Page 49 of Ethan

Ethan just shot him a look. “How do they feel aboutme?”

Hank had had two shots and three beers, over a six-or-so-hour period. He definitely wasn’t sober. But he wasn’t drunk enough to miss the knowing edge to Ethan’s voice. How he was probably asking about more than just how the NHL guys in general felt about Ethan. Was probably asking howHankfelt about Ethan, even though he really shouldn’t be.

If they were going intoshouldn’ts, this whole conversation was probably off-limits. Hank should be shutting the fuck up right about now.

But of course, he didn’t.

Of fucking course, he opened his mouth and what came out was, “Well, I think they probably think you’re full of promise. Like a lot of talent. Young and exciting.”

“Exciting?” Ethan smirked.

“Probably they’re a little intimidated by you, too. Two Frozen Four appearances. A national championship. First-round draft pick. Last name Barnes.”

Ethan huffed.

“I’m just telling it like it is,” Hank soothed. “But yeah. Very exciting prospect. Interested to see what happens when you get to camp. When you play in the NHL.”

Theyweren’thim, obviously, Hank told himself, but honestly, it was closer to the truth than he’d probably be comfortable saying, even now.

Definitely if he was sober.

“Yeah, should be interesting,” Ethan said.

And Hank didn’t ask what exactly would be interesting, because he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to know.

Chapter 6

September

Ethan was pretty fucking sure he was about to vibrate out of his skin.

“For the last time,quit it,” Charlie hissed as he pulled into the parking lot of the Bandits’ practice facility in Jersey. “You’re literally making me anxious, and—”

“And you don’t need the extra help?” Ethan retorted fondly.

Charlie just shot him a soft-as-fuck glare. “You’re an ass, and I’m going to tell Avery that on your first day trying to really, officially make the roster, you’re all excited instead about seeing Tuck.”

“Am not,” Ethan said. Obviously, yes, that was part of it. Hewasexcited to see Hank. It had beena year. A year where he’d wondered so many times if what he’d felt—the spark between them—was real or not.

It wasn’t impossible to recreate that spark over phone calls and FaceTime, and Ethan felt like he’d experiencedenoughof it to be fairly certain he hadn’t been imagining things, but nothing was as good as being right next to Hank to knowfor sure.

“Oh come on,” Charlie said. “Lie to yourself, but don’t lie to me.”

“And what, you’re not excited to see Max?”

“That’s not the same,” Charlie argued, as he parked the car.

But it was. Well, actually, itwasdifferent, but only because Ethan was pretty sure that four years into their NHL careers on the same team, he and Hank wouldn’t still be dancing around each other, pretending that they didn’t want each other so bad it made them stupid.

“Sure,” Ethan said noncommittally. “Like you didn’t go up to Max’s place themomentwe got in two days ago.”

Charlie turned the car off and looked over at Ethan. “That was a leadership meeting.”

Ethan did not make a face, but it was a near thing. He also didn’t say,Leadership meeting, my ass, even though there was no way that was all it was.

“Okay, bud, butI’mthe one lying tomyself,” Ethan said. If Avery was here right now, he’d be giving Ethan a look. Theyou’re stepping too close to the sun, and you’re gonna get burnedlook.

“I hate you,” Charlie grumbled.