Page 132 of Goaltender Interference

“You went there, right, Jesse?” Tanner glanced over at him.

“Yeah, the past two summers,” Jesse said. “Honestly, I swear, it’s why I’m doing so well now.”

“Maybe I should check it out next summer,” Tanner said.

“You’ll have to be quick,” Kelly replied. “Honestly, they’re turning away people like crazy. Anders is trying to expand but it’s blown up beyond what anyone expected. Although maybe we should have. Anders is pretty damn good at hockey.”

Jesse snorted. The man was going to be a Hall of Famer soon. ‘Pretty good’ was an understatement.

The three of them talked hockey for a few minutes but the kitchen kept getting more and more crowded and Jesse’s hands were full so he had nowhere to set his plate or mug down. He excused himself and went in search of a quieter corner where he could eat and drink.

He couldn’t sayanywherein the house was quiet, but he found a corner with a couple of empty chairs. Luke was across the room on the couch, empty plate on the end table next to him, head thrown back and snoring loud enough to wake the dead.

Jesse had just taken a seat and was working his way through his food when Nolan appeared. “Hey, can we talk?” he asked in a stage whisper.

Jesse glanced around but Crawford was either asleep or passed out, there were kids shouting and playing downstairs, the adults were talking loudly at the far end of the room, and a tea kettle was whistling in the kitchen.

He shrugged and said, “sure.”

“Okay, so like, I hung out with Kyler yesterday before the game,” Nolan said quietly, leaning in.

“Ooh. Yeah? How’d it go?”

“Good! I mean, like, nothing really happened but I did what you suggested. I, uh, sat a little closer while we were playing video games and put my hand on his knee for a minute and he kinda looked at it but he didn’t push me off or anything.”

“That’s good.”

Nolan bit his lip, his cheeks reddening. “And at one point he kinda threw his arm up behind me on me on the couch. And like, guys do that all the time but he—he kept brushing my shoulderwith his fingertips, like he wanted to touch me but wasn’t sure if he could.”

“Aww, cute,” Jesse said. “That sounds like he’s into you too, maybe. Just too shy to make a move.”

“So what do I do now?”

“Think about telling your dad?” Jesse teased.

Nolan made a face. “But …”

“I’m kidding. I mean, not kidding, but I know that won’t help. Your dad has no moves so he’s not gonna be able to help you get your guy.”

Nolan laughed. “So, like, you do?”

“Oh, I’ve got moves,” Jesse said with a smirk. “But they’re a little too advanced for you.”

Nolan made a face again. “Dude, not helpful.”

“I know. Okay, so, do you know what Kyler’s favorite snack is?”

“Of course.”

“So maybe get him that. And then tell him how much you like hanging out with him. And that you’d like to spend more time with him.”

“We’re pretty much together all the time. We go to the same school and we’re on the same hockey team and we live down the street from each other. I’m not sure wecouldspend any more time together unless we were like, surgically attached.”

“True. Well, you could tell him you’re into him as more than a friend,” Jesse pointed out.

Nolan looked horrified. “Oh my God,no.”

Jesse tried not to laugh. “Umm, okay, I’ll keep thinking, okay. But definitely do the snack thing. It’ll make him feel special.”

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