Page 177 of Goaltender Interference

“Good thing I tripled the clam dip recipe,” she said. “And asked the caterer for extra appetizers.”

Connor cleared his throat. “Sooo …”

“So, you look happy,” she said, smiling warmly.

“I am.”

“Good. I like Jesse for you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. Very much.” She turned to face him. “How are you handling it?”

“Uhh, which part? Dating my teammate or the family knowing about it?”

“Either? Both?”

“I feel great about Jesse,” he said, lips curling up in a smile he really couldn’t fight, no matter how hard he tried. “And the family is annoying but fine. So, you know, the usual.”

“They love you,” she said. “They just show their love in loud and annoying ways.”

“Mmm,” Connor said, because that was putting it mildly.

“Imagine what it was like for Kelly,” she said.

Connor winced. “Yeah, must have been rough.” He probably could have gone easier on his brother when he came out.

“At least he warmed up the room for you.”

“He did,” Connor admitted. He should probably send Kelly something nice as a thank-you.

“Does the team know? Or do I need to remind the family not to let the news slip today?”

“Nah, they know. Told ’em last night. Apparently, they figured it out before we did though.”

“They’re not the only ones,” she murmured.

Connor turned to look at her. “What does that mean?”

“Itmeans, I could see there was something there. On your end, anyway. I don’t know Jesse well enough to know his tells yet.”

“What?” Connor sputtered. “But, Ma …”

“Sweetheart,” she said. “You might not have known it yourself at the time, but I knew you had a crush on your college captain way back when.”

“I liked his hockey!” Connor argued.

“Among other things, I suspect.” Her tone was dry. “Honestly, at the time, it didn’t really matter to me if you had a crush on a teammate. You met Viv shortly after, and seemed extremely happy with her, so I figured either itwassimply a hockey crush or you had found your partner and it was no longer relevant—and let’s be honest, you were never gonna risk your career for a guy.”

Connor winced. That much was true. Though he did wonder, if he’d met Jesse ten years ago—well, no, Jesse would have been fourteen then, so notthat—but if he and Jesse were their current ages and single before Noah Boucher and everyone else came out, would he have risked it?

Connor grimaced, feeling like a coward because no, he probably wouldn’t have.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I probably shouldn’t have?—”

“No. You have a point,” he admitted. “And it’s a good thingsomeoneknows what I’m feeling because, honestly, I’m not very good at that. And, I hate to break it to you, but Jesse isworse.”

His mother laughed. “Oh dear. We’ll have to make him sit down and watch that movie. The one the girls like so much with the characters who represent emotions.”

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