Page 72 of Game Misconduct

“But not outside of that?”

“No.” They hadn’t really talked about anything else, just left it with what they’d agreed to during the tourney.

“Are you still talking?”

“We text sometimes, yeah.” He shrugged. Not alotbut it had only been a few days. “It doesn’tmeananything though.”

“Are you sure it doesn’t?”

“No, I mean yes. I’m sure. It’s just … fun.” He shrugged. “You know I’m not ready to settle down right now.”

“And that’s fine. I have no problem with you being involved with multiple people as long as you’re being careful?—”

“I am!”

“Just remember there’s more than one way to be careful.”

“Yeah, condoms and PrEP. Testing regularly. I know.” They’d always been pretty open about stuff, and she’d wanted to make sure he wasn’t out there doing anything he’d regret later. She was a smart lady.

She gave him a look. “I meanemotionallycareful.”

“It’s not emotional!” Tanner said with a laugh. “With Leif and me it’s just … I think we’re finallyfriends.”

“Who have sex.”

“Who have sex,” he agreed. “But that doesn’t mean I’m gonnafall in lovewith the guy.”

“Is that true for both of you?”

He frowned. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

She hesitated. “I think sometimes you don’t realize how you make people feel. How … attached they get at times. Do you remember the friendships you had growing up? When you got busy and distracted and didn’t realize you left your friends feeling ghosted when you moved on to the next thing?”

He winced. “Yeah.”

“Just be careful here. Don’t do that to Leif, however unintentionally.”

“I’ll be careful!”

“Good.”

His phone buzzed on the counter and he glanced at it, wincing again when he saw that it was from Leif.Well shit.

His mom probably couldn’t see his screen from where she was but she must have seen the look on his face because she raised an eyebrow at him.

He sighed and repeated, “I’ll be careful. I swear.”

“And remember how difficult it was when you played together for the Furies after the last time things went sideways between you two.”

“I remember. But we’re not on the same team now,” he pointed out.

“No, but his father is your coach.”

“I mean, sort of. He’s on the coaching staff but he’s a forward and …”

“He’s on the coaching staff,” she repeated. “Do I think Aksel Rasmussen is the kind of guy to let personal feelings get in the way of doing his job? No. I think he’s an upstanding man?—”

“And hot.”