Page 176 of Goaltender Interference

By the time Connor and Jesse stepped into the house, Aubrey was already cooing over Nolan and Kyler. They were both red-faced but smiling, so Connor figured that was probably going as well as he could’ve expected.

His family being embarrassing but supportive was on-brand for them.

Pat’s gaze immediately went to Jesse and Connor’s joined hands. He lifted an eyebrow as he leaned in to hug Connor. “So, two-for-one coming out deal today, huh?”

Connor shrugged, letting go of Jesse long enough to hug his brother back. He was an asshole, but he was a pretty great asshole, Connor supposed. “Seemed easiest.”

“Since when have you ever done things the easy way?” Pat asked with a scoff, stepping back.

That was fair, Connor admitted in his head, though he’d never say it aloud. He took Jesse’s hand again.

“Oh!” Aubrey let out a happy little gasp when she spotted them. “You two as well?”

“Yeah,” Jesse said. “Us too.”

“Oh, I love that for you both!” she said, grabbing Jesse in a hug.

Everything quickly descended into chaos, and Connor got hugged by everyone at least twice.

He kept catching glimpses of Nolan’s grin and Kyler’s more bashful but pleased smile, which was reassuring. The family was fussing over the boys but only to talk about school dances and how they started dating and exactly what they would have fussed about if Nolan had brought home a girlfriend instead of a boyfriend.

They weren’t much better with him and Jesse, to be honest.

At one point, Aubrey let out a loud laugh, gently thwacking Jesse on the shoulder. “I can’t believe you let me go on and on about Connor not letting me set him up with anyone and asking if you were seeing anyone and you didn’t let a single thing slip.”

“What was this?” Connor asked his sister-in-law.

“Oh, the last time Jesse was over, I asked how he was liking Boston and he admitted he hadn’t gotten out much. I told him we’d make a night out of it. I was joking about you refusing to let me set you up with anyone and now I knowwhy.”

“To be fair, I refused before Jesse and I ever—” Connor’s face went a little warm.

“Oh!” She let out a gasp. “Kelly’s wedding. Is that when you two …”

Connor rubbed the back of his neck. “It might have been.”

“Oh, that’s hilarious.”

“What’s hilarious?” Pat asked, a gleam appearing in his eye when he spotted an opportunity to chirp Connor.

“Nothing!” Connor said loudly, getting in between Pat and Aubrey and urgently adding, “Aubrey, if you love me, you won’t tell him.”

She laughed. “I’m open to bribery.”

Pat sputtered, shoving at Connor’s back. “She’s my wife, Con! She’s supposed to tell me everything.”

“How do you feel about diamonds?” Connor asked. “I know a great jeweler.”

The conversation devolved from there, and Connor was still laughing, hair a little mussed, as he finally escaped into the kitchen. He felt mildly guilty for leaving Jesse to the wolves, but whatever. He was tough. He could handle it.

He wouldn’t be right for Connor if he couldn’t go toe-to-toe with the entire O’Shea family.

In the kitchen, Connor found his mother frowning at platters on the counter.

“Everything okay, Ma?” he asked.

She smiled. “Just contemplating if we have enough starters out.”

“I mean, probably not,” Connor said with a shrug. “The team will be dropping in later so …”

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