Page 178 of Goaltender Interference

“Truthfully, it should probably be league-mandated for all NHLers,” Connor said drily.

Her grin widened. “Probably.”

“Did you know about Kelly?” he asked, curious.

She hesitated. “I suspected there wassomethinghe was hiding from us. The thought that he was gay did cross my mind, although I wasn’t sure if that was what it was or not.”

“Hmm.”

She patted his hand. “Look, I love talking to you and you’re welcome to come over any time to discuss this, but we need to get some food out there before hordes of ravenous people invade the kitchen.”

She had a point, so Connor reached for the nearest tray. Before he picked it up, he hesitated, turning to look at her again. “Before we go, there’s one thing I wanna ask you.”

“Sure. What is it?”

“Were you happy as a hockey wife and mom? Are you happy still doing that for me and Pat and Finn and our families?”

She smiled softly. “I am. It can be hard. I’d never deny that, but yes, this is the life I want.”

“Okay. Just checking. Because if you need a break, if you wanna go … I dunno, go do something else, tell me, okay?”

She patted his shoulder. “You’re sweet to worry. I assume you talked to Viv about some of this recently?”

He nodded, not really surprised she’d put the pieces together. “Yeah. I didn’t know she was so unhappy.”

“It wasn’t the right life for her.”

“I guess not. Anyway, I just wanted to check with you. I know you do a lot for us and I want you to know I appreciate it.”

“And I appreciate you checking and telling me,” she said, smiling. “Now, food?”

“Food!” Connor agreed.

Because that was quite enough talking about feelings for him.

Later, when Connor was stuffed full of Thanksgiving deliciousness and he’d watched the Lions win—a shocking twist on their usual tradition of losing—he struggled up from his place on the couch in his parents’ basement.

Maura was a dead weight in his arms and Jesse grumbled sleepily next to him. Connor dropped a kiss to his hair before he transferred her to Jesse’s lap. She snuggled into him and Jesse cracked one eye open to smile at Connor before he closed it again.

Connor caught soft smiles from his sisters-in-law, who were working on a craft project with his mother when he walkedpast. Evie was occupied playing with her cousins and Nolan was loudly playing bubble hockey with his cousins and Kyler, so Connor walked up the steps.

Guys from the team and a handful of people from the head office and around the organization had popped in for a bit earlier, but for the most part, they’d headed out already.

Connor gave a vague wave to Crawford, who stood by the door, shrugging on his leather jacket, motorcycle helmet on the bench nearby.

Though the window, Connor could see Gavin and Dakota standing on the sidewalk, deep in conversation. Gavin’s head was bent, listening intently to something Dakota had to say, a hint of a frown on his face.

Gavin and Dakota had spent a fair amount of time together this afternoon. Connor assumed they were talking about something training-related now, but a moment later, Dakota laughed, placing his hand on Gavin’s arm and letting it linger.

Huh.Interesting.

But Crawford’s big body blocked Connor’s view a moment later and the front door closed behind him.

With a shrug, Connor turned toward the half bath off the hallway. It was occupied and so was the other one on the ground floor. He had no better luck on the second floor, so Connor went up to his parents’ room on the third.

When he was done using the toilet and washing his hands, he walked down the hall, pausing in the doorway of his dad’s office. He wasn’t in there—and come to think of it, Connor had hardly talked to him all day, which was a little weird.

Connor hesitated. It had been busy and chaotic as usual. Surely his father didn’t have a problem with him being with Jesse. He’d been supportive of Kelly …

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