CHAPTER FORTY #2
Tanner frowned, jabbing at the Pause button. “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, that was 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 to Liftoff too?”
“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.
“It does,” Nicky said with a laugh. “To be honest, if I ran into Mac on the street, I might get myself in trouble.”
“Words or a fistfight?”
“Depends on the day. Today I’m feeling solid so maybe just words.”
“Good to know,” Tanner said. “Why does he hate you so much?”
“I genuinely have no idea,” Nicky said. “I guess he’s just convinced the team should go a certain way and I’m not a part of that plan. Good thing he doesn’t actually get any say in that, huh?”
“Aren’t they supposed to be like, neutral or something?”
“No. He’s not a real reporter or anything,” Nicky said with a shrug. “Just some self-important asshole with a microphone.”
Tanner opened his mouth to say something, but he heard the key in the lock. Oh damn, was Leif back already?
Tanner let out a happy sigh the moment Leif stepped into the kitchen.
Leif blinked. “Oh, hey, Nicky. I didn’t realize you were here.”
“Hey. Just dropping off a welcome to New York gift basket for Tanner,” Nicky said. “I’ll get out of your hair now.”
“No, you’re fine,” Leif said but he was looking at Tanner like he really, really wanted to walk over and kiss him.
Tanner bit his lip because goddamn Leif looked good right now. Like … really good. And Tanner liked his new captain, but he was also really interested in being alone with Leif.
“Yeah, no, I know you guys haven’t seen each other all week. I’ll definitely go.”
“Okay,” Leif said, not even glancing away from Tanner. “See you tomorrow?”
“Sure. See you guys tomorrow. I’ll just … let myself out. Welcome to New York, Tanner!”
Tanner flung his hat off and was on Leif the second the door closed.
Leif staggered back against the counter as he caught him and knocked something to the floor with his elbow. It landed with a soft thump instead of the tinkling sound of smashing glass, so Leif ignored the little voice in his head telling him to pick it up before it made a mess.
Instead, he tightened his grip on Tanner’s waist and kissed him back.
Fuck, he’d missed this.
He’d missed the smell of Tanner, that bright citrus that mixed with sweat and the scent of his skin.
He’d missed the way it still felt like it had that first time, with that tingling jolt of electricity that made his hair stand on end.
He’d missed the mumbled sounds Tanner made when he tried to kiss him and talk at once and he laughed against Tanner’s mouth.
“You’re here,” Leif said, pulling back and smiling.
“Yeah. I wanted to be done unpacking by the time you got home,” Tanner said. “But I didn’t even get my gaming TV set up and—”
Leif kissed him again. “It’s fine.”
“You hate messes.”
“That’s why it’s all in a room where we can close the door, right?” Leif said.
“Right.” Tanner grinned.
His hair was a sweaty mess and the chain he wore was a little crooked and fuck, he was here. He was in New York. He was living with Leif now. He was a Rocket.
And while it might be bittersweet for Tanner to leave Boston, to leave the team he loved so much, it meant everything that Tanner had been willing to do that for him.
That Tanner wanted to be with him.
Leif buried his head against Tanner’s throat and breathed.
“You okay?” Tanner asked, sliding his hand through Leif’s hair.
“Better than okay,” Leif whispered.
When Leif lifted his head, Tanner stepped back and took his hand. “You want to shower?”
“After,” Leif said.
Tanner raised an eyebrow, but Leif shrugged. He was already sweaty from being outside in August in Manhattan and he knew Tanner didn’t mind it. It wouldn’t kill Leif to wait to shower until after. Besides, he’d been thinking about this moment for a long time.
The bedroom was bright but cool, the air conditioner making Leif’s skin prickle as he stripped off his clothes and dropped them into the hamper and dry-cleaning bins.
Tanner was already naked by the time he walked over to the bed, and Leif’s mouth went dry at the sight of him.
He was so long and lean. Not yet bulked up a little from his summer training, but starting to put weight on again, his skin lightly tanned from the shirtless rollerblading he’d been doing with Rafe and Mickey.
Leif nosed his way up the soft trail of hair below Tanner’s navel and kissed his way up to his chest. He had a little patch of hair that was starting to grow between his pecs, and Leif raised an eyebrow at Tanner in question.
He propped his head on one hand and grinned. “I usually shave it. Got lazy this week.”
“I kinda like it,” Leif admitted and brushed his cheek across it. It was soft. Ticklish.
“I kinda like you,” Tanner said. “Now get up here and give me your cock.”
Leif chuckled and shifted upward until he settled over Tanner. “Demanding.”
“It’s been a week,” Tanner whined. “I need it.”
“Five days.” Leif kissed his cheek. “You’ve gone longer.”