Page 179 of Goaltender Interference

Connor stepped into the room, staring at the walls and shelves filled with Harriers memorabilia and personal awards. There were photos of Cup wins and a safe to hold Declan’s championship rings.

Connor had liked coming in here as a kid—though it had looked different then—and staring at the history. Much like O’Neill’s Pub, it held so much of the family and team’s legacy and Connor once again wondered if he had the strength to do what his father and two brothers had done before him.

His team was better than it had been at the end of last season.

They’d picked up a few good pieces—Jesse being the notable one, of course—who were helping the team claw their way to more frequent wins. There had been no shortage of losses so far this season either, but he was hopeful they were finally starting to see the right side of the .500 mark and winning slightly more than half of their games.

They seemed closer too.

Connor wouldn’t have expected the announcement about his and Jesse’s relationship to help with team unity but he couldn’t deny it seemed to have done so.

Or, at least it had last night.

And maybethathad as much to do with Jesse as anything else but Connor would take the wins where he could get them.

He’d been prepared to set aside his own personal life and happiness for the sake of the team. But Jesse had shown himmaybe that wasn’t the way to success. It was still early, only time would tell if this roster—and whatever tweaks Gavin made to it going forward—had what it took.

It might take a few years, even.

But maybe his future legacy wasn’t being the guy who sacrificed everything to find success. Maybe it was finding success without giving up what made him happy.

Connor nodded, turning to face the door, and jerked in surprise at the sight of Pat, Finn, and Declan standing there, silent and intimidating. He’d never admit it aloud, but they were a scary bunch.

“Fuck! What the hell is this?” Connor grumbled. “Why does it look like you’re about to stage an intervention?”

“Nah,” Finn said. “We just wanted to talk about your earlier announcement.”

“You didn’t think you were gonna get away with itthateasy, did you?” Pat asked with a smirk.

Connor grunted. He had hoped. But no, he’d known they’d get to him eventually.

He glanced over his shoulder at the door on the back wall leading to the balcony.Hmm, maybe he could make a break for it. If he ran, could he get the door open and flee down the fire escape before they tackled him?

Probably not. And he was likely to get injured in the process. Pat had only bulked up since his retirement.

Damn it.

“So, Jesse Webber, huh?” Pat said. He set a tablet on the nearby shelf, revealing their brother Kelly’s face on a video call.

Connor crossed his arms and resisted the urge to flip off Kelly and his smug little look. “Yep.”

“Interesting choice. Goalies are a little weird so that explains why he’s dating you, but … what’syourexcuse?” Pat asked.

“Ilovehim,” he admitted.

Pat’s expression softened. “He seems like a good guy.”

“He is.”

“Do I have to have a talk with him like I did with Anders when he and Kelly started dating?” Pat asked.

Connor groaned. “No! Absolutely not!”

“If I remember right,youhad that talk with Anders too,” Finn pointed out. “Seems fair.”

“Damn, I was hoping you’d forget,” Connor grumbled.

“Speaking of Kelly,” Finn said, pointing at the screen with narrowed eyes. “Why doesn’t he look surprised?”

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