Page 40 of Ethan

It was wonderful; it was also fucking terrifying.

He’d gotten off the phone more than once thinking,what the hell am I doing?

But no matter how many times he thought it, he still hadn’t stopped. Didn’twantto stop.

“Right,” Charlie said. “Just friends.” He said it so casually, Hank might’ve believed him, but this was Charlie. Maybe Max might believe it, but Hank didn’t. Not for a second.

But Charlie didn’t leave it at that. “He ask you to talk to Inverness?”

“Um, no?” Why would Ethan askhimto talk to Inverness? Inverness would just fucking laugh at him. Hank didn’t have anypull, and zero influence over their general manager. And if he hadany, he’d probably justifiably use it forhimself. To bolster his own fucking position. He didn’t have a famous last name or a brother who was already wearing a letter.

“He asked me,” Charlie said. He still sounded so fucking casual, but Hank could feel the tension creeping up his back, all the way up his neck. “Practically begged. And here’s the thing, he was okay staying put in Portland when he went there in the fall, after camp. But now all of a sudden, you’re here, up with the team, and he’s so freaking desperate to get Inverness to sign his entry-level contract that he’s askingmeto intervene.”

Hank couldn’t say he was very familiar with the Barnes brothers’ dynamic. Ethan had alluded to it, more than once. Then there was the thing he’d said, back in February. About the way the media acted about them and how it wasn’t necessarily all true. He hadn’t paid much attention before that, but after? He’d dismissed any post or any comment that came across his social media. Only trusted whatever he heard from Ethan’s mouth.

But Hankdidknow that Ethan respected the hell out of Charlie and also never, ever wanted Charlie to beat him. Probably because Charlie had spent their whole lives doing exactly that. So yeah, it was surprising that Ethan had come out and actuallyaskedCharlie to say something to Inverness.

“He didn’t mention it to me,” Hank said, whichwastrue. If Ethan had told him he was going to do it, Hank would’ve told him not to. That they probably weren’t making the playoffs, and as bad as he wanted Ethan in the same time zone, the same state, the same fuckingcity, he’d have told him to stay put. To enjoy the last bit of his college experience.

“Well, he sure as hell mentioned it to me,” Charlie said. He still sounded friendly, but his voice had taken on a bit of a concernededge. “And I was trying to figure out why he’d do that, and then he admitted to me he’d been talking to you.”

Immediately Hank knew the conclusion Charlie had drawn.

“It’s not because of me,” Hank argued.

“No? From where I’m standing, that’s what it looks like. And if it was, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

Hank didn’t think that was true, not for a second. That was more just Barney misdirection. He’d say it was okay to Hank’s face and then probably convince Max to sit him down, all earnest, concerned eyes and caution him against it.

Charlie would never want to be the bad guy, telling someone to stay the fuck away from his younger brother, but he’d sure as hell make sure it came fromsomeone.

“Sure,” Hank said, because, again, what was he supposed to say? The truth?Ha.

A tiny crease appeared between Charlie’s brows, along with a slight hint of a frown. “I mean it. Eth’s just . . . well,naive, I guess is the word I’m looking for, though he’d probably kill me if he heard that.”

It was so stupid;hewas so stupid. But what else was he supposed to do when Charlie said asinine shit that wasn’t even remotely true?

“He’s not, not at all,” Hank said, quietly but pointedly.

Charlie looked surprised. “No?”

“He’s the most fucking observant person I’ve ever met. Heseeseverything and takes it in. And somehow none of that bullshit ever affects him, because he’s all optimistic and sunny and shitanyway, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t recognize it. He’s spent his whole life watching you and Avery and your sister. He couldn’t be naive, even if he tried.”

He shouldn’t have said it at all, but it had been impossible to hold back, not when Charlie was so fucking wrong.

A smile bloomed across Charlie’s face, and this one was real and soft, if not a little begrudging. “Yeah, I know,” Charlie said.

Hank burst into laughter. “You asshole,” he said, barely believing it as he shoved Charlie.

But Charlie just kept smiling, taking the shove like he’d earned it. As far as Hank was concerned, hehad.

“I mean it,” Charlie repeated mildly, “it’s not a problem.”

“Okay,” Hank said, though he wasn’t operating under any false assumptions. Charlie only approved because he’d passed the Charlie test.

Which fuck that guy, really.

One of the coaches blew the whistle and they rejoined the team, ready to run the next drill.