Page 120 of Game Misconduct

When he was growing up, this was the kind of shit he’d gotten picked on for being ‘too soft’ about.

But he smiled a little when Rafe leaned in next to him and said, “Aww, poor dude. He looks scared.”

“I know, right?” Tanner said and he felt better when Rafe bumped their shoulders together and stayed there for a bit before he wandered off to find Mickey.

This team was fucking solid. Tanner thought of Leif’s team and winced. What a fucking douchebag Leif’s teammate was. And hiscaptain … what the fuck? Why hadn’t he done more to stand up for Leif?

That was bullshit.

Tanner grabbed his phone and took a couple more pictures of the family of mammoths. Leif wouldn’t make fun of him for getting sad about them. He leaned over the railing of the walkway to get a better shot just as a person walking by stumbled into him. He yelped, nearly dropping his phone and bobbled it before someone grabbed the back of his shirt, steadying him.

He caught his phone and turned to see a big, beefy security guard frowning at him. His face reminded Tanner of the guy in his dream. Abby? But no, this guy’s nametag said Elijah.

“You can’t lean over the edge like that,” Elijah said gruffly as he let go. “Gotta watch what you’re doing.”

“Sorry,” Tanner said, smiling at him. Damn, he was good-looking with his dark skin gleaming in the bright sunshine and off his mirrored sunglasses. “I won’t do it again. Thanks for saving my life though. I wouldn’t have wanted to end up in the pits like the mammoths.”

Elija’s expression softened. “Definitely wouldn’t want that.”

“Can I buy you a coffee in thanks?” Tanner asked, looking up at him.

He was a good five or so inches taller than Tanner and about twice as wide. Those arms … wow.

Elijah looked him up and down. “Mmm, wish I could but I’m on duty and already finished my lunch break. How long are you in L.A. for?”

“Just until tomorrow night,” Tanner admitted. “We have a game.”

“A game?”

“Hockey!”

“You any good?” Elijah asked, smirking back.

“You know who the L.A. Suns are?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, we’re gonna beat their asses tomorrow night.”

Elija looked him up and down again. “You are, huh?”

“Yep. You should come watch.”

When Tanner was into someone, he usually bought them a ticket, left it at will-call, then met up with them after. It pretty much always worked.

But for some reason, now, he hesitated.

“Hey!” Farther down the walkway Graham called out. “You coming, Clayton?”

The team had moved on, heading toward the museum. “Be right there, S’mores!”

Tanner glanced back at Elijah to see him frowning. He said, “So, you free tonight? I get off work at?—”

“I’ve gotta go,” Tanner found himself saying. “Thanks for the save, man!”

Without another glance back at Elijah, Tanner hurried toward his teammates, confused.

What the fuck wasthatabout? When had he ever turned down a hookup with someone hot?