Page 141 of Game Misconduct

Especially for someone who played the game that hard.

But the whole thing got really weird once the ceremony began and the announcer finished their intro speech with the words, “Please welcome Luke’s partner, Sebastian Breckon, to the ice.”

Noises of confusion rose from the Rockets’ bench, quickly drowned by the audible gasp from the crowd.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Mirsad Renner muttered. “Crawfordis gay?”

Leif shrugged. He hadn’t known either. He could only guess that it was who Tanner had been talking about a few weeks ago.

And then the guy stepped onto the carpet laid out on the ice and things got even weirder.

Someone on the bench behind Leif—one of the trainers, maybe—said, “What the fuck?” and Leif agreed. Because the guy was definitely the New York Rockets fan who was always chirping Crawford at games in New York and here in Boston. The guy—Sebastian—was a friend of Nicky’s. He’d come to a game in New York recently and had been in the family lounge to see Nicky.

Leif had met him. He’d seemed nice. So why was he dating Crawford?

“Dude,” Palmer said, craning his neck to look at Nicky. “Didyouknow about this shit?”

Nicky laughed. “Yeah, Seb told me all about it.”

“You must be pissed,” another guy said. “I mean, Crawford’s the one who?—”

“He knows what he did, man,” someone else hissed.

“I’m just sayin’ …”

Nicky shrugged. “I mean, I wasn’t thrilled at first but I’m not gonna stand in the way of my friend being happy.”

Drew shook his head. “Fucking wild, man. I can’t believe Crawford’s a?—”

“Might want to watch how you word that, Palmer,” Nicky said tightly.

Drew snapped his mouth shut.

Leif wondered if Ian had heard the exchange. He was at the other end of the bench, so he doubted it. Well, that was nice to hear. Maybe Leif and Ian weren’t theonlyones who’d decided they should speak up more.

The ceremony was long but touching. They always were. And even if Leif wasn’t crazy about Crawford, it was clear that a lot of people cared about him. There was even a video message on the Jumbotron from Tanner.

Leif’s heart sped up at the sight of him on the screen.

“You’re the grumpiest guy I know,” Tanner said with a grin, so wide it made Leif’s chest ache. “The annoying big brother I never wanted. But I feel lucky to be your D-partner and your friend. I hope you feel that way too.”

On the ice, Crawford glanced over at the Harriers’ bench and made a waggling motion with his hand.

The crowd laughed and so did Leif. As anxious as he was about how tonight would go, Leif found it impossible to not be a little charmed by Tanner’s interaction with his teammate.

On the screen, Tanner continued. “I know that under all that tough-guy grump, you care about this team and me. Even if you’ll never say it out loud, I know you’re glad we’re paired together.”

Leif felt a sudden pang.

He knew Tanner cared about him too but what if it wasn’t enough? What if it wasn’t the same way Leif cared about him? Leif had to talk to him tonight—had to know, couldn’t keep letting this eat him up inside—even if the timing was terrible.

Then again, if New York lost tonight and Washington won their game in regulation, the Rockets would miss a shot at the playoffs.

Even though every instinct inside Leif screamed against it, a small part of him wondered if that would be the easiest thing. Ifthey weren’t playing in the postseason, if Tanner said he didn’t want anything more with Leif, Leif could just hop on a plane. Head to Europe for the world championships.

He could play for Norway and forget all about Tanner Clayton.

Leif tipped his head back, his eyes watering. Yeah right. Like there wasanychance he could ever forget Tanner.