Page 126 of Goaltender Interference

Though that made it seem like it had been Connor’s idea when, really, Jesse had goaded him into it. But Kelly didn’t need to know that part. Connor’s stupidity really didn’t need to be public knowledge, even if he’d changed that public’s diapers.

Kelly blinked. “The fuck?”

“Yeah.” Connor resisted the urge to bury his face in his arms or crawl under the table or something. And Kelly didn’t even know the half of it. “It’s … I’m keeping him out of trouble, you know?”

“Suuure.”

“Well,” Connor protested, “you’ll notice the gossip sites have been pretty damn quiet about him lately.”

With a roll of his eyes, Kelly took a sip of his drink. “Okay, so this is all … some great plan to keep him out of trouble? You get nothing out of it?”

A smile crept across Connor’s face before he could stop it. “Well, I didn’t say that.”

Kelly leaned forward. “I do not need details, man, but, c’mon, talk to me. What’sreallyhappening here? You’re acting weird.”

“I don’t know, okay?” Connor admitted, his good mood immediately plummeting. “I … fuckinglikehim. He’s—he’s funny and he’s a great goaltender and …”

“Good in bed?”

“Yeah.” The tips of Connor’s ears went hot. “He’s that alright.”

Kelly smirked. “So tonight you just … wanted to come out to me or something? That’s cool if you did?—”

“No.” Connor stared down at his hands. “I mean, yeah. I guess I did. I figured you of anyone would understand.”

“So you really haven’t toldanyoneelse? Not evenPat? You two have always been tight and?—”

“I couldn’t tell him aboutthis,” Connor said gruffly. “He’d give me so much shit.”

Kelly shrugged. “I mean, that is kinda what our family does.”

“Yeah. But this is …”

“It’s harder when it’s about something like this?” Kelly finished, his tone turning gentle.

Connor nodded. “Yeah. I guess it is. And like, he and Finn and Dad are so fucking … they make it look so goddamn easy. Being captain and,shit, just life. They’ve got their perfect marriages and?—”

“Oh, like I didn’t feel the same fucking way aboutyou?”

“Yeah, well, may I remind you, I got divorced.” His tone was bitter.

With a wince, Kelly reached for his glass again. “Whydidyou and Viv split? You’ve never really said. Just that you, ‘grew apart’.”

He said the last part in a mocking imitation of Connor’s voice, and Connor scowled. “We did grow apart.”

“Yeah but, there’s more to it, I think,” Kelly said slowly. “I’ve always wondered … did it have anything to do with me coming out? Because the timing was …”

Connor sighed and sat back. “Sorta, I guess? We fought about that a lot, yeah. But we were already kinda a mess before. Before I admitted to her that I was bi.”

“Whoa.” Kelly blinked at him. “So, like, you knew you were into guys before that?”

Connor rubbed the back of his neck. “I suspected.”

“Right, right, your college team captain.”

“Yeah. Viv didn’t take it well when I told her after you came out though.”

“Damn.” Kelly winced. “That stings.”

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