Page 33 of Cheap Shot

He pushed through the crowd and let out a sigh of relief once he was away from the perpetual nosiness of his team. They meant well and all that shit, but goddamn were they a lot to handle.

Luke got a refill on his beer and chatted with the pub owner, Liam, for a few minutes, debating if he should go back to the table or not. But before he could decide either way, Connor appeared at his elbow. He asked, “You good?”

Luke glanced over. “Yeah. Why?”

“Just checking.”

“How’s Nolan’s hockey going?”

Connor raised his eyebrows, probably at the change of subject, but he didn’t push. Luke liked that about him.

“Great. He’s really doing well this season. I think being able to admit he’s gay and knowing the whole O’Shea clan and his mother supports him has helped. Plus, he and Kyler seem happy. For a couple of idiot teenagers, they’re handling a serious relationship pretty well.”

Luke chuckled. “And the girls?”

“They’re great too. Evie’s doing amazing in school this year and we’re searching for a pony for Maura’s birthday.”

“How’s that going?” Luke asked.

“Surprisingly well?” Connor scratched his beard. “Viv and Jesse have taken the lead on it and I’m just letting them roll with it.”

“Your ex-wife and your boyfriend are shopping for a pony for your kid?” Luke asked skeptically. “And it’s goingwell?”

Connor shrugged. “I’m baffled by the whole thing too. But unless they need me to step in, I’m just gonna let it happen and keep hoping for the best.”

“Huh.”

“I know.” Connor shot him a rueful look. “If you’d told me that a couple of years ago, I’d have thought the world had turned upside down.”

“I guess yours did,” Luke said drily.

“I guess so.” Connor took a sip of his beer. “Seemed to me like your world got rocked a little earlier too, huh?”

“What?” Luke asked, confused.

“When Anker was talking about being ace.”

“Uhh.” Sure, maybe he’d put a name to some shit he’d never really thought about before but that was about it. He wouldn’t say his world had been rocked by anything. And he wasn’t much of one for labels, anyway.

Luke dragged a hand through his hair and tried to figure out how to tell Connor to fuck off about this. He liked his captain, and he was probably the closest thing Luke had to a true friend, but he still didn’t have any desire to get into this shit with him.

“Look, if you don’t wanna talk about it, that’s cool,” Connor said, slapping him on the shoulder when Luke didn’t continue. “I’m just saying, if youdo, you know where to find me.”

“Yeah, I’m good. But thanks, I guess.”

Connor held up his hands. “Just trying to be here for my guys if they need me.”

“Well, worry about the rookies,” Luke said with a laugh. “I’ve got my shit under control.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?”

The following day, Luke glanced up from the rack of weights to see Thad Racine staring at him.

He liked Thad. He was a good dude, and Luke had thought that long before he found out that the time he’d spent in prison for burglary had actually been a crime his brother—the team’s GM—had committed as a teenager.

He’d done it to protect Gavin, which was something Luke could respect.