Page 131 of Ethan

“Though,” he added, glancing back at the photoshoot still happening, “that’s annoying, too.”

“How’s he doing with it?”

“I think overwhelmed,” Ethan confessed. “Quieter, even, than normal. Maybe he’s in shock. This morning he was the Mavs’ alternate captain and was going to play in Minnesota, and now tonight, he’s in a Bandits’ uniform and he’s with us.”

“It’s gonna be fine,” Hank promised.

Even though that wasn’t really something he could promise. He just wanted the crease of worry between Ethan’s brows to smooth out.

“We’ll see,” Ethan said, shooting Avery a concerned look from under his lashes.

And despite Avery being a fairly chill, laid-back person, at leastoffthe ice, the game itself was even crazier than Hank had expected. Every time Avery went on for a shift or touched the puck, the whole crowd went wild.

He’d heard Tina ask Silas if there was any chance he could get all three Barnes on the ice at the same time, and he’d just shot her an incredulous look before giving a short, sharp bark of, “No.”

As expected, Silas had put Avery with Jonesy, Hank still with Keegan.

He didn’t mind playing with Benny—he was slower and older but played with a stout-ish defense that left Hank free to occasionally play more offensively.

He wasn’t surprised that Silas had kept him with Benny, though. Jonesy was the most senior, best d-man on the team—or he had been, before the Bandits had traded for Avery—and he should be playing with the newest addition.

At least, Hank thought as he went in between the first and second intermission, Niko wasn’t around to fuck up anymore.

He was someone else’s problem, now.

They were up 1–0 at the end of the second period, and Max made a few comments about making sure to keep their defense tight and to work the puck more in their own offensive zone. Charlie agreed, and Hank watched as Avery opened his mouth, like he was too used to being part of a vocal group that would speak up, but before he did say anything, he snapped it shut again.

“You have anything to add, V?” Max said, turning to him.

“How could he?” Danny muttered under his breath. “He’s been in New York less than ten hours.”

Gabby elbowed him hard.

“But I’m sure that the greatest defensive mind of our generation has a lot of insight to share anyway,” Danny said sweetly.

“Not really,” Avery said. “Just watch the puck if we’re pushing into the offensive zone. A bad turnover would be hard to fight against, right now. And we don’t want to give up a goal now.”

“Nope,” Max agreed. He leaned over Charlie and patted Avery on the arm. “Good point.”

Hank thought he heard Danny say something like, “is it though?” under his breath.

And frankly that was unfair—but then, Max was trying really hard to walk a very fine line of being welcoming to Avery, while still listening to his leadership, while retaining hisownleadership in the room.

Hank had to give Max a lot of credit, because that was a fucking lot to ask, especially for someone for whom English wasn’t even their first language.

He gave Max even more credit, because even though the game was, no lie, an actual fucking circus, every time Charlie andAvery or Ethan and Avery were on the ice together, the crowd going absolutely nuts, they did pull out the win. 2–0, with Charlie getting an empty-net goal in the last minute.

There was brief talk in the locker room about going out afterwards, to celebrate the win and Avery joining the team, but Avery spoke up and claimed exhaustion, which . . .fair.

Hank let the three brothers head back to the apartment in Charlie’s car, and he caught a ride with Max.

“That was good,” Hank said as Max pulled out onto the freeway.

“What was good?” Max asked, glancing over at him.

“It was a total fucking mess today. Insane, even more insane than I thought it’d be and you handled it great.”

“Well.” Max’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles going white. “I’m trying.”