Page 96 of Ethan

Ethan didn’t need another invitation. He was framing Hank’s face with his palms, diving in again, joy simmering inside him at the thought that Hank washere, here, here.Finally.

When all of a sudden that perfect bubble with just the two of them burst. Abruptly.

“Tuck.”

That was not Ethan’s voice. That was definitely not Hank’s voice either, because why would he greet himself?

Very reluctantly, Ethan removed his mouth from Hank’s mouth. When he turned, he came face-to-face with his brother, who’d retrieved his sunglasses and shoved them back on his face. Like he needed as much protection as possible before he stumbled into the entryway.

“Oh, hey, Barney,” Hank said. Ethan hadn’t stepped away from him, but he’d felt Hank’s whole body tense, and now his face was flaming hot, the rising temperature unmistakable.

“Tuck,” Charlie repeated blandly. “I see you’re back up.”

“Yeah. Um. Yeah. Happy New Year?”

Charlie made a half-disgusted sound in the back of his throat.

“Ignore him,” Ethan said. “He’s hungover as fuck.”

“Oh, just like Max,” Hank said. “I actually just came from up there. I’m . . . um . . . staying with him? At least for the first little bit.”

That was . . . not ideal.

Not that Ethan wouldn’t have sex in his own bedroom if his brother happened to be around, but he had a feeling that was going to be a hard sell for Hank.

Having sex in Max’s apartment while his captain was around? Going to be an even tougher sell.

Ethan mentally sighed.

“Let me guess, he told you to come down here to drag me to practice,” Charlie said.

Ethan wanted to roll his eyes and didn’t. “No, you dummy, he came here forme.”

“Well, yeah, the kissing kind of gave that away. Congrats, by the way.”

“Uh, thanks?” Hank’s hand, now on Ethan’s hip, tightened. “It was mostly to see Ethan. Sorry? I’m not sureMaxis going to make it to practice, but heisinsisting on driving me there.”

It was so like Max. Wanting to be a good captain—thebestcaptain—even if he had to do it with a barf bag on his lap.

“No, no, it’s fine.” Charlie waved an absent hand. “Don’t listen to him if he tells you it’s okay to go the speed limit. He’s wrong. He knows he’s wrong. He’s just mentally ninety years old.”

“You could always go with me,” Ethan said. “I’m still going to practice. Unlike some people, I didn’t drink the whole freaking bar last night.”

“Hey,” Charlie retorted.

But Hank’s expression was already going on a journey on the way to denial. “I really should let Max take me if he’s insisting on it.”

“If you want a half-dead guy to drive you in, that’s fine. I’ll just catch a ride with you guys, then. Make sure that Max gets you there in one piece.”

“Yeah, uh, that’s partially why I came down here. To see if you wanted to come with us.”

“Not wanting to be left alone with the half-dead guy who drives like he’s ninety? Smart.” Ethan gave him a thumbs-up. “I just gotta finish eating and make sure that Charlie isn’t going to die the rest of the way.”

But when he glanced back to where Charlie had been only a moment before, he was gone.

They were alone—or alone,enough—again.

“God, I missed you,” Ethan said, crowding Hank against the wall. “Now how about that fourth kiss?”