Page 87 of Game Misconduct

“So we can’t hook up at your place when I’m in Boston,” Leif said, trying to coax Tanner back to staying on subject. “Do you have any ideas about where to stay instead?”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The Harriers played one more game on the road before flying home. They came back just in time for a dump of snow to smother the city of Boston. It was so bad by the following day that practice got cancelled.

“Fuck yes!” Tanner said to his roommates when they found out. “Snow day!”

They went out for a walk to a nearby park to go sledding. That ended with a snowball fight and they were still laughing about it by the time they got back to the apartment. Mickey made hot cocoa—or hot chocolate, whatever the fuck he called the shit he made with real chunks of chocolate and whipped cream, and then they played video games.

Other than breaks to pee or eat, they were pretty much glued to their controllers.

“This is the best dayever,” Tanner said around a mouthful of the chicken and spinach pasta thing Mickey made for dinner.

Tanner and Rafe had pretty much just grabbed stuff from the fridge and pantry cabinet and tried to stay out of Mickey’s way while he worked.

Although Tanner had promised he’d load the dishwasher after dinner. Ugh, that reminded him, he needed to do laundry soon too. He was running out of underwear.

It was late, long after dark, when Tanner’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it because he was behind in Mario Kart and there was no way he was letting Mickey winagain. Thankfully, Rafe crashed his motorbike a few moments later and slowed Mickey down enough for Tanner to speed ahead inhisgo-kart.He crossed the finish line just ahead of Mickey, tossed his controller aside, and whooped.

“I am starting to think that you bribed Rafe to do that just because I won the last three rounds,” Mickey grumbled. “You are a sore loser.”

“I’m not the one bitching right now, bud,” Tanner pointed out. He dug in his sweats pocket for his phone and grimaced when he realized Leif had called three times. He’d blown right past their agreed-on call time.

“Rematch?” Rafe said hopefully. “I promise, even if Tanner did offer to bribe me, I wouldn’t take it. Not against you.”

He gave Mickey a soulful look and Mickey leaned in to kiss him. Tanner rolled his eyes at his roommates. He was happy for them and all, but they could be really gross sometimes.

“Uh, probably not on the rematch, dude. I should go to bed,” Tanner said, rising to his feet.

Mickey shot him a sidelong glance. “It’s nine thirty pm, Tanner. This is early for you.”

“I didn’t say I was going to sleep,” Tanner pointed out with a wink.

Mickey sighed heavily. “If you have someone over, please try to keep it down.”

“I will!” Tanner said. “But I’m not having anyone over.”

Even Rafe frowned at that. “You shouldn’t go out tonight. The snow is still coming down. It won’t be safe.”

“I’m not going out either!” Tanner protested. Oh my God, sometimes it was like he was living with two eighty-year-olds. “There’s, um, someone I’ve been doing dirty video chats with lately is all.”

Mickey raised an eyebrow and Tanner hid a wince. He felt like he’d already said too much. “Annnyyyway,” he said, stretching. “Going to my room now!”

“Don’t forget the dishes!” Mickey called after him.

Tanner cursed under his breath and quickly gathered the dishes on the coffee table and carried them into the kitchen where he jammed everything in the dishwasher, tossed in one of the pod thingys, then slammed the door shut. He jabbed at the buttons and sprinted for his room, his socks sliding on the hallway floor.

At the end of the hall, Mickey stared at him with a raised eyebrow.

Tanner cursed under his breath and shot him a jaunty salute before he darted into his bedroom and closed the door behind him.

He nearly tripped over some clothes and he cursed again—louder this time—as he simultaneously tried to strip off his shirt and kick the clothing out of the way. Yeah, he really needed to do laundry.

He was just reaching for his phone when it buzzed again.

“Shit,” he muttered and dug it out of his pocket. He accepted the call and as soon as it connected, he said, “Hi, sorry!”

“Hi.” Leif narrowed his eyes. “Do I want to know why you were so late and look all flustered?”