Page 130 of Goaltender Interference

Connor wasn’t much more talkative this morning as they walked to his parents’ house, mostly replying to Jesse’s attempts at starting a conversation with grunts. Jesse was tempted to try to pull the truth out of him but it was such a short walk he doubted he’d make any progress before they arrived.

With Connor, he probably needed to play the long game.

Thankfully, everyone else from the O’Shea family seemed happy to see Jesse when they stepped inside for brunch. He got hugs from everyone and the girls acted especially thrilled.

Jesse swung a giggling Maura around in a circle, nearly taking out a lamp in the process. “Whoops,” he said, slowing to a stop.

With a deft sweep of her hand, Catherine O’Shea caught the lamp before it could hit the ground.

Jesse set Maura back on her feet. “Good reflexes! You could have been a goalie too.”

Catherine shrugged. “My brothers used to make me play goalie when we were kids.”

Jesse laughed. Honestly, he’d assumed it was because she had a giant husband and kids and ten thousand grandchildren who were always knocking into things, but that made sense too.

“Hey! Good to see you, Jesse!” Aubrey said, hugging him. “Pat and I keep meaning to invite you and Connor over for supper but we’re having trouble finding a time that works.”

“I’d love to come,” Jesse said. “If we can get Captain Growly here to stop being a curmudgeon, he’ll probably be up for it too. Is he always like this after he loses?”

Connor made a disgruntled noise behind him.

“It’s worse because he lost to Kelly, but yes.” Aubrey winked. “LoveCaptain Growly by the way. Perfect nickname for Connor.”

Connor pushed past Jesse, rolling his eyes as the girls tugged him into the living room to show him something they’d made.

“So, how are you liking Boston?” Aubrey asked after Jesse followed her into the kitchen.

“I love it,” Jesse admitted. “Though, to be honest, I haven’t gotten out to see much of the city.”

“We’ll make a night out of it then,” she said. “Show you around. I’m not surprised Connor doesn’t get out much. He never did. I’ve tried to set him up with several friends of mine since the divorce but he won’t take me up on it. Areyouseeing anyone?”

“Ahh, no,” Jesse said. “Not seriously. Just kinda trying to keep things …” He searched for the right word. He hated lying to Connor’s sister-in-law but it wasn’t like he could tell her the truth about him and Connor.

“Simple?” she offered.

“Mmm, more like off the gossip blogs,” he admitted.

She laughed. “You did have quite the run in them this past summer. Although I find it interesting,JockGossiphas been very quiet lately. At least around the hockey world.”

“They got into a little hot water after some of the stuff last season in Toronto,” Jesse admitted. “I can’t really say more because some of it is private but …”

“Got it!” Aubrey’s eyes sparkled. “I won’t pry.”

The truth was, the gossip site had been involved in a scandal of its own, buying info from someone within the Fisher Cats organization. What had finally tipped the scales was attempted blackmail and—as far as Jesse knew—they’d been threatened with legal action.

The whole thing had been hellishly messy and honestly, Jesse was relieved that after his summer being featured on the site,JockGossiphad more or less left him alone. Being out of Toronto had helped immensely too.

Boston was a huge sports city in general but they had a lot more than just hockey to focus on and weren’t the literal center of the hockey universe the way Toronto was. Besides, Connor’s plan to keep him in line was really working.

Jesse said hi to the rest of the family, including Pat, Finn, and Finn’s wife. Even big, scary Declan O’Shea complimented him on one of his saves from the night before.

“Still didn’t give us the win,” Jesse pointed out after he thanked him for the praise he wasn’t entirely sure he deserved.

“No, it didn’t. But every night you’re in net, you’re still giving the team a much better chance to string together some wins.”

“I’m trying,” Jesse muttered.

Declan clapped him on the shoulder. “Once they shore up the defense a little more, it’ll start to come together. Gavin’s workingon it, I’m sure. But either way, we’re glad to have you on the team, son.”

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