Page 169 of Goaltender Interference

“I—Imeantit when I said I always felt like an outsider with your family.”

“They loved you so much,” he whispered. “We all did.”

“I know. And I loved all of you too. But it doesn’t mean I ever really fit in your world,” she whispered.

“Yeah.” And Connor felt awful, but he hadn’t realized it until today. “I’m sorry I didn’t do better.”

“Me too.” She squeezed his hand. “So was I jealous of Jesse? Yes, but it was because I was starting to suspect the two of you were together and that brought back up all of those old feelings of not fitting in. I could see the girls loved him and Nolan loved him and he fit in and …”

“You felt like you were on the outside again.”

“Yeah. It was petty of me but …”

“Nah, I get it.”

They were silent for several long moments before she let out a sigh. “So what now?”

“Well,” he said. “We figure out how to support our son.”

“And you,” she said softly. “I can figure out how to support you.”

He opened his mouth to protest he didn’t need that, then closed it. Maybe he did.

“Do you know what I’ve missed the most?” she asked.

He shook his head. “No.”

“Being yourfriend. Because at first, that was what we were, Connor. And it makes me sad we lost sight of that.”

“Me too,” he whispered. “But we can try to do better.”

“I’d like that.”

For a moment, she leaned her head against his shoulder and he thought of the night they first met, sitting on the deck talkingwhile a raucous hockey party took place in the house behind him.

In a million years, Connor never would have expected he and Viv would end up here. Divorced, him dating a man, both of them trying to figure out how to be better co-parents and friends and support their son as he came out.

But here they were, and if Connor had to do that with anyone, he was glad it was Viv.

He said that aloud and she lifted her head and gave him a small, pleased smile. She squeezed his hand and let go, standing and pulling herself together.

“Well, shall we go check in on our son?”

Connor nodded, standing. “You know he’s probably eaten his way through half the café menu by now.”

“Ugh, I know. The grocery bills …”

“Viv, I’m paying for food for two pro hockey playersandNolan.”

“Okay, you win,” she said, raising her hands in surrender.

“If you can call thatwinning,” he muttered.

She laughed.

As they walked back to the coffee shop, hope stirred. They could do this. It wasn’t gonna be easy, but if they could remember this moment, remember to be honest with each other and work together, they could do it.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

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