Page 138 of Ethan

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?” Ethan asked. “I’m getting breakfast for Hank—like you’re getting something for darling Maxy.”

“I wish you’d stop with that shit,” Charlie said. “It’s not like that with us.”

Ethan emphatically disagreed with the second part of that statement, because it was totally fucking like that between them, but at this point, if Charlie wanted to live in delusion-land, then Ethan was going to let him.

“What are you doing today?” Ethan asked, partly to change the subject and partly to make a point.

“Max and I are going down to that big market by the water. He wants to see them throw the fish,” Charlie said. “I’m going to try to get Avery to come with us so he doesn’t mope around the hotel all day.”

Ethan wasn’t really sure Avery being dragged behind Charlie and Max as they went on their own “date” to Pike Place Market was an improvement over catching up on rest at the hotel, but Avery was a big boy. He could make his own decisions.

“Sounds good,” Ethan said.

Charlie gave him a hard look. “What? No snide comment?”

Sometimes Ethan assumed, maybe wrongly, that Charlie was clueless. But sometimes, for a split second—blink and you’d miss it, it was so quick—it was obvious that he knew. Charlie knew—obviously about his own feelings, that video from two summers ago was still fresh in Ethan’s mind, and maybe about Max’s, too—and he did all of this anyway.

That didn’t explainwhy, but Ethan wasn’t about to demand answers, because he was damn sure he wasn’t going to get any.

“Nope,” Ethan said. He patted Charlie on the shoulder. “I hope you two—well, youthree—have fun.”

Charlie looked disbelieving but didn’t say anything else, just stepped forward to order Max’s coffee.

He was already back at the table with Max’s coffee lidded and sealed in front of him when Ethan picked up his own to-go cup and the little bag with the sandwich the coffee shop had packed for him.

“I’m taking off,” Ethan said, setting down both the cup and the bag and wrapping his arms around Livvy from behind. “It was so fucking good to see you, Liv.”

“Don’t be a stranger,” she mock-threatened. “And when the Sea Monsters come to New York in a month—”

“Oh, you’ll definitely be meeting Hank,” Ethan said. “You’re gonna love him.”

“Well,youdo,” Livvy said, half joking.

But Ethan didn’t freeze or panic or anything, becauseyeah, he did, and he wasn’t afraid if anyone knew that. Especially not his sister or his brothers.

Livvy craned her head around to look at him. “I guess you do,” she said. “Well. I didn’t expect that, though I suppose I should’ve.”

Avery’s stupid mouth dropped open. “Are you serious? Youjustgot together.”

But Charlie didn’t look surprised at all. “Well, yeah, haven’t you been paying attention? And maybe sure, Tuck’s new to the Bandits this season, but he and Eth have been talking for ages. They’ve been dating but not actually dating, practically this whole time.”

Really, Charlie wasn’t so bad. Ethan experienced a swell of good feeling towards his brother and let go of Livvy so he couldgive Charlie a hug, too, who just blustered and tried to push him away.

“You’re the best, Barney,” Ethan crooned.

“Shut up,” Charlie said flatly. “I’m just saying, I’m not fucking blind.”

Normally, Ethan might take exception to this claim, but Charlie was being nice, so he was going to be nice back.

“No, you’re not. And yeah, I do. Love Hank.”

“Aw,” Livvy said, reaching out and squeezing his arm. “I’m so happy for you, Eth.”

“I’d like to officially register my argument that if anyone’s really sappy and annoying, it’s actually Ethan and Tuck,” Charlie said self-righteously.

And that tracked. Nice for about thirty seconds, then flipping back to his normal bullshit. Ethan grimaced.