Page 112 of Ethan

“Did you see Livvy’s game last night?” Charlie asked, changing the subject in a way that was probably pretty fucking obvious, but they all let him do it.

They talked about Livvy’s team for a bit. About how they’d scored three power play goals on four attempts, and how they were leading the league in percentage.

“She’s gonna get a head coaching job at some point,” Avery said.

“I don’t think I’d ever take her off special teams,” Charlie said.

It was Ethan’s turn to elbow Charlie.

“I mean it,” Charlie retorted, “she’s fucking amazing at drawing up a power play and coaching the players to execute it.”

“Yeah, and that doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve any other opportunities?” Ethan asked archly.

Charlie just grumbled something under his breath.

“Well,” Avery interrupted. “I gotta go. But I wanted to give you guys an update.”

“Keep us posted,” Ethan said, even though it was kinda stupid because if anything, they should be keepinghimposted, if what was theoretically going to happen ended up being reality.

“’Course,” Avery promised. “You guys will be my first call. I promise.”

He hung up, and for a second, neither he nor Charlie moved.

Charlie seemed frozen in place, only his fingers drumming against his knee relentlessly.

Ethan thought he should say something—maybe even about the elephant in the room?—but he didn’t know how to start.

Finally, Charlie broke the silence by standing up and saying in a voice that felt both raw and tender at the same time, “I’m gonna go see Max.”

It occurred to him that even though he and Hank had worked through that logically Maxwouldn’tbe included in a trade for Avery, maybeCharliehadn’t been able to set his emotions aside enough to do that.

“You know he wouldn’t—they wouldn’t,” Ethan stuttered out. It was not the smooth way he’d have wanted to say it, but the point was he’dsaidit.

Charlie turned to him. “Who wouldn’t what?”

Ethan swallowed hard, forcing himself to think through what he was going to say. Forcing himself to be calm about it. “Inverness wouldn’t offer Max for Avery.”

“That’s what you think I’m upset about?” Charlie asked incredulously.

Leaving Ethan wishing that he’d never said anything at all. Honestly, sometimes Charlie could be a real asshole.

But before he could tell him that—deservedly—Charlie’s face softened. “No, no, it’s okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. This is just . . . this is just a lot. Of course they wouldn’t trade Max for Avery. Were you worried about that?”

“That would be stupid,” Ethan said, because other than a single bad moment, hehadn’tworried about it.

“Okay. And you’re not worried about Hank either, right?” Charlie asked.

Ethan huffed. “No. I’m worried about you, you fucking idiot.”

“Don’t worry about me—worry aboutAvery,” Charlie retorted, still sounding weird, but like he was trying to hide it. Pretend like hewasfine, but Ethan knew better.

Still, if Charlie wasn’t going to tellhim, at least he could tell someone. Better to let Charlie go upstairs and hopefully talk to Max.

“Iamworried about Avery,” Ethan retorted.

“He’s gonna be fine.”

Ethan considered telling Charlie that he was going to corner the market onfine, but that would only piss him off—more—and there was no benefit to that. Not now.