Page 31 of Playing for Keeps

Ethan gave me that sunshine smile of his, and I couldn’t help smiling back.

Before we got on the bus, Coach returned our phones.

“You want some space so you can reunite in private?” Ethan teased Reuban, who, to be fair, did seem to be staring at his phone reverently, as if he was seeing an angel descending from heaven.

“Fuck off. I’m just looking forward to checking the news, see what’s going on in the world.”

“The news. Sure.”

I helped the assistant coach load the bags into the bottom of the bus, so by the time I climbed aboard, most of the seats were occupied.

Ethan was sitting halfway down. His expression brightened when he saw me, and he moved his backpack onto the floor.

“You want to sit here?”

I hesitated, and there was a flicker of hurt in his expression.

Fuck it. Maybe itwouldbe better if I just did the “friendly” thing rather than full-on friendship with Ethan. It would definitely be safer. But being around him and keeping my distance was a skill I didn’t possess.

Besides, I had Jonathan now. I was happy in my new relationship. I’d come to terms with the fact that Ethan and I were never going to happen. I had to trust myself.

I could be friends with Ethan without falling for him again, right?

“Sure,” I said, pretending not to notice the relief swamping his face as I sat next to him.

“This is our Forrest Gump and Jenny on the bus moment, isn’t it?” He grinned.

“Think we had that moment about twenty years ago,” I said.

His eyes danced. “So, are you the peas or the carrots in this friendship?”

“Fuck, you’re about to somehow turn that into another ball and cock joke, aren’t you?”

“It’s what the world relies on me for,” Ethan said. “I wouldn’t want to let anyone down.”

I laughed, and seeing Ethan’s face light up caused a surge of happiness inside me so intense I had to look away.

I nodded to his headphones on his lap. “You still listen to that R ’n’ B shit?”

“Haha, I know you only pretended to hate it.”

“It’s definitely what’s been missing from my life.”

Shit. What’s been missing from my life. Things not to think about.

I felt my muscles tense up. Ethan’s shoulders stiffened as well.

There were a few beats of silence between us.

When I met Ethan’s gaze, I found him studying me, his green eyes serious for once. “So, tell me about Japan,” he said.

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything. Like, where did you live, what was it like to play over there?”

As the bus weaved around the edge of Lake Wakatipu toward Queenstown airport, I told Ethan about my time in Japan and, in turn, he told me some of the stories from his past six seasons playing with the Marauders.

It felt only natural once we arrived at the airport to keep talking and, when we boarded our flight, to sit together and continue our conversation.