Goaltender Interference (Scoring Chances, #1)

by Brigham Vaughn

Still laughing, Jesse reached out and hooked his finger into the waistband of Connor’s sweats. “I’m not! I swear. You’re the only O’Shea I want to fuck right now.” “Right now.” “Well”—Jesse grinned—“I do like to leave my options open.”

“I mean … I mean I’ve spent my whole fucking life doing what I’m supposed to,” Connor said slowly, frowning at the button on Jesse’s shirt. “I’ve been the good son and good husband and good player and captain and father and everything everyone else needed. I’ve never … I’ve never just been able to … enjoy things.”

and I was suddenly an NHL player and a father and a husband and I never … I never got to … figure out who I was.”

Someone had called him a parrot in a nest of sparrows once and he sort of got what they meant. The O’Shea family felt like a whole flock of noisy, squawking tropical birds.

And, well, Connor wasn’t much good at pretending he was a strong man when it came to Jesse Webber.

Jesse kissed him softly, gently, and all Connor could do was be grateful he had him for a little while.

“Ref, ref, help! This is goaltender interference!”

“It’s not like I was gonna get into positions. Although I have to say this, if Jesse is uncut, you really should look into docking.”

And the worst part of it—at least to Connor—was that he remembered a time when he’d felt God as a concrete presence in his life. And now he didn’t know if that was real or only something his own mind had created.

But he’d also heard God in Jesse’s laugh and tasted it in his kiss. Turning away from the Catholic Church felt like rejecting God and yet turning toward Jesse felt like turning toward God too. And Connor hated uncertainty, hated the doubt that created. He liked rules and structure and certainty. But he couldn’t deny he’d been happier and more at ease since Jesse had twerked his way into Connor’s life.

Because choosing Jesse meant loving more than just him. It was also choosing to love his family. To love Kelly and Nolan. To love himself.

Or maybe that was what God was. Not something outside of himself but the love he felt for the people in his life.

Connor lived in the gray now and a part of him was envious of how straightforward it was for Nolan.

“I didn’t plan for you,” Connor said huskily. “But I am glad for you.”

without consciously thinking about it, Connor set his pint glass down as well and walked over to join him. “Dance with me?” Connor asked, refusing to second-guess this. Jesse’s eyes lit up. “Yeah?” “Yeah. You’re amazing,” he whispered. “And later, I’m totally gonna blow you in the bathroom here in a little bit.” Connor took a happy, laughing Jesse into his arms and swayed with him, pressing their lips together in a kiss.

His family being embarrassing but supportive was on-brand for them. Pat’s gaze immediately went to Jesse and Connor’s joined hands. He lifted an eyebrow as he leaned in to hug Connor. “So, two-for-one coming out deal today, huh?”