Page 2 of Ethan

“Guess you’re gonna have to ask for a new Crosby for Christmas,” Avery said. “You can wear my Kaner jersey, if you want.”

“I hate him,” Charlie complained.

“Better than just wearing your coat. How can we play if you’re not in a sweater?” Ethan wondered. “Or you could always wear one of your practice ones.”

Charlie made a face. “That’s not special. Not for the first day out on the pond.”

“Aw,” Avery said, reaching over to ruffle Ethan’s hair. Ethan was a second too late to dodge the noogie he tried to smush into his wild curls. “We can always play, Eth. Always.”

Charlie just rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’ll wear your Kaner. He’s fine, I guess.”

“Not as good as Modano,” Ethan piped up, because it was boring if he played peacemaker all the time. Besides,duh, the star was the coolest. Charlie’s and Avery’s jerseys weren’tsparkly.

“You’re both stupid. Jumbo Joe’s the best,” Avery said smugly.

Jumbo Joe had even signed Avery’s sweater, because their dad had worked with him in California, the signature on the number a little smudged now. Avery was so smug about it.

“I hate you,” Charlie declared, which he did about a hundred times a day.

Avery didn’t take it very seriously, not like Ethan might have. Instead, he switched his attention to Ethan, gaze skimming him head to toe, like he did sometimes.

Like he was making sure Ethan was okay. Well, Ethan was good. Ethan wasbignow, surely Avery could see that?

“Make sure you get your hat,” Avery told Ethan, giving him a little nod, like he was going to be okay.

Ethan grumbled under his breath as he grabbed his green beanie and pulled it over his curls.

“Hey, you could always wear my Chelios,” Avery told Charlie.

Everyone froze.

Avery’s Chelios jersey was his most prized possession. Chris Chelios was like Avery’sgodor something. He worshipped him, the way that Charlie worshipped Sidney Crosby.

Ethan liked Mike Modano just fine, but what he really liked was the star on the jersey and the way it sparkled under the lights of the stadium when he scored a sick goal.

Ethan was going to score sick goals like that, someday.

Maybe he’d even have a sparkly star on the front of his sweater, too.

But of course, Charlie was going to be a jerk about this, too, even though it was a big deal that Avery had been willing to lend Charlie his Chelios jersey.

“Ugh, a d-man, really? So freaking boring,” Charlie said. The look on his face told Ethan that he was being mean about Chelios just to annoy Avery.

Avery made a face. “You’re just saying that to piss me off.I’ma d-man.”

“So?” Charlie said, shrugging. “Some of us can’t score.”

Charlie could be really annoying, sometimes.

“And some of us can do both,” Avery retorted. He shoved the bright red Kane jersey at Charlie. “Stop being a brat and put it on.”

“Yeah, he’s gonna score on you over and over now,” Ethan told Charlie as they finally tripped out of Avery’s room.

“Like he could,” Charlie said, even though Charlie wasn’t exactly a great two-way forward. A great forward, sure, and Ethan would have to be a lot younger to not hear how his parents were already talking about Charlie.

“He totally could,” Ethan said loyally. He thought Avery was the best player in the whole world, though he’d never tell Charlie that.

“Come on,” Avery said, leading them towards the door to the garage.