Page 77 of Game Misconduct

“Yeah,” Leif said. “I think so. I mean, I’m not sure what they said to him or anything. He doesn’t talk about it a lot. But I think they pressured him to waive his no movement clause and go to New York.”

“Shit, dude. Thatsucks. What happened to Hawkins?”

“He played for Boston for another season before they got rid of him too.”

“Ouch. And after the trade he and your dad were dunzo, huh?”

“I think Dad wanted to keep going but Hawke thought it was best to have a clean break.”

“Yeah. I guess it’s pretty hard to have, like, arealrelationship when you’re both in the closet and trying to stay there and you only see each other a few times a year and in the off-season.”

“It wouldn’t be easy,” Leif agreed. Because trying to maintain a relationship when he was out and dating people who lived in the same city was fucking difficult enough as a pro hockey player.

“So he met your mom after that?”

“Not right away, but yeah. I think the head office in New York was happy about that.”

“Yeah. He didn’t date herbecauseof that, right?”

“No,” Leif scoffed, though he’d essentially asked his dad the same thing years ago.

Aksel had chuckled and said that no, he’d very much been head over heels in love with her. They’d met at a team event and maybe the head office had been trying to set something up but it hadn’t been a hardship for him to get to know the stunning woman from his home country. She was brilliant and beautiful and ambitious and they’d quickly fallen in love.

“Dad is bi,” Leif said. “He really loved her and she loved him but he was traveling with the team all the time, she was flying all over the world for her career … I dunno. They both said they just spent more time apart than together and that their careers took priority over the relationship.”

“Is he dating someone now?” Tanner asked. “I always wonder but he’s pretty private. He never brings anyone to events.”

“He’s dated a little but nothing’s come of it.”

“Aww, that’s so sad. It makes me want to, like … find him hisperson,” Tanner said.

Leif chuckled. “I think he’s fine with focusing on coaching.”

“Yeah, but he’s hot, dude. He should be getting laid.”

“I really don’t want to talk about my dad getting laid.”

“Okay. We can talk aboutusgetting laid,” Tanner said, sounding very amiable about that change of subject.

“With other people?” Leif asked.

“No.” Now Tanner sounded amused. “I mean, not unless you want to. Believe me, I have stories I could tell.”

“Yeah, no, I’m good,” Leif said flatly. “What did you mean then?”

“Well, I’m not far from home now and?—”

“How fast did you drive?” Leif asked, appalled.

“I dunno. Fast enough. Anyway, back to what I was talking about. I’m almost home and we can hop on video chat and get off together. You in?”

“Isthat getting laid?”

“You aren’t one of those guys that thinks that anal is the only way to do it, right?” Tanner scoffed.

“Of course not!”

“Then I dunno about you, but I cantotallyget laid on video chat. So, what do you say? You, me, and a couple of dildos tonight?”