Page 64 of Game Misconduct

“What’s not so great?” Matty sat down on Tanner’s other side.

“This guy’s hangover,” Tanner told him, jerking his thumb in Trevor’s direction. “How are you?”

Mattylookedamazing. He was also wearing team sweats—most of them were, to be honest—but he looked hydrated and well-rested.

He beamed. “Great! All packed. As soon as the meeting is over, I’m heading to the airport. Can’t wait to get home to see my man and my babies.”

“Aren’t some of your kids teenagers?” Trevor asked.

“Alexis and Eli are. But they’re still my babies.” He smiled proudly.

Tanner tuned out once the guys started talking kids. He was happy for them, and he missed the shit out of his little sisters, but he wasn’t really sure he wanted kids for himself.

He wondered if Leif did, then wondered why he cared.

That reminded Tanner that he hadn’t sent Leif a message thanking him for the first breakfast. He did that and by the time he was done, Pat Fleming stood at the front of the room.

He gave a little speech about how well the guys had played, that he was proud of them, and that he knew they were hungry for a win in the future.

It was good stuff but it kinda flowed in one ear and out the other and Tanner was having the hardest time sitting still. He fiddledwith the zipper on his hoodie until the guys near him started giving him the side-eye, probably at the noise.

His throat tightened and he glanced down, tucking his hands under his thighs. There, now he wouldn’t bother anyone.

But as Pat Fleming kept droning on, Tanner could hardly stand it and he jiggled his knee, which instantly felt better. But Trevor glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and he stopped with a sigh.

Damn it!

Tanner felt the brush of Matty’s knuckles against his thigh and he glanced over to see Matty holding out a brightly colored ball to him. Tanner huffed because he wasn’t achild, but Matty kept holding it out, nudging him in the thigh again.

Tanner scowled but took it, giving it an experimental squeeze. Oooh, itwaskinda squishy and nice though.

In his lap, he juggled it between his palms and squished it and finally,finallythe talk was over.

“You sure you don’t have ADHD?” Trevor asked with a laugh as they all stood.

Tanner scowled.

Trevor had taken off his sunglasses at the beginning of the speech and now he frowned. “It wasn’t an insult, man. Brayden has it and he just has a tough time sitting still is all. Reminded me of that.”

“Oh,” Tanner said. “Yeah, I don’t but I get why you asked.”

“Cool.” Trevor punched his upper arm. “Good playing with you, man, seriously.”

They hugged it out and when he was gone, Matty was cleaning up the plates on the table. Stacking them all up for whoever would come through and clean the room.

“So, do you just carry shit like this around in your pockets all the time?” Tanner asked, bouncing the ball in his hand.

Matty laughed and put a napkin on top of the stack. “Honestly, I didn’t even realize I had it in my pocket until I put this sweatshirt on today. But yeah, now that I have kids, I carry random stuff around all the time. I always have something for Reese when he’s feeling restless.”

Tanner thrust the ball back at him, stung again. “Dude, I’m not achild!”

“No.” Matty held up his hands, looking horrified, his voice soft. “No, buddy, I know that. But you seemed a little fidgety and I thought it would help. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings or something.”

Tanner sighed, realizing he’d maybe overreacted a little. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I swear.” Matty gave him a little smile, then leaned in. “Like, we wereallwishing that speech would wrap up sooner, you know?”

Tanner relaxed and they spent a few minutes bitching about the speech before they said goodbye, hugging and promising to keep in touch.