Page 26 of Game Misconduct

none of your fucking business.There was a pause.it’s fucked.

Told you to drink some water, buddy.

ughhh.There was a longer pause.so uh, abt last night. if i said anything fucked up i’m sorry. don’t remember a lot of it.

First compliments and now apologies? If you’re not careful I’m going to think you actually like me

i’m serious!!!! did i say anything fucked up

You were fine, Danny said, which was a necessary lie.

i uh...don’t know if i believe u but ok.

Look. Mike. About the other stuff.

you don’t have to. fuck, hang on

“Look,” Mike said, when Danny answered the call. “I lost my shit, I know, it’s fucking stupid, you didn’t mean anything by it.” His voice was raspy and scratchy, and he spoke very slowly, like every word hurt him. Danny imagined it was probably a pretty epic hangover.

Danny gnawed on his lower lip. “Well, I didn’t mean anything insulting by it. But I did mean it.”

There was a long exhale on the other end of the line and Danny could almost feel Mike’s breath against his ear. “So did I. I’m notgood, Garcia. Like, I guess I was good enough to get here.Eventually.But that’s about it. I’m not as good as I want to be.”

“You could be. It’s not your fault your coaches—”

“Yes, it is, I don’t know why you—”

“Mike, you’re the most fucking stubborn, annoying asshole I’ve ever had the misfortune to know, so why the fuck do you think I’d waste my time even trying if I didn’t see something in you?” The words were harsh, but he kept his voice gentle, and he could hear Mike swallow hard again.

“I don’t know. You’re trying to get in my head, fuck me up,” Mike said, and laughed. It wasn’t a real laugh. There was a wobble in it. He sounded, again, like he was going to cry, but at least he wasn’t hanging up. Progress, of a strange kind. “It’s working, by the way. You motherfucker.”

“Dude, I’m serious. You... I know you want it. So why are you afraid to try?”

“You really fucking have to ask? If I try and...”

If I try and fail.He knew. Oh, Danny knew. And it was time to play dirty and hit low. “What, are you scared?”

“I’m not—I’m not scared ofanything.”

“I think you are.”

“Fuck you!”

“So prove me wrong.”

“Ugh, I don’t want to even think about this right now. My head feels like a fucking elephant stepped on it.”

“Drink some water.”

“Bossy,” Mike grumbled, but there was a rustle of sheets and the creak of bedsprings as he got up. Danny wondered if he was wearing clothes, if he was just in his boxers, if his lip had scabbed over. There was the sound of a tap running, and Mike said, “Fuck, I have to get my shit together or I’m gonna miss the plane. Bye.”

“Yeah.”

“I—Gar—bye.”

“Yeah, you said that.”

“Jesus. I’mgoing.”

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