Page 85 of Goaltender Interference

“Yeah. Have been for years. I always hope I can be a good example of how you can still get enough protein without meatbut I know this is a tough crowd.” He gave Connor and Graham a rueful smile.

“Shit, you aren’t kidding,” Connor joked. There were certainly guys in the league who were vegetarians and vegans, but not on this team. “Talk about starting riots. The team chef and dieticians tried to introduce more plant-based meals into the rotation a few seasons ago and nearly got themselves fired.”

Dakota laughed and reached for his glass of water. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

A moment later, several people on the waitstaff appeared with wooden boards topped with local cheese, fruits, breads, crackers, seafood, and various sauces.

“You’re okay with us eating the seafood and meat around you, right?” Connor asked, checking in with Dakota.

Connor’d had a teammate with a shellfish allergy when he was growing up and didn’t want to accidentally send the yoga instructor to the emergency room or anything.

Dakota waved it off. “Yeah, you’re good. It’s just a personal preference.”

“Cool.” Connor began loading his plate with food. “So where are you from?”

Connor had worked with Dakota since his arrival, discussing some new flexibility and dynamic mobility workouts he could add to his training this season, but he hadn’t had any one-on-one time to get to know the guy.

“I grew up in Seattle actually and moved from there recently.”

“Oh, cool. Will you be seeing family while we’re there?” From Portland, the team would be traveling to Seattle, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary before heading home.

Dakota shrugged. “Well, my sister lives in Boston, actually, but I am hoping to see my parents. We’ll see. You guys keep me busy.”

Graham laughed. “We try.”

Connor tuned them out for a few minutes while he munched on crostini topped with herbed cream cheese and smoked steelhead trout.

Out of the corner of his eye, he kept catching glimpses of a woman with long dark hair, seated at a cozy table for two with a man Connor presumed was her boyfriend or husband. He could only see her from the back, but she reminded him so much of Viv.

The sight sent a sharp little ache through him.

He thought about all of the dates he’d missed over the years. The birthdays, the Valentine’s Days. She’d been understanding about it for years, but after a while, it had clearly started to bother her. He’d found himself apologizing, sending gifts to try to smooth over the rough patches.

But the truth was, he’d been a shitty husband.

He glanced back at the table to see the couple holding hands, the guy staring at the woman adoringly. Connor had looked at Viv like that,hadadored her, but he hadn’t done a great job telling her how he felt.

The guys on the team had been bugging him since his divorce to date, but he’d always figured he’d wait until he was retired. Evenif he had time to date—which he didn’t—it seemed unfair to do the same damn thing to someone new.

What he had with Jesse was perfect, really. He didn’t feel so lonely with Jesse around. Making oats for the girls in the mornings, driving Connor crazy when he stretched on the floor while they watched TV or movies, and riding with him to HCI and the arena.

Jesse had slid neatly into his life and was great in bed. It was all of the perks of a relationship without any of the complications of one. Exactly what Connor needed.

“Connor?” Graham said. “You want any more?”

He glanced over to see his teammate offering him the nearly empty platter.

“Shit,” Connor said. “Thanks. I should know better than to leave food unattended around you guys.”

He grabbed some more appetizers, then took a sip of the drink he’d hardly touched.

“You know,” Graham said thoughtfully, nodding toward the couple Connor had been eyeing earlier. “I wonder if there’s anything like this in Boston. This would begreatfor a date night.”

“I had that thought too,” Dakota said.

“There are river and harbor cruises,” Connor said. “I looked into it once, back when I was with Viv.”

He’d never actually followed through and done it though. There was one more point in the “shitty husband” column, apparently.

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