Page 152 of Goaltender Interference

“Yeah.”

“So it’s important you keep yourself and him safe, okay?”

“We’re not having sex!”

“But you’re probably gonna wannasomeday.”

Nolan made a weird noise but nodded. “Yeah.”

“So we’re gonna talk about it,” Connor said firmly. “And Jesse’s gonna talk to you about PrEP.”

Now Jesse was the one to make a weird noise. “I am?”

Connor realized how that probably sounded so he said. “The medication. Not the—other stuff.” Though they were gonna have to talk about that too. Lord, what had Connor gotten himself into?

“Oh.” Jesse shrugged. “I can do that.”

“Can we talk aboutanythingelse right now?” Nolan begged, looking mortified.

Connor laughed, picking up a throw pillow and tossing it at him. “I suppose. But remember, if you can’t talk about it, you shouldn’t be doing it.”

“I know! But I’m not doing it!”

Jesse snickered and, apparently, took pity on him. “So how was your Boston Cream Pie?”

“Delicious,” Nolan said. “I could eat a whole one.”

“I’m confused about why a cake is called a pie,” Jesse said with a laugh.

Connor shrugged. “No idea. We’re a little weird here.”

“But wicked smart,” Jesse said in a horrible mockery of Connor’s accent.

“Hey! I don’t sound like that,” he protested.

Jesse snorted. “Yousodo. You all do.”

“Take that back!” Connor said, flipping onto his back so he could dig his fingers into Jesse’s ribs.

Jesse squealed and shifted away. “Nooooo. Why are you like this?”

Laughing, Connor dragged him down and kissed him lightly on the lips, aware of his son watching them but wanting him to see it was okay for his dad to be happy and affectionate with someone other than his mom. With aguy.

It was a little strange but good too and Connor realized a weight had lifted off his shoulders. A pressure he hadn’t realized had been sitting on him was suddenly gone. He could breathe easier.

“Ugh, you know, for a minute I thought it would be cool to have a dad like me,” Nolan said. “But it’s mostly gross.”

“You’re welcome!” Connor said, turning his head to grin at him.

Nolan rose to his feet, smiling. “Fine. I’m gonna go to bed. You two can be gross byyourselves.”

Connor gently pushed Jesse off him, then sat up. “C’mere and gimme a hug first, please.”

Nolan sat beside Connor, and he pulled him into a tight hug, rocking him back and forth a little, the way he’d done when Nolan was small. “Love you, Nols,” he said hoarsely. “Proud of you. You did something very brave today.”

“You too,” Nolan said, his words muffled by Connor’s shoulder. Connor knew he meant he loved him too but he wasn’t sure if he also meant he was proud of him and that he’d done something brave.

“I guess we both did something brave,” he admitted. “You feelin’ okay about it all?”

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