Page 187 of Game Misconduct

“Tetris,” Tanner said. “There are studies proving that if you play Tetris after a traumatic event, it like, fixes everything.”

Dakota frowned. “Tanner, I don’t think?—”

“It doesn’t fix everything,” Leif said with a sigh. “What I told him was that it helps prevent PTSD by reducing intrusive memories. It rewires the hippocampus.”

“The hippowhat?” Tanner asked.

“Hippocampus.” He tapped the side of Tanner’s head above his ear. “It’s deep in there.”

“Are we sure Tanner has one?” Jesse joked.

Tanner grabbed a pillow and lobbed it at him, but it only made it a few feet and landed with a soft thump in the middle of the carpeted floor.

“Pretty sure,” Leif said with a laugh. “Anyway, there are studies saying that playing Tetris after trauma helps prevent the brain from storing those memories where they can become intrusive and damaging.”

“Huh,” Gavin said.

“Uhh, I hate to tell you this, Clayton,” Anker said. “But your boyfriend is too smart for you. Even if he is a Rocket. Uh, no offense.”

“Yeah, aman rocket,” Tanner said gleefully because everyone knew his boyfriend was smoking hot. “And too late. Offense already taken.”

“I was talking to him,” Anker said drily.

Tanner stuck his middle finger up. “Well, I told everyone to play Tetris, so I should get some credit.”

Gavin cleared his throat. “Well, Tetris is great, guys, but I strongly suggest you all seek therapy. You can see the team therapist or someone outside of the organization. Whatever you’re more comfortable with.”

“And I want you to know how sorry I am,” Tom blurted out.

“For what?” Tanner asked.

“For bringing someone like that into your lives?—”

“Oh fuck no,” Connor said. “I don’t want to hear you apologize, man.”

“I’m the reason she was even around.”

“If we want to get technical, I’m the one to blame,” Krista said quietly. “I met her first.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Connor said. “Neither of you are the problem. She’s … not. She’s notwell. I think we can agree on that, right?”

Everyone nodded.

“She needs help. But you didn’t see that coming. You did everything right once you saw signs that shewashaving fucking issues. You told management in L.A., you told people here.”

“I know but …” Tom looked down. “I hate that it gives the poly—uh, polyam community a bad rap.”

Jesse laughed. “It’s not like we can’t fucking see how happy Kady and Mandy and Lauren and Jake are.” He gestured to the pile on the couch where they were all sprawled.

Kady beamed. “So happy! 10/10. No notes. Polyam is best.”

“Yeah, but?—”

“Tom!” Connor sounded almost annoyed now. “We’re not fuckin’ blaming you or Krista for some woman who didn’t have her head on straight. It could have happened to anyone. Hell, Jesse was right. I think we all assumed it would’ve been Tanner who brought home someone who caused problems. Instead, he dragged home our divisional rival. No offence, Rasmussen.”

“None taken,” Leif said drily while Tanner sputtered.

“I hear you,” Tom said, although he didn’t quite look convinced. “I just … this is the best team I’ve ever been on?—”