said, hugging him tightly.

“We sure fucking did!”

Leif laughed and congratulated him before he pulled back. “How does it feel?”

“Good.” His dad smiled, even though he looked nearly as exhausted as the players. “Really good. This was a long time coming.”

He wasn’t sure if his father meant since he’d hoisted the Cup last as a player for New York or since the Harriers had last won it. It could be either one.

Boston had won under the leadership of Declan, Finn, and Pat O’Shea but that had been years ago, and Leif glanced over to see a crying Connor wrapping his teenage son in a hug, nearly smothered by his other family members as they piled on him too.

Leif spotted Tanner hugging his family and it took everything in him to not go over to him now.

Instead, he waited and he congratulated the other coaches and some players and shook hands and gave back-slapping hugs and finally,finally, when it wouldn’t be weird, he tapped Tanner on the shoulder.

“Good game,” he said aloud, but what he meant was, ‘I love you’ and ‘I’m so proud of you’ and ‘you deserve this.’

From the way Tanner’s eyes glowed as he tugged him in for a quick, friendly hug, he knew it.

“Enjoy every second of it,” Leif said in Tanner’s ear before he pulled back. “I’ll be waiting when you’re done celebrating.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

The next three days were a huge fucking blur for Tanner.

There was dancing and drinks at O’Neill’s. A private celebration and then a public one. There was a trip to the animal shelter to put puppies and kittens in the Cup and a parade with what felt like the entire city of Boston cheering for them, and it all blurred together into a gorgeous mess of noise and joy.

There were glimpses of Leif in the middle of it all. Hazy memories of Leif soaping him in the shower and tucking him into bed for a nap before he had to be up again for the next event.