CHAPTER ELEVEN #3
“Pajama sets are back in style,” Leif protested. “This is from a luxury brand I rep! And a lot of people think I look good in these, you know?”
“You do look good,” Tanner said with a wink. “In an old-timey way.”
“Oh fuck you,” Leif said.
“Nope,” Tanner said cheerfully. “You said no sex tonight and I am going to respect your wishes.”
Tanner dumped his pillows and laptop on the bed.
Leif caught the laptop before it bounced off the mattress onto the floor.
The poor thing looked like it had already survived worse.
Like, maybe being dropped out of an airplane at cruising altitude.
Leif glanced at his own pristine MacBook Pro and winced.
A moment later there was a knock on the door and Leif raised an eyebrow. “Do we have company?”
Oh fuck, it better not be his dad again.
But Tanner shook his head. “No. Room service. Go sign for it.”
“You ordered room service and are making me pay for it?” Leif protested.
“Well, I couldn’t exactly carry it all up from my room. Besides, you can afford it, Princess.”
Leif sighed, but he did go to the door and open it. His eyes widened at the sight of all the trays on the cart. He signed for the food, then, reluctantly, let the room service guy wheel it in.
To his relief, Tanner was sprawled on the small couch, doing something on his phone. He gave the guy a friendly wave, and Leif had to admit, that to the hotel employee, it probably just looked like a couple of hungry hockey players hanging out during a tournament.
Even if the guy did follow the sport, he might not know who either of them were. Or that they were on rival teams.
Still, it sent a prickle of unease down Leif’s spine, and he felt better once the guy was gone.
“What the hell did you order us?” Leif asked after he’d locked the door behind him. “One of everything?”
“Nah. Maybe a quarter,” Tanner said, getting to his feet. “It was a pretty big menu.”
Leif uncovered plates to find hummus with pita, a nut and olive tray, spring rolls, short ribs, club sandwiches, a giant platter of fries, and a plate of cookies.
“Most of this isn’t on my nutrition plan,” Leif pointed out.
“I know. But tonight doesn’t count. You can work it off in the next few days.”
Leif sighed but everything did look really fucking good.
“Be glad I didn’t order hot dogs,” Tanner said as he began arranging pillows and blankets on the bed.
“I am,” Leif said drily, because he didn’t like them. He didn’t like the Morrp?lse sausage from Norway or American-style hot dogs.
After the pile of pillows and blankets was arranged on the bed, Tanner patted it. “C’mon, get comfy.”
“Aren’t we going to eat?”
“We’re eating in bed.”
Leif made a face.
“I know,” Tanner said. “But live a little.”
“I live just fine,” Leif pointed out. “Better, in fact, without crumbs in my bed.”
But he allowed himself to be dragged over and settled on the bed in front of where Tanner had set up his laptop. “What are we doing exactly?”
“We’re gonna watch movies and you’re gonna eat your feelings. I’m just gonna stuff my face. Okay?”
“Okay,” Leif agreed with a sigh because he didn’t have it in him to argue.
Tanner brought plates over to the bed, then crawled into the nest he’d created, nearly upending the hummus. Leif caught it just in time.
“Whoops. Sorry.” Tanner flipped onto his side to look at him. “You probably hate this, don’t you?”
“A little bit,” Leif agreed.
“I just thought it would be … you know, cozy,” Tanner said. “My mom and I used to do this after my dad left and we were feeling sad.”
“Huh,” Leif said. He could tell Tanner was trying to be nice, so he took a deep breath. “Okay, let’s do this.”
The movie Tanner had picked was stupid and Leif’s stomach ached by the time they’d finished mowing through the food but after Tanner cleared their plates and settled back against his chest so they could watch the movie spooned together under the covers, Leif had to admit, it was rather nice.
“Are you still sad?” Tanner asked when the movie was over and he’d rolled onto his side to face Leif.
The room was dark now except for the glow of the laptop screen so Leif couldn’t see his face very well.
Leif took a moment to check in with his body like his dad had taught him when he was little.
It usually took a few days for the sharp ache under Leif’s ribs from a big loss to fade but to his surprise, it felt dull already, like something he could only notice when he really focused on it.
“Not as sad as I was,” he admitted. “This was … nice.”
“It never fails,” Tanner whispered, reaching out to take his hand. He didn’t hold it, just idly played with Leif’s fingers.
Leif settled his cheek against his arm, just looking at what little he could see of Tanner’s face. “Thanks,” he said, equally quiet, surprised by how much he meant it.
“You’re welcome.” Tanner yawned. “Ugh. I should probably go before I pass out on you though.”
“Or … you could stay,” Leif offered. Fuck it, he wasn’t going to be practicing or playing tomorrow anyway. What did it matter?
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Leif wrapped an arm around Tanner’s waist and pulled him closer, wrapping his arms around him. “I think I’d like that tonight.”