Page 23 of Ethan

But even after Hank climbed into the car with their gigantic Russian rookie goaltender, all he could think was what if he’d followed Ethan wherever he wanted to go.

What would have happened?

Nothing,Hank told himself firmly.

He was here for hockey. Not to become besties with the youngest Barnes.

Even if the youngest Barnes seemed to want to become besties with him.

Chapter 3

November

“Good win, guys,” Coach Blackburn announced as he walked in the room, closely followed by their assistant coach, Zach Wheeler. “Love to see the fight. You guys pushed back, after going down in the first, to tie it, and then . . .” Coach paused and looked over at Ethan. “Then Eth goes and nails that shot in OT. Great work, kid.”

“Thanks,” Ethan said, grinning, as the rest of the team shouted their agreement. Itfeltgood to bring the win home for the Evergreens, again. He was having a pretty damn good season so far, and it almost made the fact that Hank hadn’t texted him back the two times he’d reached out feel at leastlessshitty.

He’d thought they’d really formed a good connection during the three days Ethan had been in New York for development camp. Of course, Hank hadn’tdirectlygiven him his number, Ethan had gotten it the roundabout way, by demanding Charlie send it to him.

It was unclear whether Hank liked that or not—because while he’d sent Ethan a single thumbs-up to the first text, he hadn’t responded to the second.

Andwell, that was a little annoying. Alotannoying, actually, because Ethan was evolved enough, with two queer older brothers, to be pretty sure that he might be too, and the guy who’d made him realize that was Hank Tucker.

He’d thought Hank might be interested back, but so far, that didn’t seem to be the case. There were the two unanswered texts, and the hot and slightly cold way he’d acted towards Ethan at camp. Hot on the first day, cooling after that. Until on the last day, when they’d shared lunch together and knocked their knees together under the table the whole time.

He’d complained to Wally, his best friend here, and Wally, a great winger and a decent guy to hang out with, had just shrugged and reminded Ethan that there were so many fish in the sea.

“We should go to that frat party tonight,” Wally said, leaning over and nudging Ethan’s knee with his own. “Heard good things about who’s gonna be there. Could be a good time.”

This was probably Wally’s way of nicely suggesting that Ethan shouldn’t hang around his room, sulking about the fact that Hank wasn’t into him. Hadn’t even bothered to text him, even though he’d sent him another message two and a half weeks ago. He’d worked his ass off to sound casual and yet just flirty enough, workshopping a whole variety of openings, and all that effort had been useless, because Hank hadn’t even bothered to reply.

“Could be,” Ethan agreed. There was part of him that wanted to send a nicefuck youto Hank. To tell him that he wasn’t that cool or that special, and Ethan definitely wasn’t constructing castles in the sky that, instead of being real, had only turned out to be wisps of his own fucking imagination.

Wally shot him a look. “You’re not going to sit in your room, staring at your phone hoping that that stupid guy is gonna text you back. He’s not gonna, okay?”

Ethan finished untying his skates. “Oh, are we saying it out loud, now?”

“Yes,” Wally said bluntly.

Sighing, Ethan nodded. “Okay, we’ll stop by. Maybe I’ll . . .” He didn’t finish the sentence because he didn’t really think hewouldfind another guy that piqued his interest like Hank had. And maybe that was okay. Maybe he’d find a pretty girl, too. There were always pretty girls around, who wanted to hook up or more, thinking that Ethan was their best fast-forward option to money and success.

It just sucked, because Ethan just wanted to be seen for who he was, notwhathe was. For a second, he’d thought there was a tiny possibility that might be Hank, but clearly, he’d been wrong there.

“Stop looking for your next girlfriend or your first boyfriend, and just have fun,” Wally suggested. He stood up. “I’m gonna shower. Get your ass moving, Eth.”

“Fine, fine, alright,” Ethan agreed. Told himself that he’d try to do exactly what Wally suggested.

After he showered and dressed, there were the standard messages he’d come to expect. Texts from his parents. Three texts from Livvy. A whole chain of them in the bro-chat.

Charlie:woot! baby bro go go GO

Avery:what a sick goal

Avery:don’t think we missed that absolutely fire move you pulled in the third too, to keep them scoring

Charlie:yeah, you should’ve heard the way V yelledabout it

Avery:did not