Page 161 of Game Misconduct

“Just that there was a guy I cared about and he lived in another city.” Tanner looked down. “And that I, uh, wasn’t sure if I’m poly—uh, polyam or not. Just so you know, we should use polyam instead of poly so Hawaiian people don’t get upset.”

“Oh.” Leif settled back against the pillow, somewhat confused about where Hawaiian people came into the conversation, but he’d worry about that part later. “But you think you might be?”

“Well,” Tanner said slowly. “Like, the idea of falling love with multiple people or having multiple relationships, that seemspossibleto me.”

“It isn’t possible for me,” Leif whispered.

“I know. You can’t even picture it, can you?”

Leif shook his head. “I want—I want a partner. Singular. Not multiple people. Not both of us seeing other people. That sounds stressful. And exhausting. How would we evendothat when we live in other cities and play on different teams?”

“We wouldn’t always have to live in other cities and play on different teams,” Tanner pointed out.

Another jolt went through Leif, and he sat up straight again. “What?”

“I mean, think about it,” Tanner said. “The Rockets have your contract locked down already but I’m gonna be an RFA.”

“Shit, I didn’t eventhinkabout your free agency status,” Leif said.

“So like, it’s not impossible that I could end up … somewhere else.”

Somewhere else could also be muchmuchfarther than the distance between New York and Boston. They could be in different conferences. Different coasts or countries even. Leif felt a little sick.

“Do youwantto go somewhere else?”

Tanner smiled. “Nah. Not really. I’d love to stay in Boston my whole career, but c’mon, let’s be realistic. I’m not Connor O’Shea. And honestly, Connor isn’t going to be captain forever. His shoulder is pretty fucked, and he needs surgery and there’s no telling if he’ll make it back and who knows what the team will be like then.”

“True. So what are you saying?”

“I’m saying that if we can figure out what we want in a relationship and I can figure out how to make it happen, we could … maybe make something work.”

“Are you talking about being tradedtothe Rockets?” Leif asked slowly.

“I mean, that would be ideal, right?” Tanner said. “But there’s a team in New Jersey too. That’s not so far from you.”

“True. Do you think Racine would go for it?”

Tanner made a face. “I think he’d hate it. Crawford and I are a good fit, and I know I’m totally bragging here but the blue line has definitely gotten better since we started playing together on the top line.”

Leif gave him a rueful smile. “Unfortunately.”

Grinning, Tanner pushed his curls off his forehead. “I think it would be all about finding the right trade partner, you know? Gavin’s smart. I am sure he could figure it out.”

“Do you evenwantto play for New Jersey?” Leif asked doubtfully.

“I fucking love the Harriers and New Jersey is an ass team with like zero queer guys that I know of, so not really.”

“I get that.”

Tanner sighed. “I’d rather you get traded to the Harriers but that seems pretty fucking unlikely since you’re like, one of their franchise players and shit, so, you know, I’ll do what I have to. Even if it means New Jersey.”

“You’d do that for me?” Leif asked, stunned.

Tanner sighed. “Yeah. I kinda like you, dude.”

“Kinda?”

“Kinda,” Tanner said with a smile. “Like, maybe thinking about falling for you, in fact.”