Page 57 of Ethan

“Youarefucking good, okay?” Ethan said, leaning in towards him, slinging an arm around his broad shoulders.

Hank didn’t say anything.

“Stop overthinking it out there,” Ethan said. “Stop trying to be good and justbegood.”

“Oh, that’s all?” Hank said, voice still muffled. He lifted his head again. “Fucking pointless in three games.”

Three games wasn’t that much. All Ethan had was a measly single point—an assist for a halfway decent feed to Sasha.

But it was one thing for Ethan to be out there, on the third and fourth lines, trying to get his feet under him for the first time on NHL ice, and another entirely for Hank, whohadplenty of experience, to go pointless especially when Niko was tearing it up. Two goals and three assists so far.

“How about this? Let’s make a bet, on whoever scores the first goal.”

Hank turned his head slightly, one eye now visible. He looked skeptical, like he was only a moment away from telling Ethan it was a stupid idea. And it was, Ethan wasn’t going to deny that, but he needed Hank to think of something that wasn’t just Niko stealing his roster spot with every shift he took.

But to Ethan’s surprise, Hank just gave a slight movement that might’ve meant,go on. Well, Ethan wasn’t going to sleep on that.

“Like, if you score a goal, you can buy me dinner.”

“What?” Hank fully lifted his head now, and Ethan knew he had him.

“You heard me,” Ethan said impudently. “You score a goal, I’ll let you take me to dinner.”

“I’m confused. IfIscore a goal, I’m buyingyoudinner?”

“Not everyone gets to take the rookie out,” Ethan said keeping his voice earnest.

“You’re not that special,” Hank blustered, but it wasn’t that convincing, really. Ethan still thought he had him—not quite where he wanted him, but close.

“Oh?”

Hank rolled his eyes. “And what ifyouscore a goal?”

“Oh, that’s something good.” Ethan hesitated and then decided he was going for it. “I’ll bring you breakfast. And something good, too. Like one of those breakfast sandwiches we both like so much, from that little deli down the street.”

Hazel eyes met Ethan’s. Went wide and surprised. “Got it all figured out, huh?”

Ethan nodded. He nearly added,and if you score a goal, it’ll be a date, too. But he didn’t want to freak Hank out. Turn him into even more of a neurotic mess.

The whole point was to try to get him out of his own head.

“What are you two talking about over here?” A voice interrupted them, and Ethan nearly killed his brother with a mind beam.

He hadn’t gotten Hank to agree to the bet yet, and heneededHank to agree. To confirm that it was on. But there was no way he’d do that in front of Charlie.

“Nothing,” Ethan lied unconvincingly.

Charlie huffed out an annoyed breath. “You’re a shitty liar.”

“No, I’m not.”

Hank had already straightened up, Ethan’s arm falling away, and Ethan didn’t think it was an accident he’d done that the moment Charlie wandered over.

“Maybe I just know when you’re up to something,” Charlie said, reaching over to ruffle his hair. “Had to develop a sixth sense about it. Call it self-preservation.”

“Maybe,” Ethan said.

“You could be better,” Hank said slyly, which was a little surprising. Hank didn’t usually tease him, not so pointedly. And not ever in front of Charlie.