Page 96 of Goaltender Interference

“Thanks, Captain Growly.”

Connor crawled in on the far side of the bed, immediately pulling Jesse close. “You’re welcome, you little chaos demon.”

Jesse smiled and rolled onto his side, still encircled in Connor’s arms. He clicked out the lamp—thankfully, it hadn’t broken and was sitting upright again—then snuggled back.

The room was pitch-black with the lights were out and Jesse let out a sigh of contentment, allowing his eyes to close.

Good, Connor was finally figuring out that it was easier to agree with Jesse than try to fight him.

In the end, Jesse usually got his way.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

It was the wee hours of the morning when Connor finally staggered through his front door with Jesse on his heels.

They’d lost to Calgary that afternoon and Jesse had been quiet on the flight home. He’d taken the back-to-back losses hard and Connor wasn’t sure what to do to help him.

Neither of them had spoken much on the drive home from the airport and all Connor wanted to do was collapse in his bed.

But he hated the look on Jesse’s face, the lack of spark in his eyes.

When they reached the second floor and Jesse stopped in the hallway in front of his bedroom door, Connor settled a hand on his back. “Hey. You wanna sleep upstairs with me?”

Jesse turned, lips parted, surprise written all over his face. “You sure?”

“Yeah.” Connor gave him a little shrug. “I mean, I’m too tired to do much of anything right now, but I thought maybe in the morning …”

Hoyt had pushed practice back by a few hours, so they’d have time.

“Sure,” Jesse said, clearly still exhausted but now the corners of his mouth no longer drooped down, which Connor would call a win.

“C’mon. Leave your suitcase in your room and come upstairs with me.” Connor held out a hand.

Jesse wheeled the bag into the room, tossed his carry-on onto the bed, then took Connor’s hand. He trailed after Connor, weirdly quiet and obedient, which only worried Connor more.

In the primary bedroom, Connor turned on the lamp beside the wide bed. Jesse eyeballed it like he was about to faceplant on it, so Connor put a hand on his shoulder. “C’mon, you gotta get ready for bed.”

Jesse grumbled, but allowed Connor to steer him to the bathroom. He took the spare toothbrush Connor offered, slumping against the vanity as he brushed.

When Connor was done with his own teeth, he hesitated. “Do you wanna shower, or no?”

Jesse shook his head, spat, then raised an arm and sniffed under it. “Nah. I’m not too rank.”

Connor snorted quietly. “Well, that really makes me want you in my bed.”

Jesse managed a half-hearted shrug. “I can always go downstairs if you’ve changed your mind …”

“Nope. You’re sleeping up here tonight.”

When they were done in the bathroom, Connor offered Jesse a T-shirt and boxer briefs. He stripped, leaving his clothing in a pile on the floor.

Connor didn’t even argue, though he did toss them on the small bench below the window, next to his own. He’d worry about them in the morning.

Dressed in Connor’s clothing, Jesse burrowed under the covers, eyes already half-closed.

Connor plugged in his phone, belatedly thought of Jesse’s, found it in his clothes, then located a spare charging cable and plugged that in too.

Jesse muttered a sleepy “thank you” that made Connor smile.

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