#Ethan Edwards

[everythingsab]

IKTR

[bluewxrld07]

Hollow (Luke Hughes)

Summary: Y/N thought she mattered to Luke in more ways than one. Yet that all changes when he makes a choice that has her feeling betrayal and heartbreak.

Warning(s): She's an angsty one, tears, starvation, negative feelings, self-doubt, bed-rotting, showing some love to our boy Ethan Edwards because he's bestie

Y/N lets out a huff as she shuts her laptop closed, rubbing her forehead as she yawns. She looks at the time to see it's almost five in the evening, causing her to jump up from her seat and pack up her stuff.

It was NHL draft day. Luke's draft year specifically. She wanted to be there on the special day to help celebrate, but he assured her it would just be low-key with his brothers and parents which she happily respected. So she chose to stay with some of the hockey boys back at the Hockey house that had to stay for classes like her, to watch the draft in the living room.

As she walked back to the house from campus she would keep checking her watch to make sure she wouldn't be late, as she promised she'd watch from start to finish.

To say Luke was nervous was an understatement. There was a probability that he'd play with Jack in Jersey, and there was a chance he would be in the top five overall picks in the first round which made him more nervous.

Her and Luke have been the closest of friends since Y/N could remember. Their families having lived next door to one another since Quinn was born, making Y/N one of the honorary family members of the Hughes group. She had seen it all.

She remembered the day she had convinced him to stick with Hockey when he was having his doubts. The day he walked out of the UMich arena because he felt like he couldn't take the pressure. She bursted into that house later that night to get his head out of his ass and show what kind of potential he held.

She was there through every single moment, and she couldn't be more proud of him.

"The party is here!" she yells out as she opens the front door, shutting it behind her and setting her backpack down.

The few boys that were there all let out hums and warm greetings, some giving her hugs as she came and sat on the couch. Rutger's girlfriend squeezed her tight as she sat next to her. "You nervous?" she asks.

Y/N shrugs. "A little, but he's got it in the bag." Y/N assures, thanking one of the boys who handed her a plate of food and a water bottle.

Her phone begins to buzz which causes her to set the stuff down and pick it up. She smiles and graciously slides to answer the call.

"You guys ready to go?" Y/N says in an exciting manner.

"Oh always! Have you met me, Y/N?" Ethan jokes, taking a sip of his soda as he pans the phone to show Duke, Jacob, Luca and Frank. Y/N frowns as she sees the background, noticing it looks a little familiar.

"Where are you guys at?" she asks, making Ethan put a finger up to signal to give him a second. "We're with the man himself, of course. Where else?"

The phone switches over to show Luke standing over by some of the other familiar faces of their friend group and conversing. Her eyes didn't miss how the one girl Luke had been off and on with was there. Y/N's stomach drops a little more.

"Oh," she says a little deflated. "I thought it'd be just him and his family." she says, not really wanting to sound as upset as she felt.

Ethan frowns at her in confusion. "Oh no he's been planning this since he found out he would be drafted. Wanted it to be a big party and what not! Jack and Us have been helping him get it put together since day one. He wanted as many of the important people in his life as he could get that weren't busy." Ethan explains, making her heart drop even more.

Had she really not meant that much to him as she thought?

Y/N tries to fight back the tears in her eyes, not knowing how to react. "I gotcha. It's just when I asked him he said he was just having it be him and his family, so he told me not to worry about coming. He said it was a lowkey thing." she admits, making Ethan stop chewing the food he was eating and look at her in shock.

"Wait what? He's been telling everyone he wanted it to be a big thing," he says, watching her face fall. "Sweetheart I'm sorry I swear I had no idea. I thought you were busy with classes otherwise I would've asked." Ethan apologizes.

Y/N just nods and puts up a fake warm smile. "Not a big deal, Eddy I promise I'll talk to you guys tomorrow yeah? Go be with the big guy." she half-heartedly jokes.

"Y/N-"

"Go enjoy the night Ethan, okay?"

He just sighs and nods before Y/N hangs up the phone. She sets it on the coffee table in front of her, staring into space. She began to chew at her nails, a nervous habit of hers.

A nudge on her shoulder made her snap out of it and look over to see Rutger's girlfriend frowning. "You okay?" she asks, and Y/N just nods with a fake smile.

"Oh shit here it is! Let's go Lukey boy!" Rutger yells out to the side of the couch, causing cheers and howls to come out.

"With the fourth overall pick, the New Jersey Devils select, from the USA Development program, Luke Hughes."

Everyone bursts out into cheers except Y/N. She watches as they all are going ballistic, she sees the TV transition over to where Luke sat. He was sat with his brothers, parents and grandparents next to him while there was an entire large crowd behind him going crazy.

Rutger's cheers silent slightly as he looks at Y/N whom looks like her entire world had fallen apart, trying to fight tears in her eyes and biting her nails which he knew was something she did to prevent from having an attack.

He watches as she slowly gets up and walks her plate and drink into the kitchen. Rutger soon follows.

Hearing soft sobs leaving the kitchen causes his speed to rise, seeing her hands holding onto dear life on both sides of the kitchen counter. Her head had fallen in front of her and he could tell her body was shaking as she cried.

"Y/N?" He asks cautiously, causing her head to snap up and wipe her eyes while turning the faucet.

"Um ye-yeah, yeah? What's up?" she says, not turning to face him.

"Turn around."

"I'm washing my plate-"

"Turn around now."

She sighs as she turns off the water, slowly turning to face Rutger. He sees her eyes bloodshot and red, making his chest deflate.

"What's going on?" he asked as he walked over to her to pull her into a tight hug. She wraps her arms around him.

"Nothing it's not a big deal. I'm just being dramatic." she says to soften the blow.

"Clearly it's not if you're this upset. Why're you upset?"

"I just thought I mattered to him," she admits with a hiccup. "I don't get it."

He frowns as he looks down at her. "What do you mean?"

"Luke," she says. "He told me not to worry about doing something for his draft day. Said it was just only going to be him with his family and that was it."

Rutger felt his chest tighten, knowing that Luke had been boasting about wanting his draft party to be a big get together. He talked about it to the team for weeks.

"Oh Y/N," he sighs, hearing her sniffle into his chest.

"What hurts is I know that people can go from people I know to people I don't," she says. "But I never thought he would be one of them. I thought I mattered more than that."

Rutger just lets her cry and word vomit it all out, feeling her body shake in his arms.

"And I feel like shit that I'm crying over this. I just felt like I was important to him. I care so much about him, Rut. I don't even know what to do." she sobs.

His girlfriend walks into the kitchen a frown on her face as she sees her friend sobbing in Rut's arms. She hurries over and takes Y/N into her arms.

"Bring her up into my room for now. I'll come grab you guys in a bit." he mutters to her and she nods, leading Y/N up the stairs. Y/N turns back to Rutger.

"Please Rut," she begs. "Don't tell him anything. Don't ruin his big night. Do that for me please. Make sure the boys do too. I can't do it right now. Please. He deserves this big night to celebrate. I want him happy."

Rutger hesitantly nods before the girls resume leaving. He pulls out his phone, scrolling through his contacts and pressing the call button when he finds who he was looking for.

The phone answers on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey it's Rut. I need some advice."

"Why, what's going on?"

"I think Luke may have fucked up," he says looking back over to where Y/N had once stood in tears. "Yeah I think he fucked up big time."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The friend group was getting worried.

It had been almost an entire two weeks since draft day, and Y/N hadn't been seen since draft night.

Once Rutger finished talking with Quinn, he had gone up to his room to see Y/N was sound asleep in his girlfriend's arms. The next morning when he went to check in on her, she was gone.

Nobody had seen or heard from her since that night, and they were all worried.

Ethan and the other boys were finally back on campus as well, becoming concerned after hearing how Y/N reacted to what had been said.

When they had gone over to her dorm her roommate had said she hadn't been back in a while, causing them to worry more because they didn't know where else she could be.

They knew that she would never miss her classes, but Duke had also pointed out that most of her stuff was online and remote since there were no summer school classes she could take for teaching.

Luke on the other hand had been going insane.

After his draft night, he was concerned not hearing from her. He had received a text message from her on draft night at almost three in the morning.

So proud of you.

That was all she wrote, but she had been silent since.

He became more stressed out when all of the boys had driven out to the lakehouse, only seeing Y/N wasn't with them. She always came with them after classes got done.

"What do you mean you haven't seen her?" he asks.

"I don't know man she's been MIA. Nobody has seen her in days, her roommate said she hasn't been back at her dorm. She isn't answering anyone's calls."

Luke runs his hand through his hair, the other staying planted on his hips. "Well why would she just stop answering anyone? That's not like her at all!"

The boys just shrug, knowing that it was best not to tell him why. Especially after Rutger had told them Y/N specifically begged them to not tell him and to let it be.

"I'm gonna lose my shit." he scoffs with a half-hearted chuckle.

"I don't really think you have the right to be freaked out about this, man." Ethan slips out, getting an elbow to his stomach from Rutger's girlfriend along with a shush.

Luke whips his head around, narrowing his eyes. "What the fuck do you mean, Edwards."

"What I mean, is that you lied to her face." he says.

"Ethan no." Duke says sternly, Ethan scoffs. "No guys, I'm sick of this."

Ethan turns back towards Luke. "You lied to her, Luke. Why would you lie to her? After all, she was your biggest supporter." he admits, making Luke's entire face fall and turn white.

"What?"

"You lied to her about your draft night. You should've just had the balls to say she wasn't invited, man. Not lie and say it was family only."

Luke felt his heart drop to his ass.

He couldn't even say he forgot about that conversation with her, because she had brought up putting something together multiple times.

He didn't even have an excuse for it.

"So if you really think that that didn't break her heart, seeing all those people there, seeing how blatantly you lied to her face about it, then I don't know what to tell you."

Luke stood there silently, rubbing his hand over his mouth. "Why didn't any of you tell me?" he says softly, trying not to explode.

"She begged us not to, Lukey. She didn't want to take away from your big night. She knew how big of a deal it was, and she felt like she shouldn't be making a big deal of it." Rutger explains.

Luke scoffs and shakes his head, looking down at the floor. "She means more than someone calling my name out for a draft pick! You fucking tell me!" he snaps loudly, making the boys all flinch at his tone.

Ethan doesn't budge, but advances towards Luke with his finger pointed at him.

"Then why fucking act like she doesn't matter? Lie to her fucking face and go behind her back for weeks?" Ethan pushes back.

"You better watch yourself Eddy-"

"No, you're not gonna fucking tell me to watch myself! If I'm gonna be pissed off, I'm gonna be pissed of on her behalf because she's choosing not to be! Have some fucking balls Luke!" Ethan rages, getting pulled back from Luke who is flaring just as bad.

"I didn't fucking mean to! I don't know why I did it okay? Is that what you want to fucking hear?" Luke admits loudly, the house going quiet.

"You're a fucking-"

"Enough!"

Rutger's girlfriend shouts out, putting herself between the group and Luke.

She puts her hands up to both sides, pointing over to the group. "You boys need to get a fucking grip! She would not approve of the attack happening right now, as she told me on our way over here to specifically not do that," and she turns to Luke with a finger pointed. "You need to figure out how you're going to fucking explain yourself. I've never seen her this hurt."

Luke narrows his eyes at her. "Wait, wait, wait. You've spoken to Y/N? Today?" he calls out.

She puts her hands down and keeps her composure as she crosses her arms.

"Yes I have. I saw her yesterday-"

"Kayleigh why the fuck-"

"Don't start! She only wanted me knowing because she knew I'd be able to keep my mouth shut!"

"Where is she then?" Luke asks.

Kayleigh hesitated for a moment. "She's home."

"She's home??? As in she's been next door this whole time??" he bursts out, beginning to walk towards his front door.

"Don't even think about going over there right now!" she burst back, causing Luke to stop in his tracks.

"No I need to see her-"

"Luke not now," she warns. "I'm going over there with Ethan. She specifically asked for me to bring him over while you guys are all out. I wasn't even supposed to say anything today, but you gave me no choice as we see."

Luke scoffs. "So you guys are going to go out, sort your shit out as boys, and I'm going to go see her. See if she's ready." she explains before looking at Ethan.

"Let's go."

Ethan nods before following the blonde out the front door and next door.

Meanwhile, Y/N was inside her bedroom with the curtains shut. She hadn't moved, hadn't left her room since she got in two weeks ago.

Her face was puffy, yet also so hollow. She couldn't bring herself to stomach much, always feeling a sickening type of way every time she thought back to Luke.

She felt so hurt. Betrayed. Used. Depressed. She soon felt so much at once that she became numb. Her thoughts were telling her she was being dramatic, insecure, clingy. Anything to invalidate how she felt.

She hadn't changed out of her sweats and oversized tshirt she had gotten home, not feeling the need to do it since she wouldn't leave her house. The motivation to move was hard for her to do. Her hair was knotted, not caring how it looked. She didn't have anyone she cared to impress anymore.

Not that Luke would ever look her way like that.

A few knocks on her door had made her snap out of her thoughts, hearing her door creak open. "Knock, knock." Rutger's girlfriend's voice boomed in softly.

Y/N didn't move. Didn't mutter a word. Didn't show any sign of living except for the breathing of her chest.

"I brought a guest," she announced, Y/N soon seeing Ethan come into view. Y/N's eyes met his, watching his demeanor falter completely as he looked over her face.

"Oh sweetheart." Is all he has to say, causing Y/N to burst into tears that she didn't know she still had.

Ethan immediately climbs into bed next to her and holds her close as she lets out what she could. His eyes look up from Y/N's figure to Kayleigh. The look on his face showed murder in his eyes towards Luke, making the blonde nod to understand she knows.

Once the girl was calm and quiet in Ethan's arms, that was when he chose to speak. "How're you doing? Dumb question, I know." he says, trying to lighten the mood slightly. Y/N stayed still and didn't say anything, just shrugged her shoulders.

"Haven you eaten?"

She shook her head.

"Have you left your room?"

She shakes her head again.

"Have you showered today?"

She shook her head one last time.

Ethan sighs as he hugs her close before pulling away slightly to look down at her.

"This isn't good for you, sweets," he says with sad eyes. "I know you're hurting, I know." he says, rubbing her arm. "But we gotta start somewhere. He's an asshole, and I'm not going to let him ruin your days any longer. I'm going to get you up and moving. Today." he explains, making her freeze which he felt.

"Y/N."

"No."

Her voice is scratchy and rough, but he hears the fire in her voice.

"Y/N don't make me make you."

"You told me to bring Ethan over, love. You should've known he wasn't going to leave till he's got you going." Kayleigh says with a light chuckle.

Y/N huffs, not moving from her spot.

"If you don't get up, I'm making you take a bath in the pool."

Y/N's puffed eyes meet his with a glare.

"You wouldn't."

Ethan gave her daring eyes, and she just glares back at him. "Y/N I don't want him to be the reason you quit. I don't want you giving up period. I love you, but you need to get up. This is the summer before senior year. The one summer you vowed would be our best summer yet, remember?"

Y/N just looks down.

"You deserve the absolute world. I'll be damned if you let Luke's dumbass decisions get in the way of it." He says, his eyes pleading for her to give in.

Y/N's eyes leave his and looks at Kayleigh. She sheepishly nods. "I think he's right, honey. You deserve to make the best out of the summer. We can make it happen." she adds, earning an agreeing hum from Ethan.

Y/N starts to debate in her mind, before sighing.

"Okay."

Ethan's face breaks out into a large grin, soon perking up in her bed. "Good because now I can happily do this without feeling as bad."

"Doing what-"

Before she can argue, Ethan grabs her and throws her over his shoulder and runs out of her room. She's yelling out in protests and hitting his back, ass, shoulders and wherever else she can reach.

"Ethan I swear I will never talk to you again if you do this!"

"Oh you would never! You love me too much!"

"Ethan no! Kayleigh!" she shouts out in hopes the blonde will be on her side.

"I love you I swear, Y/N!" she sings out, earning an awe faced Y/N

Ethan opens the sliding door to Y/N's house while ignoring her protests. "Ethan no, come on! Put me down!" she shouts, Ethan adjusting her in his hold. Now he held her in his arms bridal style, running towards her pool.

"One!"

"Ethan-"

"Two!"

"I swear if you-"

"And three, in we go!"

Before she can argue anymore, she lets out a yelp as Ethan lets out a howl in excitement while jumping in with her in his arms.

As they resurface, Y/N has the biggest pout on her face along with furrowed brows as Ethan is laughing across from her. She splashes him harshly, earning a squeal from the boy as he splashes her back.

He kept splashing her playfully until he finally heard her giggles breakthrough the shouting and cussing at him, making him stop and let her whip her head back at him.

He just smiles in triumph at her. "There's the smile I know." he says before pulling her in for a hug.

Y/N freezes for a second, soon wrapping her arms around him tightly. Grateful she had friends like Ethan and Kayleigh to give her the tough love they did.

Little did she realize that a certain curly-headed blonde stood over in his own yard with a frown on his face at the interaction he watched, wishing he didn't mess up as badly as he did.

He had to think of a way to make it up to her, and think fast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Absolutely not."

"Please Y/N? Everyone misses you and has been worried sick about you. Even if it's a quick visit."

"No I'm not going over there. I can't."

Ethan sighs. "You know you're going to have to face him eventually. He's not going to let it go. He's been going crazy without you."

Y/N just looks at her lap. "I don't think I can face him, Eddy. I don't even know what to say to him."

"Look, as much as I'm absolutely ticked at him, I'm going to also back him up and say he really has been losing his mind without you around." he admits.

Y/N just shrugs her shoulder, picking at her nails. "We all miss you, Y/N/N."

"I know, and I miss you all too. It's just hard for me to walk in like I haven't been MIA."

"I'll be honest, when I went back over there I told them that if I could get you over that, that they need to not bombard you. I know you'd be more uncomfy if they did otherwise."

Ethan leans forward to look at her more seriously. She looks back up at him. "Just try at least. If you can't do it, then you can leave. No questions asked."

Y/N sits on it for a moment, fighting with her mind. Would Luke even want her there? Would he even are she was there?

"Fine. Just for a few minutes."

Ethan smiles warmly at her before helping her up and walking towards the front door to put on their shoes.

The walk over to the Hughes household was silent, Y/N taking quiet deep breaths as they got closer. She felt like her stomach dropped to her ass every step she took, unsure of how to react.

Her nails were being picked at so much in that moment, she was wondering they weren't bleeding yet.

Ethan pushes open the front door, leading her in to go first with him shutting the door shortly behind her. She could hear the soft booming of music going on in the backyard, signaling that the traditional bonfire was up and blazing.

"You doing okay?" Ethan asks, grabbing a drink from the fridge and handing it to her.

She nods slowly as they continue their journey to the back sliding door, trying to hide her shaking hands.

As they get closer to the bonfire, she can see them all laughing and chatting beside each other while roasting marshmallows. Duke is the first to see her figure, doing a double take as he took a sip of his drink. He throws his arms up in the air as he swallows.

"Heyyyy the party's here!" he jokes, knowing that was her go to line whenever she walked in somewhere.

Everyone soon turned around and stared directly at her, soon hearing cheers and warm welcomes coming in as a few of them hurried up to hug her tight.

She smiled a real smile as they all came to hug her tight, her insides not going a million miles a minute anymore. As she goes to sit down next to Kayleigh, the girl side hugs her tightly before returning back into conversation with Duke's girlfriend.

Rutger walks in front of her and squeezes her arm with a relieved look on his face. "So happy to see you again, Y/N/N. Truly." he says with genuine emotion behind his words. She squeezes his hand.

"Missed you too Rut."

He squeezes her arm one more time before walking over towards Ethan and Tyler.

Y/N takes a deep breath before turning her attention to the two girls next to her whom had her join into the conversation, happily beginning to take part in it.

Luke's eyes never left her figure, as it's been taking everything in him to not run up and hug her and tell her how sorry he was. He knew how she was when she needed space. The last thing he wanted to was overwhelm her when Ethan finally got her out of her house for the first time in days.

So he just watched as she interacted with everyone, seeing the longer she stayed, the more comfortable and less tense she became.

He was snapped out of his daze when a hand smacked onto his shoulder, seeing Ethan looking down at him as he took a seat. His eyes going over towards Y/N.

He nods towards her direction as Luke's eyes don't take long to follow. "She's a mess, man." he says softly. "That's the worst I've ever seen her. She wasn't anywhere near that way when Fantilli broke things off with her."

Luke sighs silently. "I don't even know where to start." he says in defeat.

"Admit you messed up. Be honest with her. Own your shit, Luke." he says. "She cares so much about you. That girl is a ride or die type of situation. You don't let girls like her go." he says, slightly pointing towards her.

Luke huffs. "I know. I just don't know if there's any fixing. I think I took it too far."

Ethan shook his head. "She still wants you around. She may want her space right now. But it doesn't mean she doesn't want you trying."

Luke looks at the ground. "I really do care about her. A lot more than I have ever admitted."

"Oh we know. Trust me dude, you're not slick about it." Ethan chuckles. Luke chuckles lightly too, Ethan slapping his back. "Are we good though?" Luke says, and Ethan hums before nodding slowly.

"Yeah we're good," he says, patting Luke's back once more before look at him. "But just know now thing."

Luke looks at him. "Know what?"

"If you don't finally get your head out of your ass," he starts. "I'm swooping in and going after her."

Luke swears his heart stops for a second. Ethan just nods. "Take care of her when you get her, man. When you get her, keep her. Don't try doing anything that may hurt her. She deserves everything life offers." Ethan says as he looks over at Y/N.

She was laughing at something Kayleigh had said, making Luke's heart warm at the sight of seeing the genuine glow in her eyes again.

Luke nods, clenching his jaw. "I got it. I promise I'll take good care of her." he says, Ethan nodding with a pause smile.

"I know you will."

The night carries on, Y/N feeling a little more at ease being around her friends.

She soon gets up from her spot with a long stretch, bending over to the girls. "I'm going to go to the bathroom real quick and get another drink. I'll be back."

The girls nod at her before she walks back up to the Hughes household, the house looking a little different in her eyes. Once she's inside and walks down the hall, she feels her chest going slightly tight again.

As soon as she's finished freshening up she heads over to the kitchen, opening the fridge doors and skims over the drink selection trying to find what her next drink will be.

"Pineapple high noons are in the drawer behind the Coors," a voice perks up. "I hid them because I know how annoyed you get when Duke takes them." Luke says softly, as if he's afraid she's going to disappear.

Y/N just nods while grabbing one, shutting the fridge and turning around.

Luke is leaning against the kitchen island across from her, his hood up on his head, eyes looking tired and a little bloodshot. "I know you like your space," he says as he clears his throat. "But can I just say something? You don't have to say anything or even listen if you don't want to."

Y/N doesn't say a word, she just looks down at her drink and fidgets with the rim.

Luke takes that as his signal to start.

"I want you to know that I never meant to hurt you. Ever. That's the absolute last thing I'd ever want to do to the one person whose opinion I care about the most."

Y/N stays silent. Luke continues.

"I know that based off of my actions, it may seem like the opposite. The truth is I have no excuse as to why I did what I did. I truly think my mind just thought you'd still come regardless. But I was dumb to not make sure you were there. No excuses for it. I wanted you to be the one I ran to hug, to share the moment with. But you weren't there and that's completely my fault. I can sit here and say I wish I could go back in time to change it, but it's too late for that. I can't change what I did, and now I will sit here day after day owning that how I chose to go about this was wrong. It wasn't fair to you after everything you've helped me through."

Luke has slowly made his way closer to her, ever so cautiously.

"You were the one who dragged me by my ear back into that rink when I wanted to quit playing at UMich. You were the one who came and made sure I was awake even if I snoozed my alarms. You were the one who stayed up late with me in the rink to make sure I got the skill right. You were there for it all. And I am the fucking stupidest person for not making sure the one person I needed by my side the most was not there. Party or not." Luke says, tears in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Y/N. I will spend every single day in regret for not fixing my mistakes."

Y/N sits there quietly, biting onto her lip to keep it from quivering.

Luke slowly lifts his hands up to cup her face, his hands shaking as he holds her jawline like it's glass. He lifts her face to look up at him.

"Don't ever think that you don't matter to me. You matter more than words can describe. This isn't how I wanted to start our summer, and that's my fault for creating that divide between us." he says, his face falling at seeing how tired mentally she looked.

"I want to spend it taking you on dates, spending it holding you close by the fire, sitting with you on that boat, getting to tell you how hard I've fallen for you," he admits, her lip quivering. "But now I will spend this entire summer, proving to you how much you matter to me. Proving how much I care that you are in my life. Because not having you here the last two weeks, not having you be there when I called or came back to the Hockey house, seeing what it was like not having you exist in my life is something I don't want to experience again."

Luke was sobbing at this point. He was hoping, praying that this wasn't the end of their path. Their story. He looks back and forth between her eyes, pleadingly and in hopes that she will give him a chance to prove himself that he wanted her. Needed her.

Y/N wasn't sure of how to react. He spilled a lot that she didn't know he felt, let alone knowing he had fallen for her. There were so many emotions running through her mind, she didn't know how she wanted to react.

She was so deeply in love with Luke Hughes, and she wanted to give in so quickly. But her body was fighting it, knowing she needed to still give herself some space to ease back into their routine. She didn't know what to do in that moment.

"I don't know what to say Luke," she whimpers out, her voice not feeling steady. "You cut me deep. I'm hurt."

He nods quickly. "I know. I know I did, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." he mutters to her, seeing her internally battling her thoughts. "Just give me a chance. Give me one chance to prove to you." he begs.

Y/N couldn't just let him go after everything. Everything they've been through together since day one. There are things that they have dealt with that nobody else knows about. She felt so deeply for this boy. The way he looked at her like nobody else was in the room, the way he would never fail to make her laugh, or the way he'd always find a way to help her with her presentation for student teaching. There were the big things and the littlest of minimal things he has done that she knew there was more to their story.

Y/N slowly brings a hand to his cheek, wiping the nonstopfilowing tears that were falling. He lets his face burrow into her touch.

"You have a lot of redeeming to do, Luke," she starts. "But I'm willing to try and give you a chance to prove it."

Luke feels like his chest could breathe again. Like she was the one giving him the air in his lungs. He nods continuously, pulling her into a hug.

"I promise, Y/N. I promise." he whispers to her. Y/N didn't have to ask him what he was promising to her.

She just knew.

[mamaestapa]

Pretty in Pink|| E.Edwards x reader x R.McGroarty

• pairing: Ethan Edwards x reader x Rutger McGroarty

• summary: An innocent time modeling lingerie for Ethan and Rutger turns into a not so innocent night

• word count: 4.1k

• warnings: SMUT, threesome, unprotected p in v sex, oral (m & f receiving), digital sex (fingering) taking panties off with teeth, foreplay, praise kink, lots of hair pulling, mature language, lingerie

series masterlist

"Are you ready?" You called from behind the closed door of Rutgers bathroom. You held your ear up to the door, waiting to hear a response. You heard someone clear their throat before responding.

"We're ready for you baby!"

It was Ethan.

"Good," you called back, "No peaking."

You took a deep breath as you did one last look in the mirror. You fluffed your hair up a bit and adjusted your breasts before unlocking the bathroom door. You opened the door, the creaking sound filling the bedroom and making the boys perk their heads up. You put your manicured hands on your hips, posing for the boys.

"Okay you can open them." You said, smirking slightly as you looked at the hockey players sitting on the edge of the bed. Ethan and Rutger took their hands away from their eyes, letting them fall to the bed. Their eyes landed on your lingerie clad figure. The way your breasts looked in the cups lined with lace and the little white bowtie on the waist band of your red lace panties had Ethan and Rutger already going crazy.

"What do you think?" you asked as you did a few different poses, showing them all the angles of your new lingerie. "Do we like the red?"

Rutgers eyes trailed down your body. The tip of his tongue rested against the side of his mouth as he nodded slowly. His blue eyes filled with lust as he scanned them back up your body.

"It looks amazing." Rutger breathed out, already feeling the effects of you. Ethan nodded in agreement, his eyes stuck to your breasts as he spoke, "I love the red."

"Good," you hummed, "I have another one. Let me go put it on." You sent a wink to the boys before turning around and walking back into the bathroom. You made sure to add a sultry sway to your hips as you walked just to get your boys going.

Over the weekend, you went out to lunch and did some shopping at the mall with a few of your friends. Victorias Secret was having a sale on their lingerie sets, so you and your friends decided to check out what they had. Since you and Ethan have added Rutger into your relationship and sex life, you figured you'd splurge and buy some new sets for the boys to appreciate. So here you are now, modeling off your lingerie for the two.

You took the red set off and put on a different one. This one was a darker red, sort of like a maroon color. The bra was completely lace and slightly see through, giving Ethan and Rutger a little peak at your hard nipples. The panties for the set were an all lace, high leg thong. The boys were going to love this one.

You came out of the bathroom, smirking slightly as you heard a soft "Oh fuck" leave Rutgers mouth at the sight of you in the maroon lingerie. You walked up to the boys, letting them get a good look at the lingerie set.

"You like this one?"

Ethan's breath hitched as he was eye level with your hard pink nipples poking through the slightly see through lace material. Rutger huffed out a breath from beside him, his adams apple bobbing in his throat as he swallowed thickly. Rutger lifted his hips slightly off the bed as the bulge in his pants appeared.

You looked so hot. You always looked so hot.

"I love this one. Red is your color." Ethan replied, wetting his lips as he hesitantly tore his eyes off your breasts. He just wanted to attach his lips to the those sensitive buds poking through your bra. You smiled sweetly at your boyfriend, "Thanks Eddy." You turned to Rutger, rolling your shoulders forward just a little bit to push your chest out.

You decided a little teasing wouldn't hurt...

"What about you Rut?"

Rutger wet his bottom hip as he rubbed his hands on his shorts. There was a pink tint on his cheeks as his eyes locked on your breasts before bringing them up to your eyes.

"I love it." he practically breathed out. You were getting him extremely worked up just from showing off your new lace outfits. You flashed him the same smile you did at Ethan, thanking the blonde boy sweetly before you sauntered back to the bathroom. The hockey players held their breaths as they watched with lust filled eyes, you leaning against the frame of the bathroom door.

"I think you'll really like these next two." You purred, shooting them a wink before retreating into the bathroom and shutting the door behind you. Once the boys heard the door click shut, they both let out the breaths they were holding.

"Wow," Rutger breathed out, "she looks amazing." Ethan nodded in agreement, "Fuck yeah she does."

Rutger shook his head as he thought about you coming out in another revealing set. Just thinking about you in more lingerie made him even harder. "I just want to rip it off of her."

"Be patient Rut," Ethan said as he pulled at his shorts, trying to take the pressure off his growing hard-on, "I'm sure you'll get your chance."

The door opened again, revealing you in a navy blue set with a little yellow bow tying the lace cups together. The panties matched the bra, a little yellow bow in the middle of the elastic waistband. Now this set was Ethan and Rutgers favorite.

"Fuck Y/n." Both boys groaned out at the same time. You chuckled softly at their reactions, deciding to give them a closer a look. You played with the ends of your hair as you walked up to the boys, averting your gaze back and forth between Ethan and Rutger. You stood between both of them and placed a hand on each of their thighs. Rutger let out a breath as he lifted his hips again. Ethan threw his head back as he swallowed thickly.

It was getting very hard for them to contain themselves.

"I got this one because it was Michigan colors," you said, smirking at the boys, "thought you might appreciate that." Ethan pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as he eyed your lingerie clad figure.

"We do pretty girl, we do." Rutger replied, wincing when your hand brushed across his erection. You knew exactly what you were doing to them. You bit your lip as you took your hands away from their thighs. Rutger reached out for your hand, giving you a pleading look.

"Don't take it off."

You smirked at his reaction. You squeezed his large hand gently as you spoke, "I have to show you my last set."

"No you don't." Rutger said his breath hitching before he spoke, "You can surprise us with it another time. Let Eddy and I take this one off for you..." He reached for the waistband of your panties, your arousal growing as he did so. Ethan reached over and swatted Rutgers hand away from your lower belly.

"Be patient Rut," he eyed you as he spoke, "Let our girl show off her pretty sets." You leaned down, giving Ethan a good view of your cleavage as you placed a hand on his thigh. You gave it a gentle squeeze as you spoke.

"Thanks Eth."

You pulled your hand away, glancing over your shoulder at the boys on the bed as you walked into the bathroom to change into your fourth and final set. You knew the boys were growing impatient, both of them wanting to rip off your new lingerie each time you stepped out of the bathroom. While the teasing was fun, you'd let them have their way with you after modeling this pink set.

Ethan and Rutger were sitting on the bed, both of them growing restless as they waited for you to come out of the bathroom in your final set. The longer they waited, the harder they got. Rutger needed to touch you and Ethan desperately needed to feel your touch. Rutgers breath hitched when the bathroom door opened. You slowly walked out wearing baby pink all lace lingerie. A small pink rose was in the middle of both the bra and panties, adding to the delicate look of this set.

Rutger was a sucker for you in pink.

You put your hands on your hips as you modeled off the lingerie, "This one may be my favorite." You said as you turned around to show them the view from behind. Ethan groaned as the pressure from his pants was starting to become too much. Rutger had to hold himself back from letting out a moan at the sight of your ass in the pink lace cheeky panties. You turned around, eyeing your boyfriend and his best friend as you sauntered over to them. Your eyes trailed down to the tents in their shorts.

Your plan worked.

"So," you said with a smirk, "about you taking this off of me..." You reached up and pulled down the strap of your bra, letting it hand down as you put your hands on Ethan and Rutgers thighs. Before you even had the chance to blink, Rutger's lips were attached to yours and he had you flipped onto your back on top of his bed. You moaned into his lips, bringing your hand up to the nape of his neck and pulling him closer to you. Your breathing was heavy as you pulled your mouth away from his.

"You're wearing too many clothes," you panted out as you looked at Ethan and Rutger, "both of you."

"Then let's do something about that pretty girl." Rutger murmured against your lips. He sat up from hovering over you, eyeing you as he crossed his arms over his torso and pulled his black t-shirt off. Your breath hitched in the back of your throat as your eyes gazed over his toned body.

"You're so hot Rut."

Rutger leaned down and kissed your neck, the vibration of his voice sending jolts of pleasure through your body, "Not as hot as you, baby." You bit your lip as Rutger began to suck harshly at your neck. Your nails clawed at his back as his lips moved against your sensitive skin. You turned your head to the side so you could look at Ethan and give Rutger easier access to your neck.

"You gonna join us or just stand there and watch?" You asked as your breathing grew uneven. Ethan smirked at you as he pulled his shirt off the same way Rutger did. Your eyes lit up at the sight of Ethans toned torso. Once he was shirtless, he immediately attached his lips to yours. His hungry kisses turned into his tongue begging for entrance. You parted your lips, giving your boyfriend access. You moaned into Ethans mouth. The feeling of his tongue fighting yours and Rutgers teeth nipping at your neck had you feeling overwhelmed with pleasure and anticipation. Rutger pulled himself away from your neck, making Ethan pull away from you too. You whined softly at the loss of contact. Rutger glanced at Ethan, almost seeming to silently ask for permission to do something. A smirk grew on Ethan's lips as he gave Rutger a curt nod. Rutger did the thing all guys do where he pushed his tongue against his cheek as his pretty blue eyes grew dark with lust. Ethan sat down on the bed next to you, that smirk still plastered on his face as he looked down at you.

You weren't sure what they had planned, but boy were you ready.

Rutger lowered his head so that he was now lined up with your lace clothed core that was practically dripping just from the sight of him and Ethan. He kept his blue eyes locked on yours as he bit down on the waistband of your pink panties. He slowly started to pull the fabric away from your waist. You lifted your hips off the mattress, giving Rutger just enough room to slide your panties down your legs with his mouth. Your moth gaped open in both shock and amusement.

You couldn't believe what you were seeing.

Not only could you not believe what you were seeing, but you loved what you were seeing. You've never seen Rutger or Ethan act this way before. Something about the hungry look in Rutgers eyes as he stared at your aching, dripping womanhood made you feel another level of turned on you've never quite felt before. Rutger ripped your panties out of his mouth and threw them off to the side where the pile of his and Ethans clothes was. He lowered his head back down to your dripping core, his tongue instantly lapping at your glistening folds, not even giving you a chance to prepare yourself.

"Oh- fuck..."you whimpered out loudly as Rutger ate you out like a starved man. Rutger chuckled against your folds, the vibration sending what felt like an electric shock through your body as it made you jolt. Rutger brought his veiny hands up to your thighs, keeping your legs spread open as he buried his tongue into you. He moaned against your core as the taste of your sweet juices hit his taste buds.

Ethan smirked at the sight next to him as he palmed himself through his boxers. He taught Rutger well, very well.

"You taste so good, Y/n." Rutger praised as he took a hand off of your thigh, placing it onto your womanhood and letting his thumb rub circles against your clit as he continued to lap at your soaked core. The feeling of both Rutgers tongue and fingers sent you over the edge, turning you into a whimpering and quivering mess in no time. You bucked your hips slightly as Rutgers pace quickened. His jaw clenched with each swipe of his tongue and the muscles in his forearm flexed with each stroke of his thumb. Your chest heaved as he licked a slow stripe up your core.

"Fuck Rut, don't stop..."

You brought your hands down to the back of Rutgers head, gripping the ends of his dark blonde hair as you pushed him closer to your center. Rutger panted against you, feeling your walls clench around his tongue as you grew close to your first orgasm of the night. You let out a whimper as Rutger pressed down on your lower belly with his hand. Ethan watched your body carefully beside you. He knew you were getting close from the way the your chest rose and fell, and how your hips were bucking every time his teammates tongue swirled over your clit.

"That's it baby," Ethan praised, "Let Rutger taste you."

You let out a few more whimpers, moaning Rutgers name in pleasure as you felt the familiar warmth pool in your lower belly. Soon enough, your chest was heaving as it all came crashing down and you were overcome with complete bliss. You swore your eyes rolled to the back of your head as Rutger lapped up your juices with his tongue, pulling his face away from your soaked core. He licked his lips dry, making sure to get every last drop of you into his mouth. Ethan smirked as he watched you come down from your orgasmic high, your heaving chest soon going back to its normal rising and falling.

"I don't think I've ever seen you cum that hard." He smirked, a sense of pride in his tone as he spoke. "That was hot."

“S all from Rut.” You replied, still trying to catch your breath and recover from your climax.

Rutger pulled you up into a sitting position before crashing his lips onto yours. You wrapped your arms around his neck, trailing your hands down his back as your nails dug into his skin once. You could taste yourself on his soft lips. Ethan came up behind you on the bed and buried his face into the crook of your neck. He sucked at the fresh love bites Rutger had left from earlier, turning them a deeper shade of purple. You pulled yourself away from Rutgers mouth, his teeth tugging at your bottom lip as you detached your soft lips from his. You threw your head back and whimpered softly as both boys started to leave more hickeys on your neck.

“Mmm,” you moaned out as you put a hand on Ethan and Rutgers heads. You ran your manicured nails through their locks of messy hair. Ethan squeezed your hip as he licked a stripe up your neck from your collarbone. You shuddered at the feeling and bit back a moan of pleasure. Ethan pulled away from your neck first. He gently pushed you down on the bed, letting himself and Rutger hover over your body.

“Good girl.” Ethan purred as he eyed your figure. Ethan looked over at Rutger, nudging him with his shoulder as he spoke, "You can have her this time Rut. I need to feel those pretty lips on my cock."

You whimpered at your boyfriends words and arched your back slightly just from the mere thought of Rutger being inside of you. Rutger smirked down at you as he responded, "Sounds good to me Eddy."

Rutger bit his lip in anticipation. He felt like the luckiest guy in the world right now. He needed you so bad. Needed to feel your walls clench around him as he pounds into you.

Rutger got up from the bed and removed his boxers from his waist. Once the boxers were removed from his waist, Rutgers impressive length sprang free and hit his stomach. Ethan did the same, his throbbing cock springing free from its restraint. The sight of their manhood never failed to impress you or turn you on even more.

“God Rut," you moaned the blonde name, "I need you inside of me right now.” Rutger smirked as he moved positions on the bed to give himself easier access for you, “I’m all yours, pretty girl.”

Ethan got behind you on the bed, positioning himself above you so you could have access to his throbbing cock. Rutger looked down at you as his eyes filled with lust.

“Hey Rut," Ethan said, the smirk evident in his town, "she looks so pretty like this doesn't she?"

“She does,” Rutger mused as he brought a hand down to your head, stroking your cheek with his thumb before putting it in your mouth, “The prettiest.”

“Mmm.” You moaned out breathlessly as the butterflies swarmed in your tummy at their praises. Both boys asked if you were OK before they made any further movements. You gazed up at Ethan as you you bit down on your bottom lip. You placed a hand on one of Ethan's thick, muscular thighs, spreading them apart as you slowly brought your mouth over the tip of head dripping with pre-cum. Ethan closed his eyes tightly at the feeling of your lips on his dick. You pulled them off with a pop as your tongue teased his slit, licking the pre-cum off of the red tip.

The feeling of your soft lips and your tongue toying with his tip made Ethan throw his head back, "Fuck," he let out a throaty moan as you slowly took more of him into your mouth. Rutger reached out and gripped your hips with his skilled hands to steady you as he pushed himself into your slick entrance.

"Shit, sweetheart-," Ethan grunted out as you spit on his dick, jerking him off with your lips still around him. You bobbed your head and moaned loudly around Ethan's large cock as Rutger ruthlessly thrusted into you. "You're doing so good," Rutger praised from behind you as you gagged slightly from the feeling of your boyfriends tip hitting the back of your throat,

"Taking both of us so well pretty girl." Rutger said through gritted teeth as a breathy moan fell from his lips.

Rutgers husky voice and the praises he muttered down at you made you moan around Ethan. Ethan brought his hands down to your chin, pushing your head closer to his manhood. You arched your back slightly so you could reach him better. Ethan bucked his hips towards you at the feeling of your lips vibrating against his sensitive, hard cock. Rutger brought a hand around to your chest, harshly kneading your left breast as his thumb and index finger pinched your sensitive, hard nipple through the pink fabric of your lingerie.

"Fuck," Rutger grunted out as your walls clenched around his cock, "You feel amazing." His grunts mixed with the sounds of all of your moans and skin hitting skin. Rutgers thrusts grew deeper, the feeling of his tip hitting your g-spot repeatedly made your body jolt with pleasure. You panted against Ethan, making the boys thighs clench and legs shake. “Shit, shit,” Ethan whimpered out as his eyes clenched shut. He brought his hands up to his messy brown hair, “Fuck, faster Y/n.”

Rutger continued to fuck you senseless as you picked up the pace with your boyfriend.

"That lingerie had me going crazy Y/n," Rutger breathed out as your walls tightened against him, "you have no idea." He finished though gritted teeth as you let out a loud whimper.

The sounds and smell of sex filled Rutgers room like it has the past three nights. You, Rutger and Ethan were moaning and whimpering messes as the pace quickened even more between the three of you. You felt the coil grow, threatening to snap with each thrust of Rutgers hips as you a familiar warmth pool in your lower belly.

You were so close.

"I'm so close." You whined as Rutger picked up the pace of his thrusts. Your walls were clenching harsher around his cock and he knew you were indeed close. Rutger groaned softly as he nodded, “Me too.”

His broad, toned chest heaved up and down as he panted from the anticipation of his orgasm.

Ethan whimpered loudly above you, his thighs clenching with each bob of your mouth. You could tell he was growing closer to his release as you felt his cock twitch in your mouth. Ethans face contorted into a look of pleasure. He let out a few grunts as he came undone in your mouth. “Fuck .” He panted as spurts of his hot cum filled your mouth.

You swallowed every drop of him instantly as you pulled your mouth off of your boyfriend on his knees behindyou. You never failed to bring Ethan into a state of complete bliss. Whether it was with your mouth or your tight walls, you always got Ethan to be overcome with pleasure. As Ethan recovered from his orgasm, you and Rutger continued until the all the built up pleasure came crumbling down.

"That's it," Rutger pleaded, his chest heaving as he panted, "cum for me sweetheart." He continued to pound into you, making sure you could feel each thrust. The feeling of his large cock filling you up made moan in pleasure. You came down harshly on Rutger as you loudly moaned mixtures of his and Ethan's names. Your chest heaved up and down as you saw stars from the orgasm your boyfriends best friend just gave you. Rutger reached his climax shortly after you. He was a moaning mess as he gripped onto your thighs. Spurts of his hot cum filled your insides before spilling out and onto the sheets. .

After all of your breathing was even and became regular once again, the boys plopped down on the bed next to you. The three of you were covered in sweat and cum as you laid on Rutgers bed.

It was the perfect combination.

"You should model lingerie for us more often." Ethan breathed out as his chest still heaved slightly. Rutger nodded in agreement beside you.

"I agree. You looked so pretty in pink."

You giggled softly in between your boys making a mental note to wear your pink lingerie set more often if it meant they'd fuck you like this.

"Noted," you replied, "I'll make sure to wear the pink all the time just for you two."

hi loves!!

i apologize for any errors, i didn’t proofread this too much lol

but i hope you enjoyed this! i’m having so much fun with this au. i never expected a whole universe to be created from one smut i posted, but here we are! i love it ;)

i will be posting the sequel digital animal at some point too, so this fic takes place after the sequel. i was just too impatient and i had to write this one while i still had the motivation

thank you so much for all the love and support with this series/au! it means so much to me🤍 all of your asks and ideas you’ve sent in have kept me motivated and excited to work on this series, so please keep them coming! i’ll literally write about and answer any idea you have

i hope you all have an amazing day. i love you all sooo much🫂🤍

[patosduck]

Like it’s so cold but no snow

[sweetdispatch]

You left me - E. Edwards

masterlist pairing: Ethan Edwards x fem!reader summary: Ethan left you after sex just to see his friends and this made you question your whole relationship warning: NSFW, graphic sex (+18), negative self talk, swear words

It was an evening when you heard the ring bell. You saw Ethan who arrived at your door after a win. Without saying a word, he pulled you into a kiss. He grabbed your thighs and lifted your body like you weighed nothing. He dragged you into your bedroom and started undressing. You enjoyed it when he was confident in his moves. You laid on the bed and watched him taking his clothes off. 

Ethan hovered on top of you and entered you. No foreplay, nothing. It was raw but still an enjoyable feeling. He knew you too well to know that you will be wet by his actions and didn’t have to wait till you’ll be ready for his dick. His thrusts were hard, you could tell that he needed to get rid of his adrenaline after the game. 

The tempo felt rushed but it wasn't anything new for you. After games, this is how the sex between you and Ethan looked like. Your hands were running on his back. Meanwhile his hands were steady on your hips. He spread your legs wider to have a better entrance. You moaned at this new angle. 

Ethan could feel that you’re gonna cum any moment. Your walls were clenching around his length. His hand went down to circulate your pussy and help you cum. The orgasm hit you and soon after, he cum too. He laid next to you and pulled you into a kiss and stood up. You noticed him dressing up and looked confused at him. 

“You’re not staying tonight?” You asked him. 

“No, I’m going out with the boys to celebrate” Ethan told you when he zipped his pants. He placed a kiss on your forehead. “I’ll be back later, I love you” 

“Don’t bother” You told him and stood up to go to the bathroom. 

Ethan looked at you but you already went to the bathroom. He shrugged it off and left your apartment. You heard the door closing and started crying. You felt used by him. You thought that he treats you seriously but this showed you that he only sees sex in you. You’ve been dating for six months and believed that this is something real but currently you felt like a sex doll for him. 

You spent almost 30 minutes under the shower wondering what the hell just happened. You couldn't believe that Ethan treated you like that. When you finally left the bathroom, you went into the kitchen to grab some water. You realised that he didn’t even check on you and how you’re feeling after the sex. 

As you told him, Ethan didn’t show up for the night but you couldn’t care less. You decided to give him silent treatment. You didn’t want to hear from him. You felt dirty because of him. All you wanted was to cut him off your life but you couldn’t. You were hopefully in love with him. 

Ethan called you the next day to take you out for dinner but you never answered your phone. He was confused because this wasn’t like you. Even when you couldn’t answer the phone, you always called him back but this day this didn’t happen. You were ignoring every phone call and every message from him. 

You needed a space from him. Your priority was to rethink everything and see if this relationship is going somewhere else or it’s just sex. You started questioning every i love you you heard from Ethan. Nothing felt real for you after the way he treated you. The past half of a year with him was magical but this night completely changed your point of you. 

You started feeling insecure about yourself. You were questioning your behaviour. You felt like only your body is worth the attention but not you. You didn’t tell your friends about your worries. You preferred to try to deal with it by yourself. Ethan tried the whole time to reach you but you were dead silent. 

You were thankful that Ethan wasn’t in the city. He was out on a roadie and couldn’t show up at your door. This was driving him insane. He felt like something bad happened to you and he wasn’t there to help you. It felt like you completely disappeared and there was no sign from you. He couldn’t understand what happened. 

When Ethan got back, he immediately drove to your place. He needed to check on you and see you. He was knocking at your door like crazy but you didn’t open him. He didn’t give up, he was pounding at the door and finally, after 10 minutes you opened them. What he saw broke his heart. Your eyes were red from crying and your face was glowing from the tears. 

“It’s alright baby, I’m here to help you” Ethan tried to hug you but you took a step back. 

“You can help me by leaving” You told him and walked further into the apartment. 

“What did I do wrong?” Ethan was shocked by your words.

“You can’t be that dumb” You looked at him and saw that he was clueless. “Let me remind you. You fucked me like a cheap whore and left me to go out with the guys” You told him and crossed your arms on your chest. 

“That’s the reason why you didn’t talk with me?” Ethan asked you. 

“Yes” You raised your voice. “I felt like your personal sex doll. Like only my body is worth the attention. You didn’t check if I’m doing alright. You just arrived, fucked me and left like I was just a shag and not someone you apparently love” 

“Look, I’m sorry that it turned out this way…” Before Ethan could finish, you stopped him. 

“Save it. You can’t justify yourself in this situation” You sighed and Ethan stood in the same spot not knowing what to say. “I never had problems with my confidence but now? Now, I feel so worthless thanks to you. I feel like I’m not an interesting person, like I’m only good for sex” 

“You know that’s not true” Ethan tried to come closer but you stopped him. 

“I don’t know anything now. I don’t even know if the last six months were real. I feel like you were lying to my face that you love me just to get to my panties” Silent tears were rolling down your face. 

“I never lied. I love you with everything in me. I fucked up badly and I’m taking responsibility for that. I never wanted to make you feel this way. I should be the guy who’s boosting your confidence and not dragging you down” Ethan tried again to come closer and this time you let him. He placed hands on your cheeks to see your face. He saw the pain in your eyes. “I’m so sorry for this. I know what I did wrong and it was lame to leave you like that. I’m so fucking sorry love” 

“I don’t know if I can trust you anymore” You told him truthfully. 

“I understand that but if you let me have another chance, I promise to be a better man for you. The guy you deserve” Ethan told you and you went silent. You were thinking about his words for a minute. 

“I’m willing to give you another chance but on my terms” You said firmly. 

“Of course” Ethan smiled softly. 

“I want to take things slowly and not to rush it. I need to see that you meant the words you’re saying” You told him and Ethan nodded his head. “And I don’t want to have sex for now. I felt dirty after that night,not loved” 

“That’s fine” Ethan told you and pulled you into a hug. “I’m sorry for my behaviour and thank you for another chance. I promise not to waste it and prove to you that I love you because I do. Can I kiss you?” He asked unsure. 

You looked at him and kissed him. As much as you hated him for the situation, you had feelings for Ethan. You were glad that he understood your point and didn’t argue that he did nothing wrong. You knew this is a new start for your relationship and hoped that this time, he won’t do anything stupid and fulfill his words. 

Ethan knew it’s gonna be a long road for him to fix this mess he created. He was mad at himself for making you feel this way. He couldn’t erase the image of the pain he saw in your eyes. He regretted that night but he couldn't turn back time. All he could do now was to prove to you his love.

[pucking-rowdy]

[2.9k]

blowing smoke (1/?)

pairing: luke hughes x childhood best friend!reader, ethan edwards x fem!reader summary: things have never changed since knowing luke. a quiet shift in your dynamic has you falling into the arms of his teammate, much to luke's dismay. now you have to decide which one you want more. ethan or luke?

warnings: underage drinking, drunk dry humping notes: this part is pretty ethan heavy, but trust luke will get some love soon!! luke hughes stop being a dummy ur in love with ur best friend

part two | part three

unedited

the smell of the lake house never changed. in your nearly twelve years of being invited up during the warm, michigan summers, the smell never changed. the smell of sunscreen lingering from ellen hughes' attempts to save you from the pains of sun exposure. the smell of hotdogs singeing on the grill as jim got distracted by whatever game was playing on the tv. the smell of jack's overwhelming cologne that he swore "got the ladies going," whatever that means.

of course, now, at nearly twenty, there was no ellen chasing you and the boys around with a can of spf 50, quinn was the culprit of burnt hotdogs, and jack's cologne offended your nostrils more than ever. nevertheless, nothing changed.

luke hughes had been your best friend since the first grade. he was a quiet kid, smaller than most of the other boys in your grade, and he generally had trouble making friends. that was until you, as rambunctious and loud as a seven-year-old could be, found him crying under the playground slide, nursing a scraped knee. you had walked him to the nurse's office, hushing his fears with solemn swears to never leave his side, your pinky wrapped around his in oath. of course, you held true to your promise, arguing with the nurse as she attempted to send you back to class because you were nothing if not a pinky promise keeper.

after that day, luke remained glued to your side. he followed wherever you'd lead.

middle school was no different. you'd spend your evenings and weekends at the hughes' house, teaming up against jack and quinn for a game of mini sticks in the basement, or at the rink, tucked under a blanket with ellen hughes as you watched the boys play.

things didn't change. even now, enrolled at umich, you spent your evenings and weekends at the hockey house, teaming up against adam and mark for a game of beer pong, or at the rink, tucked under a blanket with some of your girls as you watched the guys on the ice.

of course, luke was a bit different now. he'd hit a growth spurt in high school, sending him heads above you. he was a bit thicker now, gaining muscle from all his time spent prepping for hockey season. he was still quiet, but he didn't struggle to make friends. people seemed to flock to him, whether it be for his nhl star brothers or that quiet charm he seemed to possess.

the lake house is alive with energy as everyone scatters about. so many friends had tagged along this year that you were starting to lose track. quinn had opted to bring some of his buddies from vancouver, jack, as always, invited trevor, cole, and alex along, and you and luke invited some of the umich boys, as well as your good friend, emma.

you're snapped out of your thoughts as the backdoor slams and ethan edwards dramatically drops the cooler he'd been carrying onto the deck. he wipes a bead of sweat from his face, panting.

ethan was one of your closest friends. you'd met through luke, of course, and hit it off almost immediately. if you weren't with luke, there was a good chance you'd be with ethan.

"man, if only i had someone to help me carry this down to the dock," he gives an exaggerated sigh, glancing over at you. you bite back a grin, staying quiet. he continues, "you know, someone really kind and helpful, and lowkey kinda hot-"

you laugh, cutting him off, "alright, alright. i get it. you get that side, i'll get this one."

as you grab the handle, ethan lets out a dramatic sigh of relief, "god, you're the best. i could kiss you on the mouth."

you snort, huffing as you pick up the cooler, "don't."

ethan grins and nods, "yes ma'am."

you make it halfway to the docks before a hand lands on your back, snatching your side of the cooler. you let out a breath, wringing out your hand from the ache of the heavy cooler.

"i got it," luke grins down at you, an easy smile that has you matching it immediately, your stomach turning in unfamiliar knots.

you huff in faux exasperation, but the grin on your face gives you away, "i had that."

luke nods, "i know, but now i've got it."

he eyes your hoodie and shorts, a soft frown pulling at his lips. "you know quinn said if we weren't ready by ten, he was leaving us on the dock."

you shoot him a look, "no, he said if you weren't ready. quinn wouldn't leave me, i'm his favorite." luke huffs, hip bumping you. ethan sighs, struggling to keep hold of the cooler.

"yeah, yeah. we get it. you're the golden child. now, if we don't get this cooler down to the dock, my arm is gonna fall off."

﹌

the boat is crowded. even with a few of the boys staying back at the house, you can't find anywhere to sit that doesn't make you feel smushed between two hockey players. finally, getting tired of watching you roam, jack pulls you down between him and luke right as quinn starts up the engine. you huff, your thighs sticky as they're trapped between the brothers'. jack's cologne floods your senses, and you make a mental note to buy him something more tolerable for christmas this year.

eventually, the boat lulls at mid-lake and the boys filter out, doing flips and tricks off the sides and into the cool water. you strip your shirt off, moving to the back of the boat to lay out across the seats for a bit.

you're half-conscious, the sun beating down on your back as you listen to the boys mess around in the water. you jump at the feeling of water droplets hitting your back and huff as you're casted in shadow.

as you glance up, you're greeting by ethan's wide grin. his hair, soaked with lake water, drips onto your back. "you're blocking my sun."

ethan just laughs, "why aren't you in the water? we're gonna play chicken."

you hum, letting your eyes flutter shut. "just wanna lay here."

ethan's quiet. he nods, moving to cram in next to you. you huff, scooting over, "what're you doing?"

he waves off some of the guys who are asking if he's playing before turning back to you. "laying with you," he says it as if it's the most casual thing in the world, as if your ass isn't pressed right up against him in the tight squeeze of the boat seats.

you give him a look, "i thought you were playing chicken?" ethan shrugs and the movement of his shoulders causes your arms to move as well. "i don't have a partner."

you laugh, nodding over to the boy perched on the side of the boat, "trevor could've been your partner."

ethan laughs, "zegras is cool, but i don't think i want his legs around my head."

you bark out a laugh and ethan does too. "around your head? i don't think you're playing chicken right."

"hey, do you wanna-" luke stops, his eyes flickering between you and ethan. his eyebrows draw together as he analyzes the way you're pressed together in tight boat seats. "oh, uh, nevermind. you look...busy."

you sit up a bit, straightening your top, "what's up, lukey?"

he grimaces a bit. "i was gonna ask you to be my partner, but it's all good. i'll ask emma." you ignore the way your chest grows tight at the thought of your friend perched on luke's shoulders, his strong hands wrapped around her thighs and her hands tangled into his curls as she fights for balance. you swallow thickly, nodding. "oh, yeah, okay."

he heads off, a bit quicker than needed, and you lay back down with ethan. he frowns, noting your odd expression, "you good?"

you nod, turning to face ethan as you attempt to drown out emma's squeals and luke's loud laughter.

﹌

the rest of your time at the lake house seems to be spent similarly. it seems that every time you go looking for luke, he's wrapped up in emma. he saves her a seat on the boat, your seat. he helps her practice her swing at the golf course. hell, he even helps her to bed one night after she's had too much to drink.

to make matters worse, emma comes to you, giggling and gossiping about how nice luke is, how much she likes him.

to soothe the ache in your heart that comes with missing your best friend, you latch onto ethan, spending most of your days in his company. it's not like he minds, the contrary, in fact. he eats up the attention. just like luke, he's saving you a seat on the boat, helping you practice your swing, and refilling your drink when it's empty.

the summer comes to an end all too soon. quinn and his friends return to vancouver, jack returns to jersey, and you and your friends return to umich for a brand new semester.

it's a welcome return, and you're optimistic that being back in ann arbour will heal whatever awkwardness is festering between you and luke.

the hockey house is different than the lake house. it's loud and rowdy, whereas the lake house aways emits a sense of peace and comfort. it's a mess and frat-like. you don't dare slip your shoes off until you're in the comfort of someone's bedroom.

nevertheless, it's become a second home, an escape from the cramped dorm-life you've grown to resent. you've never felt unwelcome there, often heading over to hang out whether luke was home or not.

this time, rather than being perched in luke's bed, watching him study plays or notes, you find yourself tucked away in ethan's. there's a respectful amount of distance between you as ethan scrolls through movies on the tv. despite being attached at the hip, you'd kept everything relatively platonic. ethan didn't make any moves, which you couldn't tell if you were grateful for or not.

ethan speaks up, breaking the quiet, "you're coming to the party on friday, yeah?"

"i didn't know you guys were throwing this weekend."

ethan finally glances over at you, bewildered. "luke didn't tell you?"

you wince.

"we haven't really..." you trail off, avoiding his gaze. ethan nods slowly, letting out a soft "oh." he doesn't push the subject, which you mentally thank him for.

"well, yeah. you should come. won't be much of a party without you."

you snort. "what? so i can keep the corner company?"

ethan sends you a light glare, "hey, you're our best mixologist. don't make me put mark on drinks duty." you giggle, cringing at the thought of whatever concoction mark would come up with.

"seriously. you should come. for the good of the community. "

you sigh, hesitating. the pleading look in his eyes makes the decision for you. "yeah, okay. i'll get here early and help set up."

ethan grins, slinging an arm over your shoulder and tugging you into his side, pressing play on the cheesy romcom he's picked, "you're a dream."

he doesn't let you go, pressing a quick kiss to the top of your head as you engross yourselves in the movie.

﹌

you push your way through the crowd of bodies, letting out a breath of relief as you make it to the kitchen. the music booms and blares from the large speakers dylan had rented earlier that day. you pour yourself another drink, lighting up as ethan wanders into the kitchen.

"eddy!" you cheer, slinging your arms around him. your drink sloshes and spills a little down his back. he grimaces, but doesn't say anything, grinning down at you.

"oh, you're drunk."

you nod, handing him a drink, "and you need to catch up."

it's not long before you're both plastered, grinding to the music that's blaring through the living room. ethan's hands are snug on your waist as your ass pushes back against him. across the room, luke watches, an ache in his chest. his arm is wrapped tight around emma's shoulders. the rest of the guys around him laugh and jest. "eddy finally got her, huh?" mark grins, watching the two of you dance. luke stiffens, his expression unreadable as he gives a jerky nod.

luke knew of ethan's crush on you. it'd been obvious since the day he introduced you, and ethan had never made any move to deny it. but watching you reciprocate his wander touches made his stomach churn.

ethan's voice is low as he mumbles in your ear, "upstairs?"

you eagerly nod, letting him pull you through the crowds of people and up to his room. ethan tugs you inside, shutting the door and locking it. you quickly push him to sit at the edge of his bed, straddling his lap.

ethan's head tilts back as you straddle him and he lets out a breathy groan. "god," he mumbles, "wanted this for so long."

you giggle, your hands tangling in his brown hair as you tug his lips down to meet yours in a messy, drunk kiss. ethan groans into your lips, his hands finding your hips. his tongue slips into your mouth, fighting with yours.

you shift, accidentally grinding against his lap. ethan freezes, letting out a strained moan. "fuck, you can't just-" his words are cut off by another groan as you rock your hips again, testing the waters.

you both pull back, eyeing each other as you pant. you lightly tug the hem of his shirt, a questioning look in your eyes. ethan nods, pulling his t-shirt over his head and tossing it away. it's your turn to groan, your nails raking down his defined chest. it's not an unfamiliar sight, but it's one you've never seen in this sort of context.

his hands guide your hips again and you let out a soft moan as the fabric of his jeans catches just right beneath your skirt. you hold your arms up, letting ethan slide your top off. he swears under his breath, his eyes glued to mounds peaking out of your black, lacy bra.

he mumbles, sliding you along his lap, "fuck, you're so gorgeous."

you whine, your hands finding the button of his jeans, "ethan, please."

he nods shakily, unbuttoning his pants and lifting his hips as you tug them down his legs. his boxers are tight, and you can see a damp spot forming right at the front. you groan, sliding your skirt off and tossing it to join the rest of your outfit on the floor.

your hands find ethan's shoulders, pushing him to lay back. he complies, laying on his back against the mattress. you align yourself over his clothed bulge, moving back and forth. ethan groans, his hands so tight on your hips, you're sure to have bruises tomorrow.

you gasp sharply as he bucks up, rutting against your clit. your voice is whiny and breathless, "fuck, eddy, like that."

his hands snake around to your bra clasp. he looks up at you with pleading eyes. "can i?" you nod, and he undoes the clasp, freeing your tits.

you continue rocking on him as he leans up, capturing your nipple in his mouth. he groans, sucking and swirling his tongue as his eyes flutter shut. your head tilts back, hands tugging in his dark hair. you can feel the familiar knot forming in your belly.

"eddy, 'm close."

he pulls away from your tit to kiss and nip at your neck, leaving behind blotchy marks. "me too," he groans, guiding your hips. it doesn't take much for your orgasm to wash over you. your hands clutch into ethan's hair, crying his name as your legs tremble. he follows suit, releasing thick ropes into his boxers with a strained whine.

you both pant, coming down. ethan grimaces at the sticky feeling beneath his boxers. he gently pulls away, kissing your head. "stay right here." you nod, laying back into his pillows, too exhausted to move much.

a few minutes later, ethan returns in a pair of fresh boxers. he hands you a pair of sweatpants, a t-shirt, and a warm washcloth. you snort out a laugh as ethan rubs the back of his neck sheepishly.

"sorry, i would do it, i just didn't know if that was like, a line that you didn't wanna-" you hush his rambles with a warm kiss.

"relax, eddy. it's fine."

he nods, letting his shoulders relax a bit as you head to the bathroom to clean up.

when you return, he's curled up in bed, another cheesy romcom playing low on his tv. he holds his arms out, inviting you in. he looks so warm, so cozy, that you couldn't possibly say no.

you fall asleep like that, curled into ethan with some shitty movie playing as background noise. you decide you're content like that. who cares about luke or emma when you get to be wrapped up in ethan?

[samoschier]

✧˖*°࿐ 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄

𝐟𝐞𝐦!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐱 𝐥𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬, 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐚, 𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬, 𝐝𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐮𝐤𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐡

in which the ex-girlfriend of luke hughes is out for revenge, and plans to exact that revenge by sleeping with her ex-boyfriend’s best friends… all four of them

—00. intro

now go stand in the corner (and think about what you did)

—01. chapter one

the story starts when it was hot and it was summer (i had it all, i had him right there where i wanted him)

IMPORTANT:

— this series will contain nsfw content and will be marked accordingly.

— also for the purpose of this series, this takes place their junior year which means luke and mackie don’t sign their elc after their sophomore year.

— i will be starting a tag list so if that’s something you’re interested in being on, send me a message in my inbox and i will add you.

[zegrasdrysdale]

[ like you hate me ] e. edwards

day 7 of kinktober (hate sex w/ ethan edwards)

paring : Ethan Edwards x fem!reader

summary : she can’t stand ethan, but she knows there is tension between them that she can’t ignore anymore when they collide at a party

warning(s) : smut ! rough / hate sex, p in v, protected sex, nicknames during sex, begging, mentions of alcohol, light alcohol consumption

author’s note : i couldn’t wait to get to this one bc i had so many ideas hehe

kinktober schedule

༺──────────────༻

She shouldn't be here, but she let her friends talk her into coming to the party. Hockey parties don't usually end well for her whenever she does decide to attend them.

Especially if she runs into him.

Ethan Edwards is the bane of her existence and the biggest pain in her ass. He has the biggest ego she's ever seen on a hockey player, and he's had it for all four years that she's known him. He likes to mess with her during classes they have together and distract her from keeping her solid 3.8 GPA. He likes to mess with her in passing and make jokes every time he sees her. He even makes her job as the hockey team’s social media admin very difficult and she’s growing tired of it.

Maybe she won’t even run into him. She can avoid him in his own house. It won’t be that hard with every girl throwing herself at him and distracting him from the fact that she’s there.

The hockey house is off campus in a suburban area of Ann Arbor about 15 minutes away from main campus. It’s already crawling with partygoers when she pulls up in an Uber about an hour after the party was scheduled to start. Music blasts from every open door and window and she questions how they haven’t gotten cited yet for loud noise.

Inside is so crowded she can barely walk. She squeezes past multiple athletes from different sports in the foyer as she makes her way to the kitchen to get something to drink. If she’s going to be in the same building as Ethan then she needs to have a little alcohol in her system. God knows what’s going to happen and what words are going to be exchanged if their paths cross.

In the kitchen stands three of Ethan’s closest friends. All with an arm around some girl. Luca is the first to notice her walk into the room. He immediately smiles at the sight.

"Holy shit," he laughs. "She makes an appearance. I can't believe it. I thought you would never show your face at a hockey house party."

She shrugs while she makes herself a drink with cheap vodka and a mixer. "I was coerced into coming," she tells him. She looks up at Luca, Mark, and TJ. She sips her drink. "Where's your friend? Hiding upstairs in his room hopefully?"

Mark laughs and shakes his head. "He's around," he replies. "Last I saw him, he was out back playing cup pong with Duker, Moldy and Schiffer."

"Now I can avoid the back," she says with a smile. "Thanks."

All three of them laugh as she turns and leaves the room. She makes her way into the living room. Her friends sit on the couch so she sits on the arm of the chair next to the person she'd consider her best friend. She leans back and sips from her cup.

People come in and out of the room constantly, but she loves being able to see everyone and socialize with whoever does come into the room. She talks to people she hasn't seen or spoken to in a little bit.

She's laughing at something her friend said when she watches the one person she didn't want to see walk into the room with Luca and Mark. They better not have snitched on her to him or she will make sure they hate the Monday Question next week.

Ethan's eyes land on her and she quickly averts her eyes. She looks at her friend and pretends to be invested in the conversation so maybe Ethan won't walk over and bother her.

Except, that plan fails. Before she knows it, Ethan is standing in front of her. He has the smuggest of smirks on his face when he approaches her.

“A little birdie told me that you were trying to avoid me, princess” he tells her. “Is that true?”

She could kill Luca, Mark, and TJ for snitching on her.

“So what if I was?” she questions as she crosses her arms over her chest. “And I’ve told you to stop calling me princess.”

“You’re in my house, princess,” Ethan retorts with a grin on his face and emphasizing the word ‘princess’ just to annoy her even more. “You don’t get to ignore me in my house, and I can do whatever I want because it is my house.”

“Says who?” she asks. “I can ignore whoever I want, their house or not. You're annoying and I like your roommates better anyway."

Ethan quiets down but he doesn't take his eyes off of her. She doesn't back down either. She holds her ground because she doesn't want him to think he's won. That's the last thing that she wants so she holds eye contact with him until he speaks again. Her heart pounds in her chest as she stands her ground.

A smile breaks out on his lips and she falters for a very quick second. "I knew you had a crush on one of my roommates," Ethan says. "Which one? Luca? Mark? I hate to break it to you, but Mark has a girlfriend. So does Hughesy. Oh my God. Do you have a thing for a guy who has a girlfriend? That's a little pathetic if you ask me."

She rolls her eyes, her blood beginning to boil after his comment. "You're such an asshole, Ethan," she tells him.

She then gets up out of her seat and walks upstairs to hide in one of the bathrooms for a few minutes while she cools down.

If someone were to ask her why she was so upset, she would say that she honestly has no idea. Something about Ethan Edwards just heats her blood. He riles her up, and it could be the smallest thing that does it too.

All he did was mess with her, and she's ready to punch him in the face. She's always ready to punch him in the face though, but it's often not because she's angry at him. Sometimes it's because he's genuinely one of the most attractive people she's ever seen. Just his face alone is enough to send her into a bad mood.

If Ethan wasn’t a massive pain in her ass, she probably would’ve hooked up with him by now. Maybe it’s what she’s wanted all along and the reason why she hates him so much. He’s infuriating, but he’s hot. It’s a dangerous combination, especially for her.

She splashes water on her face to cool down and does her best to fix up the makeup that came off with the water. It’s not a lot thanks to the inventor of waterproof makeup but it still runs just a little bit.

A knock rings through the bathroom and she calls, “One second!” There’s a second knock and she groans. “Do you not know what one second mea-” She freezes when she sees Ethan on the other side of the door as soon as she swings it open. “Oh, great. Just the person I want to see. Go away, Ethan.”

“I may have crossed a line,” he says as he rubs the back of his neck.

“You just keep adding on to the list of what you think I am, don’t you?” she retorts. “Annoying, nerdy, clingy, and now I’m pathetic despite not having a thing for a single one of your roommates, especially not the ones who are in relationships. Making that comment in front of everyone was embarrassing. Even for you.”

Ethan just nods and looks at her. “I know that,” he tells her. “It wasn’t until you walked away and Luca told me that what I said was wrong that I realized that I crossed the line.”

She runs her fingers through her wavy locks and lets out a soft sigh. “This wouldn’t be an issue if I just-” She cuts herself off from what she was about to say.

There’s tension. There’s been tension. She ignores it like it’s going to go away on it’s own but the innuendos and jokes have made it thicker than it’s ever been. It’s getting harder and harder to ignore it. Maybe if she just-

“Just what?” Ethan questions. She meets his eyes and finds confusion in them.

Do it. Get it over with.

Before she can talk herself out of it, she cups his jaw and pulls him down into a bruising kiss. Ethan has to take a little step toward her due to how hard she pulls him down to her.

He immediate pulls away in surprise. She stares up at him, but she doesn’t move her hands. Her eyes flicker between his like she’s searching for rejection, but that’s the one thing she doesn’t find. She finds deliberation and confusion.

Just in case he needs a little shove, she says, “We have been doing this whole back and forth thing for nearly four years, Ethan. You have to be as tired of it as I am. I feel the tension that’s grown so I’m sure you can to. This is the one and only time I’m offering this to you so we can just fuck it out and maybe end whatever feud thing that we’ve had going on. Worst comes to worst then we have a nice hookup and we can move on with our lives. Best case scenario, we get it out of our systems and we can actually be friends because-”

“Do you ever shut the fuck up, princess?” Ethan asks to cut her off.

She isn’t able to make a comeback because Ethan’s lips are back on hers before she can respond. He’s kissing her with the same intensity that she originally kissed him with.

His hands fall to her waist and he pulls her body flush against his chest. She feels every muscle flex underneath his thin shirt as he makes little movements to adjust to her height. She’s half a head shorter than he is so he has to make some adjustments to kiss her without breaking his neck. Eventually, he gives up and leans down to lift her up. She wraps her legs around his waist and slides her fingers into his hair.

Ethan turns and walks out of the bathroom. Luckily the hallway is dark so if anyone were to see them, they would think it’s just two people making out at a party. The door is kicked shut and her back is pinned to it. A soft thud is heard when her back makes contact with the wood. She hums when her skin hits the cool surface.

She kicks off her heels and they land on the carpeted floor with soft thuds. Ethan stands holding her back against the door for a second before he turns and walks toward his bed.

In the handful of times she’s had to come into this room, it’s been organized and in order. She gets a glance when the kiss breaks after he drops her on the mattress and finds it’s still very organized and in order. She would’ve never guessed that Ethan is one to keep things clean in his room.

Ethan kicks off his shoes before he climbs over her and hovers above her body. She immediately pulls him back into a hot kiss. He hums and a hand lands on her thigh. The already short black dress rides up her thigh until it rests right under her ass. His fingers follow the fabric up her leg. He grips her thigh and she gasps.

Her fingers slide down his back until they reach the hem of his Michigan hockey t-shirt. She tugs at it to hint that she wants him to take it off. Ethan listens to her signal and sits back on his knees, breaking the kiss. She watches as he pulls the fabric over his head.

Now, she’s seen him shirtless on numerous occasions. There have been times where she’s seen him in nothing but his boxers, but she’s always looked away. Right now, she gets to look. She takes full advantage of the moment and studies every part of his torso and chest. Ethan’s never been the biggest guy in the room, but his body is so toned. She could combust just from the view she has right now.

She gets her hands on him as fast as she can. Her hands start on his torso, tracing his abs before they trail up and over his chest. Ethan’s hands rest on hers when they reach his shoulders. He pulls her up so she’s sitting up with him between her knees. Their chests are flush against each other and she’s looking up at him.

Ethan hooks his fingers under the thin straps of the little black dress. He tugs them off her shoulders and she pulls her arms out of the straps. She keeps her eyes on Ethan as he pulls the top of her dress over her boobs. He gnaws on his bottom lips when he sees her tits.

“Fuck, princess,” he groans. “You hid these from me this entire time?”

“You never asked to see them,” she tells him. Ethan moves his hands to cup her bare tits. “Probably would’ve showed you if you asked, E.”

He grins and pushes her until she’s lying on her back. He leans down and wraps his lips around one of her nipples. She hums at the feeling. Ethan’s other hand gropes her other boob. He bites down on her bottom lip. She runs her fingers through his hair.

After what feels like seconds later, Ethan begins to kiss down her chest and stomach. He pulls the dress down as he lowers himself down her body. She lifts her butt up so he can get the dress off. It hits the floor and she presses her lips into a line as Ethan drinks her in.

Her hands slide between them and she works on getting Ethan’s pants off. She pushes his pants off his body and he kicks them to the floor. She gets a hand on the bulge in his boxers, palming him over the thin fabric. He snakes a hand into her lace panties. She hums at the feeling of his fingers cupping her sex.

She grinds her core against his fingers trying to get some pressure. She presses her lips into a line as she pleasures herself on his hand. Ethan slips a finger into her and she gasps at the new feeling. "Oh my God," she breathes out. "Warn a girl next time."

Ethan smiles and attaches his lips to her jaw. "We'll see," he mumbles against her skin.

Slowly, he works her toward an orgasm. A knot forms in the pit of her stomach like it always does when she's close to an orgasm. Soft groans pass her lips when Ethan adds a second finger. "I- fuck," she pants. "Ethan, Eddy. Please."

"Please what, princess?" Ethan asks.

"Fuck me like you hate me," she tells him. "Please. Please fuck me, E."

He pulls back and looks at her. His fingers stop moving in and out of her. A grin forms on his swollen lips. "Are you begging me to fuck you?" he questions. "I never thought I'd see the day when you would beg me for something."

"Ethan Edwards, I'm about to get up and go get Luca-"

"Oh I don't think so," Ethan interrupts as he goes into his bedside table to get something. He pulls out a little foil package and comes back over to hover over her. "You're going to take off the rest of your clothes and I will give you the best dick you've ever had in that pretty little pussy."

His words go straight to her core and she listens to him almost as soon as he's done talking. She slides off her ruined panties and Ethan takes off his boxers to slide on the condom that he pulled out of the drawer.

She lies down on her back and lets Ethan settle above her. He lines up at her entrance and she stares up at him. Ethan meets her eyes before he pushes into her. She gasps from the stretch and grabs his triceps. It's painful at first but quickly turns into pleasure the longer he's inside her. He slowly pushes into her until he's completely buried inside her.

Once the pain completely fades, she nods at him. "Go," she tells him.

As soon as he has her permission, Ethan rolls his hips. Her jaw drops as he slowly picks up speed. The pleasure is so much that she nearly blacks out. Her nails dig into his triceps so hard that she's pretty sure he's going to end up with marks on his arms.

This is the last thing that she ever expected to happen. She never thought she would be underneath Ethan and getting fucked by him. She doesn't know if she'll ever tell him this because his ego will grow bigger than it already is, but it might be the best sex she's ever had. It's a quick hookup but it's already better than the rest of the hookups she's ever had, not that there are that many to compare it to.

She wouldn't be against it if this were to ever happen again.

Ethan continues to move deeply into her, but his movements pick up speed. The bed creaks and the room his filled with the soft moans that pass her lips. Ethan pants as he continues to move.

She starts to move her hips to match his pace. "Holy shit," she cries out when the tip of his dick hits her favorite spot. "Ethan."

"Like that, baby?" Ethan pants. "Like feeling my dick inside you? Making you feel good?"

He slams into her once and she arches her back off the bed. "Yes!" she gasps. "Yes, Ethan. God. Fuck."

With her response, Ethan slows down but hits her spot over and over again. Her legs begin to shake as she reaches the edge. The knot in her stomach threatens to come undone.

Ethan leans down and crashes their lips together in a bruising kiss. She groans as she feels her entire body clench. She squeezes around his dick as she comes and cries out against his lips. Her hands find his hair and she grasps, needing something to hold onto.

She feels like she's on cloud nine as Ethan fucks her through both of their orgasms. Her body goes limp under his when he pulls out to dispose of the used orgasm.

He cleans both of them up with his shirt before he collapses on the bed next to her. Her breathing is labored but is slowly returning to normal.

When she finds the strength to move, she turns her head to look at him. Ethan's already looking at her when she looks at him.

"I never hated you," Ethan admits to her. She raises her eyebrows at him. "I mean it. I never hated you. I thought it was cute how flustered you got every time I messed with you so I kept doing it not knowing that it meant that you didn't like me. That was me trying to express my feelings but it was definitely the wrong way to do that."

She blinks at him. "You've said some hurtful thing to me, Ethan," she tells him. "I'm going to need some time to get over that but ... I think I'd be okay if we tried to be friends. I wouldn't be opposed to this either."

"I knew you always wanted me," he teases.

"Shut up," she replies as she leans in to kiss him.

༺──────────────༻

MAIN HOCKEY

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[viennajoell]

[theemporium]

[14.5k] ethan edwards was prepared for his rookie year in the nhl. he just wasn't prepared for a rat infestation, an unlikely roommate and to fall in love too. (smutty scenes mostly implied)

aka a fic based in the future when ethan finally joins the devils so don’t take anything remotely seriously!

happy birthday @httplando!! enjoy the belated birthday fic🤠gonna go mute you now before you spam my phone with voice notes of you giggling over ethan xoxo

.

SEPTEMBER

Ethan Edwards thought he was prepared for his rookie year.

He had long come to terms with the fact he was in the National Hockey League. It still felt surreal but the reality had long sunk in since the day he was drafted. This was his goal. This was his dream. And he had made it. 

And he knew it would be different from hockey in any other league he had played. He knew it would be faster, harder, more demanding than college hockey. He knew that he would be pushing his body to levels he had never experienced. He knew he was mentally going to go through some of the toughest months of his life as he settled into the big leagues. He knew he was taking the sport he loved to a whole new level and he was prepared for that. 

He was prepared for his rookie year. 

He wasn’t prepared to fall in love with you. 

More than that, he wasn’t prepared to fall in love and not fucking realise it. Especially when you were his fucking roommate. 

Though, when he thought about it, the signs from the universe directing you onto his life path was there long before his first game as a New Jersey Devil. 

“Have you signed for a place yet?” Luke had asked him during the summer, somewhere in the days between wakeboarding and sunbathing and enjoying the freedom of his last stress-free summer before he entered the professional league. 

“I’ve got a few potential options but it’s fine,” Ethan had replied, dozing off on the sunlounger with his eyes closed beneath his sunglasses. “I’ve got time before training camp starts. There’s no rush.” 

And honestly? It was his own stupid ignorance that led to the karma of his current situation. 

“We do apologise, Mr Edwards, but there is nothing we can do. The building manager won’t be able to fix the problems before your move in date and we have no available lots to accommodate you until the problems are solved.”

Ethan tried to let the woman’s soothing voice calm him, but it was hard to find any peace in the words she was saying. “So, I’m homeless?”

“Once again, we do apologise for the inconvenience but the apartment is completely inhabitable.”

Because of fucking course he would find himself scrambling for last minute accommodation in Jersey, days before he was meant to meet his new team and start settling in to his rookie year. The universe couldn’t be too nice to him, not in the year he knew was going to be one of the roughest of his life. 

So, he did what any sane person would do and had a total breakdown on the phone to his mother. And then he called Luke, feeling somewhat spiteful that the boy jinxed his luck earlier that summer. The least he could do is help him out now. 

After Luke had spent the first five minutes laughing because, in his words, “who the fuck has a rat infested apartment in Jersey?”

“Can you help me or not?” Ethan sighed, fingers pressed against his temples in hopes it would ease the ache that had been lingering behind his eyes since he first picked up the phone from the estate agent that morning. 

“I mean, I’m sure Nico or one of the other guys wouldn’t mind taking you in. Jack stayed with—” Luke started but a distressed noise from Ethan cut him short.

“Yeah but Jack was, like, eighteen. I’m meant to be a fucking college graduate,” Ethan grumbled, his cheeks burning. “What impression would that set for the guys on the team?” 

Luke paused. “You’re absolutely reading far too much into this.”

Ethan scoffed. “I think my reaction is justified.”

“Drama queen,” Luke grumbled under his breath before sighing. “I have a friend that was looking for a roommate, actually. You could always stay with them until your place is sorted. The apartment isn’t too far from the rink.”

“Someone on the team?”

“No, someone else.” 

Ethan blinked. “You have friends outside of hockey? Outside of me?”

“Yes, Ethan, I have other friends. You aren’t my only friend.”

“You think you know people and they stab you in the back,” Ethan sighed, far too dramatically (in Luke’s opinion).

“Look, do you want the place or not?” 

“Yeah, yeah,” Ethan quickly spoke up. “That would be perfect. Send me your friend’s number.” 

.

Now, when Luke had told Ethan that he had a friend—a non-hockey friend, at that—that was looking for a roommate, he wasn’t exactly sure what or who was expecting. He didn’t like to make assumptions on people when he knew little to nothing about them. It didn’t feel polite.

But he feels like he’s pretty fucking justified in feeling duped by the youngest Hughes brother when he finds out his new roommate isn’t a guy at all. 

In Ethan’s opinion, that feels like pretty fucking important information to reveal before he shows up at your door with his car down below packed up with bags and boxes down in the carpark. 

Because now, he looks like a fucking idiot when you open the door and he is left standing there, frozen and mouth open like a fish whilst every English word is thrown out of his head. 

“You must be Ethan,” you said eventually, because Ethan still couldn’t bring himself to speak after a painful thirty seconds. “Luke’s friend?”

“Uh yeah,” he cleared his throat, at least having the decency to look somewhat embarrassed by his reaction with blushing cheeks. “Thank you so much, by the way. You’re really doing me a huge favour.”

“Luke said you were desperate.”

Ethan wanted to disagree but he couldn’t. Not really.

“That’s a bit of an exaggeration,” he tried to laugh off, though your face remained mostly unimpressed. “So—”

“Your room is the one on the left. Your bathroom is right next door. Three cupboards have been emptied for you in the kitchen and you have the top shelves in the fridge,” you stated, so matter-of-factly that Ethan could only blink in response. “Any questions?”

“No?” 

��Great,” and with that, you wandered further into the apartment, leaving Ethan standing in the doorway dumbfounded. 

…

OCTOBER

It didn’t take long for Ethan to realise you had some walls around you, and small talk was certainly not the way to get past them.

It was a shift to the roommates he was used to, fresh out of college and having spent the better part of the last four years staying with some of his closest friends and teammates. But it wasn’t totally unwelcome on his part. It was kind of nice to have a space that wasn’t so…hockey.

And it helped that he had his own space. 

September passed in the blink of an eye and soon training camp became the real deal. It felt surreal to think he was really in the NHL now, that he was a professional hockey player, that this was his job and his livelihood now. 

But it also felt fucking great. 

The schedule of an NHL player was no joke and it was certainly not something Luke exaggerated—despite what Ethan assumed during the summer. It was intense and tiring and he didn’t have much time to think about anything else. 

Except maybe his ice cold, standoffish roommate. 

As the regular season began, Ethan had come to a few conclusions. 

.

One: you were not a morning person, especially before having any form of caffeine. That was something he learnt the hard way. 

Early morning practices were nothing new to Ethan. He wasn’t exactly an early bird, but his body had trained itself to familiarise itself with the early mornings after years and years of playing hockey. It was the norm for him, to be awake as the sun started peeking through the horizon and the rest of the world was about to wake up.

He wouldn’t call himself chipper, not really. He was just as energetic as he normally is.

You seemed to disagree. 

“Morning, stranger!” Ethan greeted you as you shuffled into the kitchen, with a boyish grin on his face and a spatula in hand.

You didn’t even glance at him as you shuffled towards the fridge. 

“Not a morning person, got it,” Ethan nodded, biting back his smile as you turned to glare at him. 

“It’s half six in the morning,” you grumbled. “Why are you so loud?” 

“My mum says it’s a part of my charm.” 

You didn’t look very amused in response. 

The following mornings seemed to fit the same routine. Even on the days he didn’t have practice or meetings, Ethan would find himself waking up early and starting his day around the same time you would be up for work. He would be chatty, you would look like you wanted to gauge his eyes out. It was oddly comforting. 

Somewhere in the middle of the second week of this fixed routine, he began to feel confident enough in watching your routine to know exactly what you needed the second you walked out your room. 

“Good morning!” 

You blinked, staring at the steaming mug he was currently offering you. It took you a few seconds to process the sight before you realised you hadn’t spoken.

“What’s this?” You questioned, a questioning look in your eyes. 

“Coffee. Made exactly the way you like it.” Ethan stayed confidently, his grin widening as you took a sip and let out an appreciative hum. 

“Thanks,” was all you said before shuffling around the kitchen to continue with the rest of his routine. 

On the days he was in Jersey, there was always a coffee cup waiting for you every morning. 

.

Two: you were always cold. Always. No matter what the temperature was outside.

In all honesty, Ethan didn’t get it at all. From what he had gathered in his conversations with you and what Luke told him, you had spent a fair chunk of your life in New Jersey so, if he was being honest, he thought you would have been somewhat used to the colder temperatures. 

But walking into the apartment after afternoon practice to find you bundled on the couch like you were in a blizzard told Ethan that assumption was far from the truth.

“Did the heating break?” was the first thing he asked when he saw you, a wave of concern washing over him as he dumped his bags at the door and made his way to the thermostat.

“No,” you murmured from somewhere in the pile of blankets. “S’just cold.”

Ethan paused, reading the thermostat before turning back to you with an amused expression on his face. “It’s kinda warm for Jersey in October today.”

There was a bit of rustling before your head popped up from amongst the blankets, your eyes narrowed in accusation. “Not all of us are professional athletes sweating their asses off for two hours.”

“In an ice rink,” he added with a grin.

Your glare hardened. 

“Do you want a hot water bottle?” 

You paused for a few moments before nodding with a sheepish expression. “Please.”

Ethan huffed out a laugh before he made his way into the kitchen, kettle filled and turned on before he went to hunt down the hot water bottle he was pretty sure his mother had packed away somewhere in his stuff when he moved away from Michigan.

He returned a few minutes later, lightly nudging the pile of blankets until your face popped up again and your eyes softened at the hot water bottle. He couldn’t help but giggle at the way you quickly snatched it from him, murmuring your thanks as it disappeared under the blankets. 

“Any time,” Ethan said, and he meant it.

.

Three: you really didn’t open up to strangers. Or roommates. Or anyone, really. 

He wasn’t exactly sure how Luke Hughes of all people managed to wiggle his way into a friendship with you, but it was an anomaly that had been wracking his brain for the last few weeks.

It was a week or so before Halloween and he was laying on the couch, his brows furrowed together as he tried to scroll through the internet for an idea of what he could wear to the Halloween party one of the boys were hosting. 

“Why do you look constipated?” 

His head snapped up, finding you standing at the end of the couch. You had two smoothies in your hand, the bag you take to your classes still on your shoulder and your shoes still on. He briefly glanced at the time, frowning a little when he realised he had been sitting there for the better part of two hours before he turned back to you.

“Trying to figure out a last minute Halloween costume,” he told you, eyebrows raised in surprise as you handed him one of the smoothies. He smiled as he took it, taking an obnoxiously loud slurp before you settled down on the other side of the couch. “I wanted to do something with Seamus and Luke but Seamus said he had his sorted and Luke said he was doing a joint costume with someone else.” 

“Oh yeah, me,” you answered casually and Ethan tried to hide his shock. 

“You’re coming?”

“Yeah?” You responded, giving him an odd look. “Luke always invites me to these things. He’s also hopeless with costumes.” 

“I didn’t realise you and Luke were so…close,” he said vaguely, his cheeks flushing a little when he realised what his words sounded like. “Not that it’s any of my business—”

“You’re right, it’s not.” You shrugged, taking a long sip from your smoothie before continuing. “But he’s one of my closest friends.” 

Ethan nodded, ignoring the way his stomach twisted at your words. “How did you two meet?” 

“The strip club.”

Ethan blanched. 

“Geez, you’re more gullible than Luke,” you commented, the hint of a smile on your lips. “You ask a lot of questions, Edwards.”

“I’m a nosy person,” he answered honestly with a shrug. “You didn’t answer the question.”

“Because there isn’t much to it.” 

And, in your defence, he knew you didn’t owe him any answers. But he was curious and he couldn’t seem to wrap his head around how close you and Luke were—close enough for you to willingly accept one of Luke’s friends as your roommate for an indefinite amount of time. 

And, at the crux of it, he didn’t understand how Luke was able to get through to you when he couldn’t. 

Ethan was never one to brag but he was a magnet for people. It helped him thrive in hockey, always willing to be that guy on the team that people feel like they could always talk to. It helped him thrive at university, being a social butterfly that could always make a friend in any situation. 

It usually helped. 

So yeah, maybe Ethan was a little stumped why you didn’t seem to want to be his friend, not in the way you were with Luke and some of the other guys on the team. It seemed like being your roommate added a wall he didn’t know how to break down. 

And when the Halloween party happened, it felt like seeing a whole new person when you were chatting and laughing with Luke. 

You looked more at ease as you stood next to him, happily sipping on whatever drink he had gotten for you from the kitchen. You seemed more relaxed, like a weight had been lifted off your shoulders as you laughed at whatever joke Curtis had made at Luke’s expense. 

It fuelled a fire for Ethan, one he hadn’t realised had been started before that night. But he didn’t just want to be your roommate anymore, he didn’t like having that wall between you. 

He wanted to be your friend too. 

…

NOVEMBER

Three months into the NHL told Ethan that it was really no joke.

He was expecting the more intense training and physical playing. He was expecting his body to feel more tired, more hungry, more sore. He was expecting the ruthless journalists and vocal fans and tougher coaches. 

He wasn’t expecting the mental toll of realising that hockey was all he had in his life. 

It was stupid to complain about, considering it was his dream and all, but it was true. Hockey was his whole world right now. He woke up thinking about hockey, he went to the rink thinking about hockey, he made his dinner thinking about hockey, and then he went to sleep thinking about hockey. 

Nine times out of ten, he dreamt about hockey too.

It was different to the hockey he knew growing up, or the hockey he experienced in Michigan. Because at least in Michigan, there were classes or parties or concerts or something to take his mind off hockey. 

But it wasn’t the same in New Jersey.

There were hangouts with Luke and Seamus, or team bonding sessions organised by Nico. There were drinks at the bar after a good game to celebrate, or a particularly bad one they needed cheering up after. There were fun trips around cities he had never properly explored when they were away on roadies. 

But it was all still linked to hockey. 

And he guessed he wasn’t great at hiding his conundrum when Nico skated up beside him near the end of practice, throwing out the offer to grab a coffee and chat after they finished their debrief with the coaching staff. 

.

For what it was worth, Nico didn’t think he sounded stupid when he explained himself. If anything, the captain was quite understanding. 

“I had it when I first moved,” he had confessed as they sat in some urban coffee shop in a part of the city Ethan hadn’t properly explored before. But Nico swore up and down it had the best coffee to offer. “I was young and I was here for hockey so I thought my whole life had to be hockey.”

“What changed?” Ethan asked, hands wrapped around the big mug his latte was in like it would give him something to do, something to focus on rather than the restless itch under his skin.

“The older guys,” Nico said with a knowing smile. “The ones that learnt how to balance life and hockey. The ones with wives and families and friends outside of the team.”

Ethan’s brows furrowed together. “You think I should go get married?” 

“Not right away,” Nico laughed, shaking his head. “But I know how easy it is to get wrapped up in the rookie year nonsense and everything. And you should be enjoying that, for sure. But there’s more to life than hockey, which is quite hard to believe right now. But it’s true, whether it’s a wife—or husband—and family or a hobby or a group of friends you can be a different Ethan with.”

Ethan nodded, a surprisingly serious expression on his face. “Hobbies?” 

“Yeah, something different to hockey,” Nico explained. “Something that doesn’t require you to give up too much time and take your focus away from hockey, but instead be a respite from everything. Like cooking!”

He blinked. “Cooking?” 

“You cook right now because you have to and you follow the diet plan the trainers give you. But you can find enjoyment in cooking because you want to,” Nico assured him, leaning back in his chair with a sure expression. “Give it a try. What’s the worst that can happen?”

.

As it turns out, the worst that could happen is that Ethan is a fucking horrible cook. 

He tried to hold back his coughs, waving the tea towel aimlessly under the beeping fire alarm before he raced to the windows in hopes they would help get rid of the smoke. Or at least get the alarm to stop.

The one meal outside of his diet plan and he almost burned the apartment complex down trying to cook it. 

Go figure.

He had collapsed on the couch an hour later, two pizza boxes lying on the table in front of him as he aimlessly scrolled through his phone. He didn’t lift his head when he heard the front door lock turning but did freeze when he heard you cough a little. 

“Fuck, why does it smell like a shitty barbeque in here?” 

Ethan turned to you, a sheepish expression on his face as he lifted one of the pizza boxes as a peace offering. “Does pizza count as a ‘sorry for almost burning the place down’ gift?” 

You eyed the pizza box and then his face before you took the seat next to him. “Normally I would say no but you look like you had a pretty rough time, so I’ll accept it this time.”

“Geez, thanks,” Ethan snorted. 

“What were you even trying to cook anyways?” You questioned, taking a silence of margarita pizza and taking a large bite. You resisted the urge to let out a moan. “Fuck, I’m glad whatever it was. I couldn’t be bothered cooking today.” 

“Rough shift?” Ethan asked.

“Bitchy manager was on tonight,” you added with a grumble. 

“Fucking Jerry,” Ethan tsked, shaking his head. 

You turned to him, eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You’re avoiding my question.”

“I’m delaying. There’s a difference,” Ethan corrected.

You hummed. “Okay, so why are you delaying?”

Ethan shrugged, turning his attention to the pizza box open on the coffee table in front of him. “S’stupid, no big deal. Promise.” 

You were silent for a few moments before you spoke. “Is this the point where I take the bait and beg for you to tell me why you’re upset?” 

He snorted, but it at least wrangled a smile out of him. “I’m not stressed. Just…overwhelmed.”

“With hockey?” You asked, but there was no malice or teasing in your voice. Just curiosity. 

“I know this is what I wanted but it’s just…so much. I’ve never had hockey be everything in my life, there was always something else. And now I feel like I’m drowning and no matter how much I keep kicking, I’m no closer to the surface. And the older guys seem so put together and I was trying to take their advice but it isn’t really working out and—” Ethan paused, his cheeks flushing a light pink colour when he realised he had begun rambling. “Like I said, it’s stupid.”

“It’s not stupid,” you replied and he was almost shocked to see the sincerity on your face. “It’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed. It’s a big jump. It would be weirder if you weren’t more stressed.” 

He swallowed. “Really?” 

“Yeah, I mean,” you began, the pizza forgotten on the coffee table as you turned your body on the couch until you were facing him. “Your life will never be normal again. You’ve been shoved into the spotlight and you will continue to be there forever. That’s overwhelming as fuck. And you’re trying to catch up with a bunch of guys who have been here for years, who have had seasons to figure out who they are and who they want to be. It was always going to be an uphill battle.” 

Something in his chest warmed at your understanding. 

“Guess I have a lot to look forward to then, huh?” He tried joking because it felt easier than trying to say the words that were getting stuck in the back of his throat.

“I get it,” you explained with a small nod. “Not at the same level, but I get it. Every day I wake up and I know I’m working towards the thing I want to do for the rest of my life but, fuck, some days are just harder than others. I feel like I’m sacrificing so much of my ‘best years’ doing this and sometimes I just…wonder if it’s worth it.”

“That’s intense,” Ethan murmured with his lips turned downwards.

You gave him a sad smile. “Life can be overwhelming in a lot of ways. It’s just about finding things that help us…destress, I guess.”

“Which is hard to do when you’re a rookie in the NHL who doesn’t know who the fuck he is anymore or a student spending every free moment working her ass off in a shitty job with a shitty manager to pay for college,” Ethan added with a sorrowful smile of his own. 

“Bingo,” you snorted.

“So,” Ethan sighed as he settled back against the couch. “What’s our game plan?” 

You raised your brows. “Game plan?” 

“Yeah, what are we gonna do to destress? We can help each other,” Ethan stated like it was obvious. “Like a ‘you scratch my back, I scratch yours’ situation.” 

You shot him a look. “I’m not scratching your back.” 

Ethan tilted his head, a grin on his lips. “So I’m assuming massages are off the table too?” 

His laugh echoed through the apartment as you threw a pillow at his face. 

. 

If Ethan was being completely honest, he didn’t think finding a destressing hobby would be so…stressful.

He had tried asking a few other guys on the team for inspiration and advice. It hadn’t been as successful as he had hoped. Though, at least he knew a handful of weird facts about the boys he played with, so it wasn’t completely useless. Team bonding and all that jazz. 

But the hobby-searching was starting to reach a point where he thought about it more than hockey. 

He couldn’t help but feel like something was wrong with him. So many of the guys on the team had shared the hobbies they had outside of hockey to help relax. He even spoke to some of the UMich boys that had joined the NHL before him for some advice too. But nothing really clicked, nothing shut his brain off. 

Golfing was too time-consuming to enjoy during the regular season. The mediocre attempt at knitting resulted in a massive knotted ball of yarn being chucked into the bin. He tried reading but got bored after the first few chapters. And it felt a bit pathetic and mind-numbing (the bad kind) when he found himself watching the third episode in a row of some trashy reality TV show that had been playing. 

Nothing was giving him that relief and that step away from the busy, hectic schedule an NHL player brought. 

“You got a new potential hobby for us?” 

Ethan lifted his head to see you closing the front door behind you, bundled in about five layers of clothing you were slowly deshedding before you made your way over to him. He watched as your eyes went to the mess on the coffee table, your lips pressed together to hold back your laugh. 

“What are you doing?” You questioned, tilting your head like it would help you figure out the little project he had been working on since you left for your class a few hours ago.

“It’s meant to be a model plane,” Ethan sighed, a tad too dramatic before he turned to you with a pout on his face. “Johnny said it was easy. He used to do them when he was, like, ten years old. I think he is lying to me.” 

You snorted. “Or maybe he followed the instructions.” 

Ethan frowned. “There’s instructions?” 

You shook your head, trying to hold back your laughs as you settled on the couch beside him. There was a hint of deja vu to that day a few weeks ago—the day Ethan likes to believe the start of your buddying friendship began.

“You’ll find something,” you reassured him, nudging his shoulder with your own. 

“I think some of the guys are just messing with me with some of the hobbies they suggest,” Ethan confessed. “Curtis does not seem like a knitter at all.” 

You laughed. “Yeah no, he was definitely messing with you.” 

“Knew it,” Ethan grumbled before shrugging. “Seamus thinks I’m just being dramatic.” 

“I’m inclined to agree,” you retorted. 

He shot you a look but you didn’t seem too bothered by his glare. 

“He thinks I just need to get laid,” Ethan murmured, his eyes settling back on the lump on the coffee table that was supposed to resemble a plane. 

“So why don’t you?” 

Ethan blinked as he turned back to you. “Why don’t I, what?” 

“Why don’t you just go get laid?” You asked, turning your body slightly so you were properly facing him. “Are you a virgin?”

Ethan startled. “What? No. No, I’m not a virgin.” 

 “Then I can’t imagine it would be too difficult for you to find someone.” 

“Thanks?” Ethan frowned a little before shrugging his shoulders. “I don’t know, s’just a little much right now. I don’t really wanna go and sleep with anyone. And I’m a little too busy to properly start something with someone, you know? It wouldn’t be fair on them if I was…flaky.” 

“What if we slept together?” 

Ethan let out a choked noise of surprise. 

You gave him an odd look. “What?”

“Us? Sleep together? Like sex?” Ethan blurted out, his voice a little more high pitched than usual. 

“Well, I don’t mean just having a sleepover,” you answered with a shrug.

His brows furrowed together. “Would it not be…weird?” 

“No, why would it be?” You retorted, sounding so sure of yourself. “I’m busy, you’re busy. I guess you’re attractive and if you find me attractive too, I don’t see what the issue is. It’s convenient for us both.” 

His eyes narrowed. “You guess I’m attractive?” 

“This is not the time for your ego,” you huffed, though he could see your lips twitching upwards.

“No no, this is the perfect time for my ego,” Ethan started, his back straightening as he sat up in his seat.

“Are you in or not?”

His eyes dropped down to your lips for a few moments before returning to your eyes. “Y-Yeah, I’m in.” 

…

DECEMBER

As it would turn out, it was far from weird. It was actually pretty fucking great. 

The awkward tension Ethan expected to rise from the first time you two slept together didn’t actually happen. The next day, everything was back to normal and, if it weren’t for the hickeys dotted over his torso, he would have assumed he dreamt the whole thing up. 

It was surprisingly refreshing. The buddying friendship between you and Ethan continued to grow as the days passed, just like he wanted, there was just also the added bonus that sometimes the two of you fucked to let off some steam.

And as much as it pained him to say, Seamus was right. He just needed to get laid. He just needed to go back to something he knew he would always be good at, that didn’t take up too much space in his brain and felt as natural as breathing to him. 

He just needed to feel someone else’s body pressed up against him, whispered moans of his name doing more to help shut up that voice in the back of his head far better than the crowds of fans screaming and chanting his name. 

He was really missing out for all these with the whole ‘friends with benefits’ thing.

“Ethan.” 

“Hm?”

“We can’t.”

“I think we can,” he murmured against your neck, his smile pressed against your skin as he placed a line of chaste kisses just below your jaw. 

Your eyes fluttered close as his large hand splayed against your stomach, fingers brushing over your heated skin as he settled on the bed behind you. “You’re gonna miss your bus,” you managed to mutter out, a little breathless as you felt him rolling his hips against your ass.

“They won’t leave without me,” he assured you as he tugged you further back into him. Your panties had been kicked off somewhere under the sheets, not that either of you cared enough to give it a second thought. It just made it easier for Ethan to slip his hand between your legs, to listen to the choked noise of surprise you let out when his finger pressed on your clit. 

“That’s not how it works,” you murmured, letting out a whine when he stilled his hand between your legs, focusing on marking the spot at the base of your neck that made your arch against him. “You’re gonna miss the bus and the team will be annoyed and you’re gonna—”

“Shhhh,” Ethan mumbled against your skin. “Too much talking.” 

“Ethan.”

He let out a groan, his head dropping to your shoulder where he pressed a soft kiss there before lifting his head to shoot you a look. 

“Don’t look at me like that,” you murmured with a snort. “It’s a seven day roadie. You’ll survive.” 

“Maybe I’m really stressed about it,” he shot back. “Maybe a quickie before I leave would help me destress.” 

You shook your head in amusement. “You’d be a lot less stressed if you weren’t thirty minutes late already.” 

Ethan’s head snapped over to the clock on your bedside table. “Shit.”

“Told you so!” You called out as he scrambled his way towards the bathroom for the quickest shower of his life. 

“Shut up!” 

.

“That’s new.”

“What’s new?” Ethan questioned, leaning down to lace up his skates with the efficiency of a man who had spent the better part of his life in ice skates. He didn’t notice the shit-eating grin on Luke’s face until he sat back up and found the boy staring at him. “What?”

“Well, either the rats from your old apartment have found your new place and decided to take revenge or there’s a different reason for the marks on your back,” Luke retorted with a knowing glint in his eyes. 

“Marks are an understatement,” Seamus snorted, sitting on the stall on the other side of Ethan. He didn’t know what he did to deserve being stuck between the two of them. “Your back is mauled, dude. Who did you sleep with, a werewolf?” 

“No,” Ethan scoffed, his cheeks burning red. “Don’t be jealous you can’t get the same reaction out of a girl.” 

“So there’s a girl?” Luke chimed in, like the little nosey shit he was. 

“Maybe,” Ethan answered vaguely with a shrug of his shoulders. “It’s just a casual thing. Nothing serious.” 

“Glad you finally took my advice,” Seamus grinned. 

Ethan rolled his eyes. 

“What’s her name?” Luke asked. 

To be fair, you and Ethan never discussed the logistics of your situation beyond the actual sex part. He enjoyed the little bubble the two of you shared in your apartment. It was like the two of you forgot there were other people, that the signs would be there for people to pick up on. And he wasn’t exactly sure if it was something you would want people to know, even Luke. 

He tried to bargain with himself that it wasn’t serious so there was no need for Luke or the other boys to know. You two were just scratching an itch for each other, that’s it. You were still friends at the end of the day, he didn’t want to ruin that because other people thought there was something more serious.

Ethan shrugged. “Uh, you don’t know her.”

Luke cocked an eyebrow. “So surely it doesn’t matter if we know her name or not.” 

“It’s not like she’s my girlfriend or anything,” Ethan retorted, squirming a little under Luke’s gaze. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready? Coach wants us out in five minutes.” 

“Subtlety is not your forte, Edwards,” Luke snorted in response. 

. 

The roadie ends up being a complete shit show.

Three games and they lost every single one of them. Three games and the loss just got worse with each game, with the final game being an embarrassing 5-1 loss. And all the boys were upset and annoyed about the results, but Ethan felt like he was going to lose his mind. 

His suit felt uncomfortable and itchy against his body, like some foreign layer he desperately wanted to shed. His skin felt taut and stretched across his bones, the urge to claw at his skin so overwhelming that he forced himself to focus on picking the skin around his nails instead because it was less likely to get him odd looks from the other boys. 

He had ignored Luke and Seamus’ attempts at pep-talks in the locker room, both boys seeming determined to try and reassure him the loss was not his fault—like it would stop the fumbled plays playing on a loop in his head. He watched Nico climb onto the bus, eyeing the empty seat next to him but he wasn’t in the mood to be babysat by his captain. He put his bag on the chair next to him and put his headphones on, pretending he couldn’t feel everyone’s eyes on him.

He wasn’t sure what time it was when they finally arrived back in New Jersey, but he didn’t care to know. He didn’t give anyone a chance to pull him back for a chat. He grabbed his bags and bolted to his car, wanting nothing more than to get out of his suit and just mope in his bed until practice in a few days. 

Ethan wasn’t expecting for you to still be awake.

He jumped when he spotted you on the couch, the TV still on but on mute as it played some random sitcom he couldn’t quite remember the name of. His eyes wandered over your figure, huddled up in the corner of the couch with a blanket covering your legs and a Devils branded hoodie he didn’t quite know whether it was one of your own or one of his. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to know. 

“You’re back earlier than I expected,” you spoke up, breaking the weird, tense silence that seemed to be suffocating the apartment since he walked in. 

“We left just after the game,” he replied, his voice a little raspy considering it was the first time he had spoken since the end of the game. “Boys wanted to get home.” 

You nodded. “M’glad you’re back. The place is pretty quiet without you.” 

It was lighthearted. It was an opening for him to plaster on a smile and pretend he was okay. It was a chance for him to escape the same awkward conversations he avoided from his teammates. 

But he was tired—the bone deep kind—and he didn’t have it in himself to keep pretending. Not in front of you. 

“I’m not sure I’m feeling very talkative right now,” he admitted, swallowing back the acidic taste in his mouth, the one that had been lingering since he stepped on the bus with all his disappointed teammates. 

“We don’t have to talk about it,” you reassured him as you patted the spot on the couch beside you. “We can just sit in absolute silence if you want.” 

“I’m not sure I want that either,” he confessed as his body slumped against the couch, melting into the fabric as he tried to ignore the constant buzzing voices in his head. “Just wanna forget the last week, to be honest.”

“That’s fair,” you hummed in agreement. “The refs were biassed dicks anyways. It wasn’t fair.” 

He turned his head to look at you, his surprise clearly expressed on his face. “You watched?” 

“I did,” you gave him a soft smile. “It wasn’t a pretty sight. I’m surprised the neighbours didn’t make a noise complaint against me when they put Luke in the box.” 

And despite himself, he couldn’t help but snort. “They had it out for him and Jack.”

Your eyes narrowed. “Dicks.” 

His lips twitched upwards. “Dicks indeed.” 

Ethan let his head fall back against the back of the couch, let the exhaustion settle in as his eyes fluttered shut and, for the first time in the last week, let himself have some semblance of relaxation even if his brain was still on overdrive.

“I know you don’t want to talk about it,” you started and his body instantly tensed up at your words. And maybe you would feel his body lock up, considering his thigh was pressed against yours and the couch wasn’t all that big either. “But I am here if you want to talk. Have someone who’s not on the team to listen to you.” 

He swallowed the lump in the back of his throat. “Just feel like I let them down.” 

“You didn’t,” your voice soft but sincere. “And I bet the boys would agree.” 

“I just…” he let out a sigh, keeping his eyes closed because it somehow made the next few sentences easier to say out loud. “I know no one likes losing. I would be a pretty bad professional athlete if I liked losing. But, I don’t know, it just…sucks more now.” 

“Because the stakes are higher?”

“Because there’s more people seeing my mistakes,” he murmured, his words short and sharp. “This is all unreal. Being able to live out my dream and play in the NHL. But every time I make a mistake, I just feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. Like I’m waiting for someone to tell me it’s all a joke or I have been moved down or I get dropped and that’s the end of my career.” 

There was a short pause. 

“I’m scared it’s all gonna be for nothing.” 

He wasn’t sure what response he expected. Truthfully, he had no intentions of ever telling you any of this. Or anyone for that matter. He had no intentions of ever saying the words out loud, letting them fester and swirl around in the back of his mind when he was left with his thoughts alone for too long. 

And yet, he had just blurted them out to you. 

Maybe he was more tired than he realised. 

“Why did you keep playing hockey?” 

Ethan frowned a little, his eyes blinking back open as he turned to look at you again. “What?” 

“Why did you keep playing hockey?” You asked again, something swirling in your eyes but he couldn’t quite work out what. “It’s one thing to be a fan. You’re Canadian so I guess you kinda have to be. And I assume your parents put you into lessons. But why did you keep up with it? Why did you keep playing?” 

“Because I love the sport,” he answered without any hesitation.

“Exactly, you love the sport,” you repeated with a soft smile on your lips. “It’s why you stayed. It’s why you play the next game even if you lost the last one. It’s why it’s your dream, why you kept working towards the NHL. And even after the shit show of the roadie, it’s why you will go out and play the next game.” 

Ethan stayed silent but he didn’t move his eyes away from yours. 

“It’s normal to have doubts. It’s normal to second guess yourself and assume the worst and let yourself spiral,” you continued. “It’s your rookie year. It isn’t easy for anyone. It wasn’t easy for Luke, for Seamus, for any of the boys. But you love the sport and the sport loved you back. Even on the bad days.” 

“That was poetic,” he murmured, his voice a little raspy and thick with emotion. 

“I was great at English in school,” you retorted with a grin. “You’re allowed to feel scared. And you’re allowed to be upset after you lose. But you’re a part of the team, nobody is putting the loss on your shoulders and you shouldn’t either. It’s your weight to bear together.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “Did Nico message you?” 

You snorted, and something about the sound made his chest tighten. In a good way, though. 

“No, but considering how fast you got here, I would be wary that he will probably show up tomorrow morning to take you for a coffee check up,” you murmured. “Or he will corner you in the locker room.” 

Ethan nodded. “Thank you. For listening and stuff.” 

You flashed him a smile as you nudged his shoulder with your own. “That’s what friends are for.”

It was almost ironic that Ethan had spent the last few months working towards the title of your friend, only to feel almost disappointed when you said it. 

. 

Nico had been the one to organise the New Years Party.

All the boys from the team were there. There were other Devils employees from the marketing, media and training teams. There were friends and friends-of-friends. There were people he had never met before. 

But it was a party and the buzz of the new year was humming through them all, and somewhere amongst it all, someone had suggested a game of truth or dare.

Ethan thinks it was Curtis, who was just drunk and nosy and a bit bored.

“Right, Baby Hughes, you gotta pick!”

Luke let out a groan, slumping into the person next to him—a chuckling John Marino who seemed amused by the glint in Curtis’ eyes—before nodding. “I feel targeted.”

Curtis grinned. “Never.”

“You’ve asked me every single time,” Luke grumbled under his breath, cheeks tinted pink and warm. “Surely this is against the rules. Right, Cap?”

Nico raised his hands in surrender. “Do not drag me into this!” 

Luke’s eyes narrowed. “So much for looking out for your boys.”

“Pick someone else before he starts getting whiny,” Jack called out, grinning widely as he dodged Luke’s elbow to his side. “I don’t wanna hear him bitching on the way back home.” 

“Fine, fine,” Curtis snorted, eyes scanning over the busy room before his eyes paused on Ethan. “Alright, Edwards, rookie’s turn. Truth or dare.” 

Ethan straightened a little, something determined in his eyes. “Truth,” he answered with a grin. “I’ve been warned of your dares.” 

“Smart,” Jesper coughed under his breath. 

“Truth, he says,” Curtis mused as he sat back in his seat, contemplative and cunning before he spoke again. 

“Play nice,” Nico teased.

“Cap’s orders,” Curtis hummed before he spoke. “Alright then, rookie, fess up. Which teammate is your least favourite? Name and shame.” 

Ethan blinked. “This feels like a trap.” 

“Oh, it certainly is,” Ondrej snorted.

“Don’t take him seriously,” Luke spoke up, leaning his head back to catch Ethan’s gaze. “He did the same to me and Simon. And Seamus last year. It’s his thing.” 

Ethan raised his brows. “Is there a right answer?” 

“Hey, no cheating!” Curtis called out. 

“Maybe my answer is you,” Ethan called back teasingly. 

“Oh, pretty boy has some fire,” the older man laughed, happily and drunkenly but it seemed enough to satisfy him before Nico was rounding everyone around for the midnight countdown.

The funny thing was that Ethan always knew that hockey was a team sport and every team he had ever played on—from the peewee team he played on as a kid to the boys he played with in UMich—every single one of them felt like a family, a place where he belonged and a team he loved both on and off ice. 

The Devils had been another one of those teams—his newest family. It had been terrifying, a lingering thought in the back of his head since he had been drafted. Every team he played for before were teams he would move on from, stepping stones in his dreams. But the NHL was at the top and he didn’t want to fuck that up. He didn’t want to feel left out from his new family. 

The Devils family had welcomed him with open arms. 

He truly couldn’t complain. He felt a connection with these boys on and off the ice, he felt like the newest member in this patchwork family that was really cared for. Even now, as the seconds ticked down to midnight, there was warmth and camaraderie in the air as they welcomed the new year. 

And yet, it was the most devastating loneliness he had ever felt in his life.

Because the clock struck twelve and the cheers echoed through the house and yet, his eyes were searching in the crowd of people. Searching for the one person he wanted by his side. Searching for the first person he has ever had the urge to kiss into the new year. 

Because Ethan Edwards spent breaking in the new year wishing he was beside you. 

…

JANUARY

New Years opened his eyes in ways that he hadn’t really considered before.

Unfortunately, eye opening nights are a bit difficult to focus on when you’re a professional athlete in the NHL hitting January in your rookie year. Because they were only half way through the regular season in one of the most physically and mentally intense years of his life, and he was a bit too fucking tired to have emotional epiphanies.

Which was fine if it weren’t for the fact he was currently in the middle of drills and his brain was definitely not focused on hockey. 

“Edwards!” 

Ethan blinked, his body moving before his brain could properly catch up. He had never been more grateful for the military-routine of drills he had been doing for as long as he had been skating. 

His muscles were screaming by the time the boys were starting to head back into the locker room, laughing and shoving each other and discussing strategies for the game against the Sabres the following day. But he lingered behind, stick twisting in his hand as he tapped a few pucks closer to the net. 

He had tried not to stare at the person lingering on the ice behind him, watching him, observing him.

He managed five shots before the person spoke up. 

“You should lower your right hand a little,” Jack called out, lingering at the blue line. “It will help with the shot.” 

His next shot hit the back corner perfectly. 

Ethan straightened his back, nodding a little before glancing over his shoulder. “Thanks.” 

“Anytime,” Jack responded, taking it as his cue to skate closer towards him. “You good? You should be getting some rest before the game tomorrow.” 

“Yeah, just…wanted some extra practice on my shots,” Ethan said, shrugging his shoulders. “It needs some work.” 

Jack nodded. “You’re having a good year.”

“Could be better,” Ethan retorted before he could stop himself. It was meant to be lighthearted, playful even. Instead, it came out a little self-deprecating and he winced at himself.

“It gets better,” Jack assured him, his expression a little softer. “The rookie year is always the worst, the media attention and expectations and everything. But it gets better when you find yourself, find your footing.” 

“I know,” he murmured because he wasn’t sure what else to say. Nobody really talked about Jack’s rookie year. Not in much detail, not beyond a few comments here and there he had heard over the years in the lakehouse. 

He was more than grateful that his own rookie year wasn’t anything like Jack’s. 

“Enjoy it,” Jack continued, a kind expression on his face. It wasn’t hard to work out why Jack was given the ‘A’ on his jersey. “I know it’s easier said than done, but don’t let the critics get to you too much. They just wanna put pressure on you, make you squirm.” 

And oh. 

Because now Ethan was standing there, staring back at Jack like a hopeless idiot, realising he and the rest of the boys probably assumed his mood had been related to hockey. To the articles written about him. To the most likely and very reasonable explanation. 

Not the fact Ethan was pretty sure he liked his friends-with-benefits roommate in a not very friends-with-benefits way. 

His cheeks burned at the realisation. 

“Uh, yeah,” he nodded helplessly, hoping his smile didn’t look as strained as it felt. “No, you’re right. I…I’ll try to really enjoy it. Not get in my own head too much.” 

“Good,” Jack smiled back at him, all sweet and genuine and making him feel like a bit of a dick. “I’m here if you ever need a chat, you know? And I’m better at giving advice than Luke.” 

Ethan snorted. “I don’t doubt that for a second.”

. 

The issue was that despite his eye-opening realisation, Ethan Edwards quickly realised he was a bit of a coward when it came to expressing his feelings. 

Or, for that matter, confronting them.

It was odd for Ethan, if he was being completely honest with himself. Because he was usually good with these kinds of things. He knew when it was a ‘no strings attached’ situation, when to remove himself from any feelings that would compliment the matter. And he knew when it was serious, when the feelings were reciprocated, when there was something more than physical between him and the other person. 

But that awareness was thrown out the window when it came to you. 

It was like he had a little voice in his head, desperately trying to yell out how he felt about you until Ethan reached his breaking point and did something he couldn’t take back. 

So, he did what any reasonable person did and locked that little voice away, pushed it to the back of his mind where it couldn’t bother him. And then he continued living his life like he couldn’t hear the rattling box in the background of every waking moment. 

It was easy with hockey. Despite his little blip at the start of the month, he managed to prevent the annoying voice affecting his game on the ice. He stayed focused and concentrated and attentive. He managed to complete his drills and find the passes and shoot some goals so none of his teammates would catch on to his lacking grasp on his feelings. 

But at home? With you? He clearly wasn’t coping as well as he thought he was. 

“Are you okay?” 

Ethan paused, body frozen as his brain wracked through a million different thoughts before he turned to look where you were sitting on the couch. 

“Uh yeah,” he managed to blurt out, a slightly strained laugh following. “Why?” 

“You’ve just seemed off the last few weeks,” you admitted with a shrug of your shoulders. “Like, tense and stuff.” 

“S’just hockey stuff,” Ethan murmured with a stiff smile, the lie tasting bitter and acidic on his tongue. “The boys have just been talking about how playoffs are sneaking up on us and I just…guess I’ve been a little in my own head about it.” 

You nodded in understanding. “You need days to chill out, you know? Take your mind off hockey.” 

Ethan raised his brows. “You got any suggestions, sweetheart?” 

“Actually,” you retorted with a knowing smile. “I do. I know exactly what you need to get out of your head.” 

. 

“You know, when you crawled onto my lap, I was expecting a very different outcome,” Ethan murmured, struggling not to move his lips too much as he focused on the concentrating expression on your face. 

“Need to get your head out of the gutter, Edwards,” you teased, biting back your smile as you continued to sweep the brush across his face, careful to avoid his eyebrows while you were at it. “Facemasks are soothing and relaxing. Plus, your skin probably needs it after all the travelling you do.” 

“Excuse you,” his nose scrunched. “I have a skincare routine.” 

You chuckled. “Yeah, Luke told me that you ripped into Seamus after he used your fancy moisturiser.” 

“It’s expensive,” he murmured in defence before the rest of your words caught up on him. “You talk about me to Luke?” 

“Mostly to bitch,” you said with a lighthearted, teasing smile.

Yet, something in his chest tightened at the idea regardless.

“As long as you’re talking about me,” he shot back, something victorious washing over him at the way you laughed. 

You leaned back a little, still sat on his lap with his hands on your waist to keep you balanced. You snorted at the mask covering his face before grinning. “Now, we have to keep these on for twenty minutes. And try not to move your face too much.” 

Ethan ignored your words, pouting in response. “So if I asked you to make out—”

“I would tell you to fat chance,” you finished with a grin. “But I’ll admit the pink headband is really working for you.” 

Ethan wiggled his eyebrows, once against ignoring the pointed look you shot him. “Enough for a kiss?” 

“Enough for an episode of Pretty Little Liars,” you shot back at him, your smile widening at the sound of his groan but it still didn’t stop him from tugging you close before you could sit on the other side of the couch. “Or at least finish the one we started last night before—”

“I rocked your world?” 

“Started drooling on my shoulder,” you corrected.

“That was after I made you come twice,” Ethan piped up, lightly pinching your side until you squirmed further onto his lap. “They cancel each other out.” 

“Whatever you say, princess,” you snorted, eyes gleaming as you pressed play on the remote before he could come up with a witty comeback. 

And, somewhere in the back of his mind, there was a distant voice screaming at him to say something. Telling him this was the perfect opportunity to say something to you. To just admit how he was feeling and end the pathetic pining he had been experiencing for the last few weeks. 

But the mere idea of losing this—losing you—kept his mouth shut as he finally turned his attention to the tv and pretended like his stomach didn’t twist at his own cowardice. 

…

FEBRUARY

Before he knew it, they were hitting February and all the buzz in the hockey world was around All Stars.

Ethan hadn’t been too concerned about it or the discussions leading up to the reveal on which team members would be heading out for the event. His mind had been preoccupied on the season, on playoffs approaching, on you. In all honesty, All Stars hadn’t even crossed his mind until the team was being rounded up into the locker room for the announcement. 

It was not too much of a surprise that Luke had been selected for the Devils (most people expected it to be one of the Hughes brothers). 

However, it was a shock to hear his own name follow. 

“Looks like the fans want to see more of the pretty boy,” Curtis called out, joking and teasing and, yet, it still made his cheeks burn as the boys all slapped him on the back. 

“Baby’s first All Stars,” Timo cooed jokingly, reaching out to pinch his cheek but Ethan was quick to slap his hand away. 

“It’s Luke’s first too,” he defended weakly, a smile on his lips as he spoke.

“At least he is losing one of his virginities,” Seamus coughed under his breath, letting out a high-pitched yelp when the younger Hughes reached to smack him across the back of his head. 

“I hope you get a horrible sunburn in Mexico,” Luke retorted with a deadpan expression. 

Seamus snorted. “Don’t get bitchy because your ticket is non-refundable.” 

Luke reached out to slap him again but he had already run off towards the showers, laughing and shoving some of the other boys into Luke’s path to help with his escape. 

Ethan shook his head in amusement. 

“Enjoy it,” another voice spoke up and he turned to find Nico standing beside his stall, a kind and genuine smile on his face as he patted his shoulder. “It’s fun. Promise.” 

“More fun than chilling on a beach somewhere?” Ethan retorted with a knowing smile.

“It’s up there,” Nico grinned. 

“But if Michael Buble offers you anything, say no,” Jack spoke up from the other side of the locker room. “Trust me.” 

.

“How does it feel to be with all the big boys?” 

“You saying I’m not a big boy?” 

“You know exactly what I meant, perv.” 

It was true. Ethan knew exactly what you meant. But he could almost imagine the way you rolled your eyes when you spoke, your nose scrunched up and your eyebrows furrowed and it sent a pang of something aching through him. 

It was almost too pathetic to comprehend. 

All Stars was insane. Truly, absolutely, positively insane. It was one thing to watch it from the comfort of his own couch. It was a whole other thing to be a part of it. And he knew he shouldn’t be starstruck, not really. He had spent the better part of the last few months playing against some of these guys. 

But being in a not-as-competitive setting with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon was a surreal experience he hadn’t fully wrapped his head around since he arrived.

And yet, here he was, all smiley and giddy and excited over the fact you had called him. The fact that you missed him enough, that you were thinking about him enough to call him whilst he was away. 

“I stand by my question,” Ethan replied, shuffling further back into the plush pillows of his hotel bed as he held his phone to his ear. “Do you not think I’m a big boy?”

“I’m not going to talk up your dick size for the sake of your ego, Edwards.” 

Ethan snorted despite himself. “Worth a shot. Could have made it really hot.” 

“I refuse to have phone sex with you when Luke is probably in the room.” 

“He’s not here,” Ethan said quickly, pausing for a moment before he continued. “Well, he’s gone out to grab us some snacks from the store around the corner but—”

“Exactly.” His stomach dipped a little as your laugh echoed through the phone. “Now, tell me everything.” 

For a moment he wondered if it would be worth trying to facetime you to see your face or if that was pushing it too far. 

“What do you want to know?” He retorted, his eyes closing shut as he tried to imagine the expression on your face as you thought. 

“I don’t know! The important stuff! Like if Sidney Crosby is as hot in real life?” 

Ethan blinked. “That’s your big question? If he’s as hot as he is on screen?” 

Your reply came with no hesitation. “Yes.”

“Wow, so we can’t talk about my dick, which has been inside of you by the way, but we can talk about whether or not Sidney Crosby is hot.” There was a pause before he sighed. “Yeah, he is. Maybe even hotter.” 

“I fucking knew it.”

“So you don’t even miss me? Not even a little bit?” Ethan questioned, trying to sound playful and lighthearted, hoping the small slivers of insecurity weren’t being translated through the phone.

“Don’t start pouting on me, Edwards. Of course I miss you.” Your voice was softer, more sincere. Or at least he was deluding himself into thinking as much. “Found a show for us to watch when you’re back. It looked good but I didn’t want to start it alone.” 

It was embarrassing how big his smile was. “Yeah?” 

“Yeah,” you hummed before gasping. “Oh god, I almost forgot to tell you. You won’t believe what happened at work the other night.” 

Ethan huffed. “Don’t tell me it was—” 

“Yup! And you’ll never guess what she did—” 

It hit Ethan in the chest when he was lying on the foreign bed in a non-descriptive hotel room, phone pressed against his ear as you rambled away. It hit him just how much he enjoyed this, how much he enjoyed you. That it was beyond the physical attraction, that it was much deeper than a silly little crush. 

It hit him how much he wanted this forever.  

But he knew better to do it on the phone. He knew it had to be said face-to-face. He knew he needed you in front of him when he uttered the words. He knew he needed to be looking in your eyes when he blurted his feelings out. 

So, he promised himself. 

He promised himself he would do it when he headed back to New Jersey. He promised himself he would do it when he saw you. He promised himself he was just going to deal with it head on and not run away like he had been doing for the last month or two. 

He promised he was not going to be a coward anymore. 

.

It was embarrassing how quickly he threw his own promise out of the window. 

Ethan was fucking exhausted by the time their plane laned back in New Jersey. It was barely even eight in the evening and he was ready to slump face first onto his bed and not get up for a few days—even if he knew they had practice the following afternoon. 

But it was the principle of it all. 

It was the mere exhaustion of it all. 

And you took one look at him before you opened your arms, inviting him to join you on the couch. Ethan couldn’t even bring himself to feel too bad about the groan you let out as he slumped himself on top of you.

“Make sure they had good music at my funeral,” he grumbled, his face nuzzled into the crook of your neck and his lips brushing against your skin as he spoke.

You hummed, your hands moving on instinct to run your fingers through his hair. “How do you feel about Barbie Girl?”

“Love it,” he murmured, a soft groan leaving his lips as your nails scratched along his scalp. “Missed you.” 

“I missed you too, Edwards,” you whispered, soft and almost breathless. He wondered for a moment if he was leaning too heavily on your chest and winding you. “I never knew you talked in your sleep.” 

Ethan froze. 

“Luke sent me some interesting videos,” you continued and he could almost hear the smile in your voice. “You should really watch who you have sleepovers with.” 

Ethan clenched his eyes shut, trying to nuzzle himself further into your neck. “M’gonna kill him.” 

“It was just one video,” you assured him, lightly tugging his hair until he lifted his head to look at you. “Cute that you were so jealous over me liking Sidney that you started to sleep talking about it.” 

His cheeks heated up. “I wasn’t jealous.” 

You beamed back at him. “Uh huh, sure.” 

Ethan narrowed his eyes at you. “This is emotional blackmail.”

“Aw, don’t let me stop you from doing it again,” you teased, unable to hide your amusement as his cheeks burned redder. “Would it make you feel better if I said I was jealous you got to hang around him all week?” 

Ethan paused before he spoke. “Yes.” 

You nodded. “Then, I was deeply jealous and envious that you got to hang around Sidney Crosby, the hottest guy in the league—”

“Oh my god,” Ethan groaned as he braced his hands on either side of you, prepared to push himself off you and the couch and sulk in his room. But before he could get far, you were winding your arms and legs around him and pulling him back down. “Nuh uh, let me go. You can go cuddle with Sidney since you think he’s so hot.”

“You’re such a drama queen,” you mused, choosing to be nice and not comment on the way he completely nuzzled himself back into your arms, eyes falling shut and relaxation taking over his body for the first time in a week. 

“You’re a bully,” he retorted, words muffled from the way his cheek was pressed against your shoulder. 

“You like it,” you retorted, keeping the banter going but it made Ethan’s head spin. 

Because he did. He did like it. He liked you. He liked coming back home to you and he liked lying on the couch with you. He liked kissing you and he liked the noises you made for him when he touched you. 

He liked you more than he cared to admit. 

He liked you too much to lose you. 

He liked what the two of you had. He liked it too much to risk losing it all over unreciprocated feelings. Feelings could change—his feelings could change. There was no need to ruin a good thing. 

He had hockey to focus on. He had the team to focus on. He had playoffs to focus on.

Now was not the time to change everything, superstitions or not. 

…

MARCH

March Madness was no joke. 

It was pure fucking chaos and no previous league or championship he had ever played for could rival just how hectic the whole thing was. The Devils were having a good season. A great fucking season if they were being honest. And they were so, so, so fucking close to clinching that playoff spot. 

But fuck if the other teams weren’t making it real fucking difficult for them. 

Ethan knew that things were going to get rougher, tougher, harder when the playoff desperation started to settle in, when the end of the regular season was on the horizon and teams were starting to get dirty to extend their season. 

He just underestimated how desperate they were willing to get. 

It was easy to see why Nico Hishcier was so beloved by the team, by the fans, by the boys. To see why he was chosen as captain because he was nothing but supportive and determined and encouraging. He wasn’t letting them get too comfortable, he was keeping the boys working towards playing their best. 

But he was also the damn proudest of them all. 

It almost made the hits against the boards worth it. 

Almost being the operative word seeing as he felt like his whole body was bruised as they came off a game against the Rangers. 

“Fuck,” Ethan hissed as he all but waddled into the locker room, helmet in hand and skateguards on. “I think I’m bruised in places I didn’t know you could be bruised.” 

Seamus snorted. “Fucking tell me about it.” 

“The hit during the second period looked rough,” Luke spoke up from the stall beside him. “You sure you’re good?” 

“Medical checked me over during the intermission,” Ethan assured him with a faint smile. “Just gonna be sore for the next few days.” 

Luke’s eyes gleamed. “No strenuous activities then?” 

Ethan rolled his eyes. 

“Oh please,” Seamus mused, giving Luke a nudge with his elbow. “He’s a pillow princess.” 

“Fuck off both of you,” Ethan snorted, already starting to peel his jersey off.

 It wasn’t until he was almost dressed where he finally grabbed his phone out of his bag, turning it back on to see a flurry of notifications to take over his screen. His brows furrowed together in surprise as he skimmed over them.

“Is that a certain roommate?” Luke asked, peeking over his shoulder like the nosy shit he was but Ethan had already chucked his phone back in his bag. 

“Nah, it’s just Patricia,” Ethan shrugged.

Luke blinked. “Who the fuck is Patricia?” 

Ethan shot him an odd look. “Patricia, the woman from the estate agency you recommended to me.” 

Luke gave him a pensive look. “Why is she blowing up your phone?” 

Ethan shrugged again. “Your guess is as good as mine.” 

. 

As it would turn out, Patricia was contacting him because the apartment he originally signed on for at the start of the year seemed to have sorted the rat infestation problem. 

She was cheery in her voicemail she left for him, like it was the best possible news Ethan could have ever received. And maybe it would have been a few months ago, back in September. Even a good few weeks into October, Ethan would have been over the fucking moon to hear his old apartment was available again. 

Yet, as he listened to the voicemail now, he couldn’t help but let a sense of dread wash over him. 

It was stupid in a way because he knew from the start his situation wasn’t permanent. He knew it was always a short-term solution to a short-term problem. He knew the arrangement between you both wouldn’t last forever—both as roommates and friends with benefits. 

There was always a timer on it, but Ethan let himself get lost in the familiarity of it all that the upcoming ending hit him like an unexpected slap in the face.

If he was a sensible and good guy, he would have called Patricia back. He would have told her he was just as happy to hear the update on the previously rat infested apartment. He would have told her he was happy to move in as soon as he can, to have his own place in New Jersey to call his home and his home alone. He would have told her to send over all the paperwork as soon as she can. 

But Ethan wasn’t sensible nor was he all that good because he never called her back. 

Instead, he chose to pretend as though he hadn’t seen the calls or the voicemails or the messages. He told himself he was focusing on clinching a playoff spot. He told himself he was just prioritising the important stuff and, for as long as he had a roof over his head, the other apartment wasn’t a priority. 

Ethan chose not to acknowledge the fact that ignoring and running away from any possible problem was becoming a bit of an odd habit for him over the last few months. 

. 

As it would turn out, people failed to warn Ethan that March Madness seemed to extend into a player’s personal life. 

He couldn’t quite work out the exact moment everything changed but he noticed the switch two weeks into March. And he was fucking baffled. And almost embarrassed that it took him so long to catch on to your sudden cold behaviour.

If you were giving him the cold shoulder, Ethan would have assumed he had done something to piss you off. It wasn’t like you hadn’t done it before, the two of you had your fair share of petty roommate disagreements over the months where one of you would give the other silent treatment. But it never lasted more than an hour or so before you sat down and talked it out. 

Ethan would have preferred if he was just given the silent treatment from you.

Instead, he got…whatever the hell you were doing now. 

For a few days, Ethan considered that he was just being dramatic. That maybe it was something at work or in one of your classes. That eventually you’d come to him with whatever was bothering you and he would listen and this weird tension between the two of you would disappear. 

He lost hope in that theory after a week.

You were talking to him, almost as normal, but there was a tinge to it. A shift. Almost like a step back. It felt like the early months as roommates, when your answers were shorter more often than not, when you treated each other as acquaintances with a mutual friend. 

It felt fucking wrong. 

And then there was the physical aspect. 

It wasn’t like the two of you were on each other at every possible moment together. It wasn’t even about the sex. It was the way you pulled away from him like his touch burned you, like it was odd for him to casually nudge your hip with his own as he walked past you in the kitchen. It was the way you seemed to avoid sitting too close to him on the couch. 

It was the way it felt like the two of you were reverting back to the awkward, polite strangers you were back in September. 

He hated it but he didn’t know how to get it back when you seemed so adamant to keep him at arm’s length. 

It was disorienting as fuck. 

It was wrong. 

It was everything he feared for. 

It was almost-definitely-possibly worse than you rejecting him. 

And Ethan felt like he was fucking spiralling with the realisation that he may have lost you and he wasn’t exactly sure how. 

.

And just when Ethan craved normalcy in his life, Luke started acting weird too. 

The youngest Hughes brother shut down any attempts to hang out outside of practice or training. He didn’t seem as talkative or chatty with Ethan the way he usually was, leaving most of their conversations to surround hockey or strategies or upcoming games.

Fuck, even Seamus was weirded out by Luke’s sudden change in behaviour. 

It didn’t take long for the other boys in the team to notice the growing tension between the two boys. Jack kept shooting his brother weird looks. Nico seemed concerned. Even Curtis looked a bit awkward and unsure at what to say. Him, Luke and Seamus had been such a trio since Ethan joined the Devils at the start of the season. 

Now it seemed like Luke tolerated him at best. 

But Ethan knew Luke. He knew the way the boy would get when he was upset. He knew the way the boy tended to shut down a bit, knew that he needed the space to be moody and brood a little (the outcome of being the youngest child) before he was ready to forgive and forget and move on. 

However, Luke Hughes seemed more than happy to carry out whatever grudge he was holding—even if it was affecting their game on the ice. 

“What the fuck was that?” 

Luke didn’t even bother turning to look at him, reaching to pull his practice jersey over his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“For fuck’s sake, Luke,” Ethan growled, angry and frustrated and done with whatever bitchy mood he was still in. “I was open. You saw that I was open and you fucking ignored me. What if we were in a game? What if that cost us a goal?” 

“It’s just a practice,” Luke shot back, deadpan and unamused. “Calm down.” 

“Calm down? Calm down?!” Ethan laughed, bitter and irritated. “This isn’t a fucking joke, Luke. I don’t know what your problem with me is but it’s fucking ridiculous if you’re willing to sacrifice the team for it.” 

Seamus took a step towards them. “Okay, maybe we just need—”

“No,” Ethan snapped, a buzz of adrenaline rushing through him. “No, if he has a problem with me then I want him to fucking say it instead of keeping it some secret like—some coward!” 

“Oh, that’s rich coming from you,” Luke snapped back at him. “You know all about secrets, Edwards.” 

His brows furrowed together. “Stop fucking talking in riddles, Hughes.” 

“Oh Jesus,” Seamus grumbled under his breath. 

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Luke hissed. 

“No, I don’t!” Ethan gritted out. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re on about!”

“And I don’t know who the fuck you are anymore!” Luke bit back, enough hurt and anger in his voice that it left Ethan—and the rest of the locker room—silent. “I thought you were one of my closest friends. I thought you were a good guy. Clearly you’ve changed.”

Ethan frowned. “What?”

“Okay, everyone out!” Nico clapped his hands together, snapping Luke and Ethan out of their little moment as the captain began shepherding the rest of the team out. 

“Aw, come on, it was just getting good!” Curtis whined but sighed as he followed the rest of the boys out of the locker room, all in various degrees of undress as they left Ethan and Luke alone. 

Ethan watched them all go before he turned back to Luke, a look of hurt and pure confusion on his face. 

“I helped you out,” Luke rasped, swallowing harshly. His voice was softer, a little raw too. Like the fight had left him and all that was left was disappointment. “You needed a place to stay and I convinced her to let you stay, vouched that you were a good guy, that you weren’t a fucking douche, and you had to go and fucking play her like that.” 

Ethan blinked. “What the fuck are you on about?” 

“Ethan,” Luke muttered, his name full of frustration. “I know about the two of you. I’ve known for a while, I’m not fucking stupid.” 

His heart sped up a little, despite himself. “What does our…agreement have to do with you?” 

Luke shot him a look of disbelief. “Because she’s my friend! Because you’ve strung her along for months and now you don’t even have the decency to tell her you’re leaving!” 

Ethan blinked again. “I—what?” 

“You’re moving back to your own place and you—why do you look so confused?” 

“Because I am confused!” Ethan squeaked out. 

Luke slowly blinked. “So…you’re not taking Patricia up on her offer and moving out?”

“No!” Ethan replied, still looking confused. “Why would you think I am?” 

“Because she keeps calling and emailing you!” Luke shot back.

“And I haven’t answered a single one!” Ethan retorted. 

“Huh,” Luke murmured, his mind whirling with a million different thoughts. “Well, her emails suggest otherwise.” 

Ethan tilted his head. “What do you mean?” 

“I—” Luke sighed, looking serious once again. “I need you to be honest with me.” 

Ethan shifted in his spot. “What?”

“Are you serious about her?” Luke questioned. 

Ethan frowned. “Who? Patricia?” 

“I—no,” Luke sighed deeply. “Unless you’ve been sleeping with Patricia this whole time—”

“What? No, no!” Ethan spluttered out. “I have—wait, does she think I’m moving out?” 

Luke looked a bit sheepish. “I think you need to go have that conversation with her.” 

“Fuck,” Ethan breathed out, something quite like nausea twisting in his stomach. “And she….I’m not….I would never play her like that. It’s literally the opposite!” 

Luke raised his brow. “The opposite?” 

“I—fuck, I need to go,” Ethan muttered to himself under his breath, not even acknowledging the other boy as he began to yank his gear off. 

“Woah, Ethan, you need to—”

“I need to fix this,” Ethan interrupted. “She can’t—I need to tell her.” 

The last thing Luke—or any of the boys—saw was Ethan rushing out of the locker room, looking frazzled and flustered and panicked. 

.

Ethan wished he could say he was calm and collected when he finally made it to your shared apartment but that would be a fucking lie. 

He was a mess when he arrived. Despite driving back, he was still breathless and panting as he forgoed the elevator, choosing to take the stairs two-at-a-time until he reached your floor. His hair was a mess, his cheeks were flushed, his keys were the only thing in his possession as he raced towards the door. He wasn’t even sure where his phone was. Nor did he care. 

His only goal was to get to you.

It was embarrassing how badly his hands were shaking as he tried to shove the key into the lock, taking more attempts than he cared to admit before he managed to open the door. He didn’t even care about your neighbours as he began calling out your name, praying to every god he could think of that you were home.

He could have collapsed from relief when you wandered out of your room, a mixed look of concern and confusion on your face when you spotted him standing in the living room.

“Are you okay?” 

Ethan tried to find the words to answer you. He tried to wrack his brain for a response to your question, a coherent sentence to calm the clear uneasiness in your voice. And yet, all he could do was stare at you and think one single thought that was leaving his lips before he could even stop himself.

“I’m in love with you!” 

You blinked in response. 

“Like, so painfully in love with you that I didn’t think it was possible to feel this way about someone. But it is. And I do. And I can’t keep it to myself anymore because I think I am genuinely going insane,” Ethan continued. 

Your lips parted a little in surprise, but still no words left your mouth.

“And I should probably stop talking and embarrassing myself further because you’re not saying anything and I’m usually a lot better at these kinds of things,” Ethan blurted out. “But you’ve been pulling away the last few weeks and I can’t take it anymore because it’s killing me. It’s killing me that I have to keep pretending I’m fine with everything when I’m not.” 

His body was moving before he could stop himself. He was taking steps forward, closing the small distance between you two because Ethan couldn’t stop the pull you had on him—on his body, his mind, his whole fucking world. 

“I’m in love with you. Like in a ‘I wanna come home to you every night and kiss you because we are dating’ kind of way, not a ‘we are roommates who made up this weird agreement’ way.” Ethan breathed out, his voice just above a whisper but you heard him loud and clear. “And I don’t expect you to say you feel the same way but I can’t keep it anymore and—”

He was cut off by you throwing yourself at him, arms winding around his neck and lips on his. He didn’t even care about the rest of his sentence, sinking into the kiss like a starved man eating for the first time. The relief of feeling your body pressed against his was almost as addicting as the adrenaline pumping through his veins when you let out a blissful sigh. 

“M’not moving out,” he managed to mutter out between kisses as he wrapped his arms around your waist, keeping you tight against him. “Whatever you think—” 

You pulled away a few inches, just enough to see his face. “Your laptop was open,” you murmured, something sheepish and guilty written across your face. “And the email came through from your estate agent about signing a new lease and I got in my own head about it. I thought you were going to leave and I wanted to protect myself from falling further and—”

“Falling further?” He repeated, a hopeful smile beginning to take over his face.

“Yeah,” you whispered, your smile mirroring his. “Turns out sleeping with your roommate is a real catalyst for falling in love with him.” 

“Lucky me,” Ethan murmured before leaning back in to kiss you. “And I’m not leaving until you want me to leave.” 

“We’ve really gone through this relationship thing in a weird order, huh?” You mused, laughing a little when Ethan kept leaning in to kiss you.

“Yeah but I think it’s worked out pretty well for us,” he murmured, his nose playfully nudging yours. 

Ethan Edwards thought he was prepared for his rookie year. 

He wasn’t. Not in the slightest. Nobody ever was, not really. He wasn’t fully prepared to fall in love either.

But with you in his arms and the Devils only points away from clinching a playoff spot, he thought his rookie year was going far better than anything he could have prepared for. 

.

[yellowflwrss]

ALL JOKES; luke hughes

• based when luke was still playing at umich

• you decide to play a little prank on your bf where you call him your brother after you kiss him

you were on tik tok way too much. and luke was too but definitely not as much as you. he wasn’t on it to the point where he saw the lastest couple pranks when they were still very popular. so of course as his amazing girlfriend you had to pull a little prank on your boyfriend whom you loved so much.

you were sitting on the couch in the house luke shared with some of his hockey buddies. a few of them were sat on other parts of the couch watching tv with heir girlfriends who were going from talking with you and then talking with their respective boyfriends while you sat with a single headphone in on tik tok. luke had sat next to you mere moments before until he had to use the bathroom.

it was perfect timing because that’s when the tik tok pulled up on your “for you page” and gave you the idea to mess with your boyfriend.

the tik tok was of a girlfriend next to her boyfriend. she said some words and then turned to him, he kissed her and she said the words to the camera: “best big brother ever!” and he started laughing.

obviously, you began to think how luke would react to this and knew you had to film this tik tok for yourself.

luke walked out from the bathroom and began to walk over to you till you stood up “babe come here.” you told luke and like a puppy he followed you into the kitchen which was right next to the living room.

you set up your phone and turned to luke who looked at you confused. in the corner of your eye you could also see mark, ethan, seamus and gavin giving y’all some questionable looks. everyone else payed somewhat attention to the both of you with their eyes still trained on the tv.

“okay so when i turn around just kiss me.” you smile up at luke. he was pretty tall compared to you (actually very tall compared to you) so to the camera it was a funny shot.

“okay..” luke gave you a suspicious glance as he watched you step forward to press play. when you backed up in front of luke you began to giggle which made the boys in the living room chuckle and luke laugh at you suspiciously, he knew you had something planned.

“if you wanna get to me, you have to get through him first.” you managed to get out through your giggles.

“preach!” one of the boys yelled from the living room, the culprit being duke tucker. mark let out a laugh at this. the two knew this tik tok and had their eyes glued to the scene.

you turned around to luke and on cue he gave you a kiss. he tried to make it go on for longer but because of the audience before you and the fact that you were in the middle of a tik tok, you broke the kiss and turned back to the camera. “best big brother ever.” you tried to keep a straight face. from behind you both, the boys broke out in laughter and you wish you could rewatch luke’s reaction over and over again like it was the first time.

his jaw dropped as he looked at you and then proceeded to look around awkwardly. “i am not your brother.” his lack of words made the event even funnier to you and all his friends as well. the girls were laughing too and it made the scene all the greater.

luke didn’t know what to do so he grabbed your waist from behind and pulled you into a bear hug “brother?” he laughed “brother?” he repeated, still in disbelief.

“woah big bro you’re getting a little too close there.” luca shouted.

“shut up.” luke laughed as he kissed you “look at what you started.”

“STOP KISSING YOUR SISTER LUKE.”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP.”

[letsgetrowdy43]

Undivided attention—

Request: Luke has been simping over this sweet brunette girl who has the cutest dimples when she smiles. He decided to keep it a secret because he wanted to enjoy her all to himself. So he’s been rescheduling hanging out with his friends and brothers.

This is not my best work, but I'm pushing myself to write something!

from Luke: Can't make it tonight. Swamped with homework :/

from Mark: Boo you whore

Luke was greedy when it came to her. He would scream it from the rooftops if it meant that he could cherish her and love her away from the chirping and the pestering of his team. So he kept her his little secret, not because he was ashamed or embarrassed of her, but because he liked the privacy and the luxury of keeping her all to himself. No annoying roommates, no older brothers, just her and him in a little bubble of love without any outside voices.

Luke grinned as Y/n made eye contact with him from across the library, his phone buzzing in his pocket from the boy's complaints about how he's grown flakey over the past few months. The notifications died off as he turned on Do Not Disturb and joined the girl prettily sitting in the back of the library.

There was an array of textbooks in front of her as she ushered for him to take the seat next to her, smiling shyly under his loving stare, "you feeling okay Lukey?" she asked as he leaned in to press a kiss to her cheek. "M' doing just fine," he grinned as his thumb ran over the soft skin of her face, dipping into the dimple of her cheek as her grin made it grow more prominent.

"Let's get you caught up," she mumbled, trying to get his adoring stare off of her and onto the notes she prepared to help him get caught up in anatomy. His gaze stayed fixated on her as she organized her notes, awaiting his full and undivided attention.

"Luke" she whined and gently grabbed his face to make him look at the book opened up in front of them, "pay attention please." Luke shook his head, pulling himself out of the little trance he was caught in, "sorry," he grinned as she smiled back, "you're just too cute," he mumbled as her cheeks began to blush a dark red.

His hand came up to brush the face framing pieces of hair out of her eyes and tucking them behind her ears as she stared at him with no trace of amusement. "Stop distracting me, you need to study," she mumbled and looked from the books back at him, a pleased look on his face as he leaned forward and placed a short, but hungry kiss to her lips and then pulled away pointing at the book. "Okay, I'm ready to learn."

She stared at him, her eyes a little hazy from the surprising amount of loving he'd been giving her, flushed cheeks, as she fought off the lovesick feeling in her chest, "uhhh, okay, um where to start," she stalled and flipped through her book.

A laugh left Luke's lips as he dug through his bare for his laptop and books, giving her a second to collect herself before they actually started to study.

It was about half an hour later when she pressed a kiss to Luke's jaw as he got a question correct, and then a gasp erupted from across the room. Dylan and Ethan who had been sent on the mission of finding and trying to convince Luke to go out instead of spending his night in the library, but the sight of a pretty girl leaning up against him pulled a reaction out of the two boys.

"You skipped on boy's night to kiss your tutor?" Ethan whispered loudly as he and Dylan stood in front of the couple. Luke looked at his teammates unamused as the girl hid her face in his shoulder, praying that the blush would die down and she could hold a normal conversation without acting like some caught teenager.

"This is Y/n," he smiled as she looked up at his best friends with a nervous smile, "my girlfriend, not my tutor," he said watching as Dylan's face dropped with confusion. "You hid this from us?" he asked with a dropped jaw, "didn't even tell your best friends?" Luke shook his head at Duker's dramatics and turned to Y/n whose dimples were on display as she grinned at his roommates who were now bickering.

Ethan stopped his petty fight with Dylan to look at Luke, "please stop eye fucking her, there are people trying to study," he said watching as Luke looked at him smugly and sat back in his chair, arm wrapping around his girlfriend to pull her into his side as Dylan looked between the two of the distraughtly. "How long has this been going on?" "A little over two months," the girl finally spoke up as Dylan's eyes went wide. "I can't believe you Hughes, you really hid this from us, your roommates for this long!"

The people around the room were staring at the scene causing Y/n to shrink in her seat of embarrassment, Luke laughed at how shy she suddenly grew and then back at the boys, "Okay you guys gotta go, we need to finish studying." Both Ethan and Dylan looked taken aback at that statement as their brows furrowed, "Study?" Ethan laughed and then turned to the girl he just met, "What have you done to him?" "Oh fuck you, go home," Luke said and shooed them away as both Dylan and Ethan said their goodbyes to Luke and the girl before heading back to the sophomore house to tell Mackie and Mark the news that Luke wouldn't be going out.

"Sorry about them," Luke said kind of embarrassed as Y/n shook her head and grinned at him. "they seem lovely," she said while pressing a kiss to his shoulder before flipping to a new page in her notebook. "You'll think less highly of them once they're all in a room, or once they've had a few beers," he mumbled and looked back at her who was still smiling up at him.

Those damn dimples, he thought to himself as he squeezed her thigh and tried to focus back on the terms list in front of him.

-

-

-

[bluewxrld07]

Good Graces Pt. 2 (Jack Hughes)

Summary: The aftermath between Jack and Y/N at the lakehouse unfolds...

Warning(s): Angst, yelling/cussing, light smut, cheating

Y/N takes a quick halt on the ice, trying to catch her breath. She bends over and rests her hands on her knees, looking up at the guys before her as they all still skate around the rink.

Before Y/N could process that she wound up in Jack's room the night before after their time on the boat, they were rudely awakened by Trevor whom wanted to get up for a seven in the morning skate at the rink.

Jack had fought with her, not wanting her to leave the bed as he kissed his way down her stomach and in between her legs, but was lightly pushed away by her. She would've happily obliged if it weren't for how prone Trevor can get about getting to the rink to skate in the morning.

She nearly shit herself thinking that Trevor most definitely caught her in Jack's bed, but after he acted like normal when she went down to grab something to eat she figured she was safe.

She was pulled away from her thoughts when a puck hit the boards hard next to her, causing her eyes to snap over to where it came from.

Jack smirked lightly as he slowly skated towards her, his eyes catching hers as she stood upright.

He stops in front of her, tapping her thigh lightly with his stick. "Haven't seen you this out of breath since middle school. What happened, pretty?" he jokes, earning an eye roll from her as well as a smack to the chest.

"Don't start. You guys do this on a daily basis for your job. I do this recreationally now." she says as she skates towards the bench to grab her water.

"You ever thought of going back and playing? Guarantee UMich would take you as a walk-on." he says as she squirts the water into her mouth.

She furrows her brows and shakes her head before swallowing. "No, I like what I'm doing now. I'm still part of the sport, just not the one playing." she explains, earning a hum from Jack.

"Can y'all hurry up? We've got like fifteen minutes left before the kiddos get here and we gotta head out." Cole shouts.

Y/N gives him a look. "Why does it matter? You said you've been here everyday anyways. Or did you actually have something else more important?" she retorts, causing Cole to rolling his eyes and stay silent.

Cole keeps shooting around with the other boys while Jack and Y/N stood at the bench boards.

Jack turns back from staring at the group, his eyes looking down at Y/N who's still glaring at Cole's direction. "Have you actually been able to call him out?" he asks, and she shakes her head.

"Tried to this morning when we got into the car. He just dismissed it after he tried asking where I was this morning." she explains, earning a scoff from the middle Hughes boy.

"He's such a pussy. He needs to fucking do something before I get involved." Jack says, puffing his chest out as he stares at Cole. Y/N puts a hand on his chest.

"Don't. That'll make things go worse than they already are bound to be." she explains, Jack furrowing his brows.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he shoots, making her regret how that came out.

"I didn't mean-"

"Nah nah I got it," he retorts. She tilts her head as he looks away from her and skates off.

Y/N lets out a puff, making her way back over to the group to finish their time in the rink.

Today should be fun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The crew made it back to the Hughes lakehouse, showered and dressed for yet another boat day, tunes blasting throughout the house as they all got stuff packed and prepped to take out on the boat.

Y/N's current state was contemplating on if she should even go out on the boat for the day. She knew there would be questions asked.

Especially if she took off her shirt.

She stood in the bathroom in front of the mirror, her chest and collarbones covered in purple marks from a certain brown-haired boy. No amount of waterproof makeup could cover it.

The girl sighs before tying her bikini top behind her back, throwing on a larger oversized t-shirt that looked like it belonged to one of the boys.

She decided to leave her hair down in hopes it would cover some of the partial marks you could see poking out from the top of the shirt, making her way out of the bathroom and downstairs.

Once she makes it to the kitchen, she sees they're all conversing as music played. Quinn's eyes found hers and he smiled warmly. "You gonna start us off again today?" he asks.

Her lips purse. "I'm gonna probably keep it on the download today. I'm a little sore from going as long as I did yesterday."

"I'm sure that's why you're sore." Jack mutters, heads turning towards him. He looks up and just shrugs. "Could've been from this morning too is all I'm saying."

Y/N gives him a knowing look when his eyes find hers, making his own eyes squint at her.

Quinn looks back at her and shrugs. "You alright?" he asks. She nods and gives him a reassuring smile.

The group grabs whatever they can in their arms, all making their ways toward the sliding patio door to make their ways down to the boat.

It was another hot and humid day, the sun out fully and no clouds to be seen. Y/N grabbed her sunglasses from the table before sliding on her shoes, almost jumping when she felt a hand on her arm.

She looked up to see Cole with a questionable look on his face. "What's been going on with you?" he asks, making her eyebrows crease.

"I could ask you the same. I barely see you," she shoots. Cole's eyes fall to his feet. "Just have been dealing with a few things back at home for next season is all."

Y/N scoffs as she swings her bag over he shoulder. "Yeah, alright. If that's your answer, then my answer is that I've been totally fine."

She walks away, ignoring his comment that sounded a lot like "You're unbelievable" from behind her.

Once they were all on the boat and situated, Trevor took initiative this time of driving the boat. Quinn was going to start the group off that day with the watersports. Y/N sat quietly at the back of the boat, Ethan and Luke both sat on either side of her.

She was talking with Ethan as they drove out to the middle of the lake, but she's pulled out of her conversation not too long after.

"Shit Y/N how'd you get away with leaving something like that on Cole?" Trevor says aloud, making her head turn over and look to where Cole was stood as he took his shirt off. Her eyes widened as a quiet gasp left her lips.

There was a deep and dark mauve colored hickey the side of his neck.

Known as his sweet spot.

Cole's eyes widen before he takes his phone out and peers into the camera to see what Trevor was talking about. Cole's eyes whip up towards her, knowing exactly what she was thinking.

He was caught and there was no chance of explaining around it.

Instead of outing him like she wanted to, embarrass him like how she felt in that moment, she chose to play a bit. "Guess he didn't even realize how sneaky I can be." she plays along, poking the inside of her mouth with her tongue.

Cole's brows furrow, knowing that her covering for him could've meant something much bigger than he thought.

Her eyes find Jack's, whom was sitting in the seats across from where Cole sat, his mouth open as he sat there clearly amused. He looks over at her, wanting to know what her plan was.

Y/N kept her eyes on Jack's, lifting her sunglasses onto her head before standing up.

"You know what," she says. "I think I'm gonna wake surf. Too good of a day to lay low. I'll live with being sore."

"That's our girl! Hey Quinn! Y/N's next!" Ethan hoots behind him.

Y/N looks at Jack while holding the hem of the t-shirt she wore. His mouth smirks slyly, poking his sunglasses down a bit mohave his eyes looking directly at her.

He knew where she was going with this.

Y/N lifted up her t-shirt to reveal her bikini below, supporting the familiar red color that matched the famous New Jersey hockey team as they all knew.

"Y/N what the fuck! Fucking shit Cole, you two are absolute animals! And I thought yours was bad!" Trevor hoots out.

"What're you talking-" Cole turns from his spot, his eyes landing on Y/N with the widest eyes ever as she thanked Ethan for her lifejacket. "Y/N what the fuck are those? Are you fucking joking???" Cole bursts, standing up from his spot.

Y/N buckles her lifejacket, and shrugs. "What do you mean? You don't remember? That's so unfortunate, I thought we had a great night, no?" she shoots back, watching his eyes try to tear away from the marks all over her chest.

Cole sputters out a bunch of nonsense and sits down. His eyes in complete disbelief.

Y/N looks over at Jack whom has slouched into his seat, mouth covering an amused smile while his other hand adjusted his lower half while he scanned her figure slowly.

She smiles when his eyes meet hers, the boy mouthing 'naughty' to her. She gives him a wink before turning around to step onto the edge of the boat.

Her hand gets grabbed, causing her to look down and see a proud smiling Ethan. "Atta girl." is all he said quietly, and that is when she knew he knew.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was close to the later part of the afternoon. The heat still blazing just as much as the sun shined.

They decided to take a bit of a break from the boat, pulling into the dock to go grab something to eat.

Once Y/N hopped off the dock and headed inside.

The cool feeling of the air conditioner hits her skin as she begins to make her way upstairs. Then she feels someone grab her arm. Her eyes are met with a very blazingly upset Cole.

"You're gonna tell me when you got those," he shoots. "And more importantly who."

She points at his. "You first, honey." she says sweetly and with fake innocence. Cole's eyes glare at her. "What game are you playing at?" he says, causing her to shrug.

"I don't like games, but I also don't like how you think you and your little secret are slick. I know where you've been. I want to hear you fucking admit it to me, Cole." she snaps, earning a scoff.

Cole's face pales, immediately looking all nervous. "Who told you?"

"Doesn't matter if I was told something or not. I know Cole I just wish you would've had the fucking balls or maturity to admit it!" Her voice raising slightly. "You treat me like utter horseshit, and I'm sick of it! Sick of you thinking it's okay to act like this while you're off doing who know what with her! Admit it!" she pushes.

"She makes me feel something, Y/N! You wouldn't understand!" he finally admits, making her heart stop for a split second. She scoffs.

She looks at him. "You're a fucking coward, Caufield." she mutters before brushing past him, and down the stairs. He follows behind her and into the kitchen where the boys all sat.

"Says the one who won't even tell me who fucking marked you up like a bitch! If anything, it's me who should be feeling betrayed because this could've been going on before I got with Milly!"

She whips around to look at him. "Are you fucking kidding me? You have no right to call me that when you're the one who has been caught in the act not once, not twice, but five times back in Montreal! That's really rich coming from you, Cole!" she spills, making the guys all stop what they were doing and look at them.

"You've cheated on her?" Quinn says aloud, Cole rolling his eyes.

"Don't pretend you guys didn't know." he says. "She was always gone, always working! I had to do something!" he says, making Quinn scoff.

"Then be a fucking man Cole and break up with me! Don't fucking keep me hanging on to something that wasn't mine ages ago!"

"You're one to fucking talk! You'd barely ever let me touch you when you were home. How was I supposed to know you weren't slinging yourself around like some cheap whore-"

"Call her a fucking whore again, Caufield I fucking dare you." Jack snaps, his voice echoing all throughout the house.

Cole's eyebrows furrow as he watches Jack put himself next to Y/N protectively. A moment later, Cole scoffs and rubs his forehead.

"I see," he says quietly, his eyes going back and forth between the pair. "Oh how could I have been so blind! It's you! You fucked Y/N." Jack doesn't falter in his spot, he stands his ground.

"I should've known the day you almost lost your shit when I said I bagged her," he says. "Those scratches on your back this morning. Those from her too? Don't think I didn't fucking notice."

"Yeah, I did. I gave her what she deserves. It was me making her moan. Me she was begging for. Me she disappeared with for the night," Jack finally snaps, walking closer to Cole. "You should've seen the way I made her fall apart. How she begged me to mark her as mine."

Cole was fuming as he rubs his lips with his fingers. He points at Jack before biting his bottom lip harshly. "You're a fucking piece of shit."

Jack smirks and scoffs back. "You're just mad because you and I both know that it was going to be me she ended up with at the end of the day," he raises his hands and gestures to all the boys. "We all knew it."

Jack stalks up to Cole, looking down at the blonde due to their height difference. "You were just the decoy, man. From day one. She was mine."

Y/N didn't know whether she wanted to slap, punch, kiss or drop to her knees for Jack in that moment.

Cole shook his head and backs away from Jack. Jack looks him up and down quickly. "Pack your shit, and be out of here by the time we're back from lunch. Go stay with your puck bunny that you're so infatuated with." Jack says, walking away from Cole and up towards his room.

The room was so silent after that, you could hear a pin drop.

Cole looked back at Y/N one more time, shook his head and walked away.

She felt like shit. She never wanted to be the reason the boys split apart like this. A loud sigh leaves her lips that she didn't know she was holding, letting her head fall as she rubbed her face.

"I didn't mean for this to happen." she says to the boys behind her.

"Can I be honest?" Trevor says slowly and cautiously. "We all kind of were aware of it. We all wanted it to happen." he admits.

Y/N's head shoots up and turns back to look at them all. They each nodded sheepishly and hum in agreement.

"Why? Why would you-?"

"It's always been you and Jack. When Cole announced one day that he thought he would be able to bag you before Jack ever had the chance, we all knew it wouldn't last. Especially because Jack wouldn't let that happen, and Cole can't keep his hands to what's his." Quinn explains, making her brows furrow.

"So you all knew this would happen?"

"Yeah eventually."

Y/N scoffs and shakes her head. "You're all unbelievable. I don't even know what to think right now."

"We're guys, Y/N. You love us though. Right?" Luke says, trailing off slightly in a cautious manner.

Y/N crosses her arms over her chest. "I do love you all yes. But I need a minute."

"I'll text you when we are leaving for lunch." Quinn nods, and she looks at him with pursed lips before nodding once.

She turns on her heels and heads up the stairs, walking down the hall towards Jack's room. She knocks lightly, hearing a soft 'come in' as she opened his door.

The door shuts behind her as she crosses her arms, seeing him sitting at the edge of his bed with his elbows on his knees as he is bent over looking at the floor. His hands clasped together while his knee bounced.

"Jack-"

"Don't."

She frowns. "No I will." she argues, making his eyes snap up to hers with a warning look.

"You've had feelings for me? Why didn't you ever say anything?"

Jack stays silent.

"Jack Rowden."

"Fuck, fine. Yes I have, Always have."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I wasn't able to admit it to myself," he admits. "Not until Cole brought up wanting to go after you. That's when I figured it out."

"I wish I would've known sooner."

"Why, so you could give me shit?"

"No, so I could've turned down Cole."

He freezes. "What?"

Y/N sighs and lets her hands fall to her sides. "I chose Cole back then because you weren't showing any signs of wanting me. So I gave up and let Cole sway me instead."

Jack groans and palms his face before falling back onto his bed. "Fucks sake."

Y/N walks closer to him, standing now between his legs and looks down at him. "You also always bragged about the girls you got with, and then when you dated Sienna-" she trails off and shrugs.

Jack peeks out from his hands, letting them fall to his stomach.

"That's because I thought I should try moving on from you after you started seeing Cole."

"Well you aren't the brightest, we've gathered that."

"Watch it, pretty."

"Why? You won't do anything."

Jack sits up as he keeps his eyes on hers, instantly gripping her hips in a harsh motion and pulling her down onto his lap. She gasps at the feeling of him through the thinner bikini bottom fabric she wore, causing him to chuckle as he looked at her.

"Don't think I won't start something. Because I will, and I will make them wait till we're finished."

She rolls her eyes. "Whatever," she giggles, before looking back at him. Her face becoming serious. "I meant what I said Jack. Today and yesterday. I'm yours if you'll have me."

Jack's smile widens, squeezing her hips before he glides them around her body. "Gotta let me take you on an actual date first."

Y/N smiles and nods with a hum in agreement.

"For now I'd like a kiss please."

"Oh you're gonna get a little bit more than that. We've got time."

[patosduck]

Guys what, was he literally not a freshman like yesterday, also no mark was not there 😢

[toasttt11]

bad day

summary: somedays are harder than others

request: “I just need to make sure you’re okay” “Please talk to me”

ethan edwards x reader

Ethan frowned deeply at the closed door in front of him as he could hear the quiet sniffles on the other side.

“Baby please?” Ethan knocked at her bedroom door again his voice soft but worried.

He had came over immediately after she texted him she couldn’t go on their date tonight, she never cancels ever. He knew something was wrong as she been off all today and she didn’t answer his morning facetime and she didn’t react to the memes and tik toks he sent her today as she always does.

“I just need to make sure you’re okay.” Ethan pleaded sounding desperate.

He froze hearing her get up walk to the door ams after a moment of silence the click of the lock unlocking.

Ethan waited to hear her walk back to her bed before he slowly opened the door seeing her hiding in her bed and he set the bouquet of flowers on her desk as he slipped his shoes off and slowly walked over to her bed.

He sat down on the bed as her back was to him and he slowly reached out setting his hand over the blanket on her, “Please talk to me Love.” Ethan softly asked her.

She sniffled a bit making his heart squeeze desperately, “I’m having a bad day.” She very quietly admitted.

“Okay.” Ethan soothingly replied seeing she didn’t want to talk about it.

“You won’t ask more?” She whispered sounding shocked, she didn’t know how to put her bad day in to any words.

“I know what i need to.” Ethan said simply and got under the covers and wrapped his arms around her from behind squeezing her softly.

Her fingers trembled as she grabbed on to her boyfriend’s hand and softly squeezed thankful for him.