Page 197 of Game Misconduct

“I mean it, we’re excited to have you here.”

“I am too,” Tanner said, typing out the message to Connor, then sending another to Leif. “We’re doing the tour of the practice facility tomorrow, yeah?”

“Yes,” Nicky said. “It’ll be pretty empty but you can get a feel for the space at least.”

“Awesome.”

“And we—meaning Leif, Ian, and I—would love your help coming up with ideas for team bonding.”

“Sure,” Tanner said, trying to focus on the text message and Nicky at the same time.

Seriously, the ADHD testing really needed to happen soon. He and Leif both had appointments scheduled but Tanner’s wasn’t until later in the summer.

“Um, I have a few ideas about bonding. Let me pull them up. One sec.” He was closing out of his messages and switching to his notes app when Mac’s voice filled the air.

“I’m sorry, but after that playoff performance, do wereallythink that Nicky Calhoun is the best choice for captain?”

Tanner winced. “Uhh, shit. Um, sorry. Hang on.”

“Who else do they have?” Rich asked.

“Leif Rasmussen! He’s proven that he’s perfectly capable of?—”

“How has he proven that any more than Calhoun has?”

Tanner frowned, jabbing at thePausebutton. “Sorry! Sorry. Trying to get used to Leif’s sound system.”

“It’s fine,” Nicky said, his voice tight.

Mac continued. “Look, I just think it’s time for a fresh slate. I’m excited that they traded for Tanner Clayton and that Rasmussen senior is going to be coaching. I know this’ll be his first season in a head coaching role, but we’ve seen how solid the Harriers’ offense was under him. Why wouldn’t?—”

The room finally went silent.

“Umm,” Tanner said. “Well,thatwas terrible.”

Nicky managed a faint smile. “It’s fine. I’m well aware of what that asshole thinks of me.”

“Yeah?” Tanner said. “Because Leif told me it was a bad idea to listen to it and I definitely should have taken his advice.”

“Well, he’s right,” Nicky said with a laugh. “But I don’t take it either.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” Nicky straightened the shiny watch on his wrist.

A Rolex, probably. Guys were obsessed with them. Tanner had always been afraid he’d lose one though.

“So you listen toLiftofftoo?”

“I got in the habit while I was out with my concussions.” Nicky grimaced. “I felt so cut off from the team I was desperate for anything to get me closer to what was going on with them. I couldn’t read news articles, couldn’t look at the screen for more than a minute or two because my head would start pounding.But I could pop earbuds in and listen to the podcast in the dark. In between bouts of puking my guts up, of course.”

Tanner winced.

“Yeah, it wasn’t the best years of my life,” Nicky said drily. “But Rich and Mac kept me company.”

“Doesn’t it suck to hear that shit about yourself though?”

Tanner had a healthier ego than most people, but he’d run across some pretty bad comments about himself online and had to back away before it messed with his head.