I quirk an eyebrow at him, surprised for him to be so daring in public. Matthews is still at the table with us, though he seems to be scrolling through a hookup app at the moment. Can't say I blame him.
Ethan yawns, stretching his arms above his head. The hem of his sweater rides up, showing just a bit of his abs.
“Welp, this old man is ready to turn in for the night.”
“Dude, it’s like ten o’clock!” Matty looks up from his phone.
“Which means I’ve already spent too much time with you. Hey, Carter — I’m gonna walk. You’re in that direction, right?”
Is he…is he inviting me to come with him?
“You’re, uh, downtown?”
I already know the answer to this, but I’m trying to keep up the façade.
“Yeah, near Hotel Ivy.”
“Oh, yeah, I’m just a bit further than that.”
He holds my gaze.
“Would you, uh, mind if I walk with you? I’m still getting the lay of the land.”
He looks relieved. Matty, on the other hand, is shocked.
“Carter, it is ten o'fucking clock at night. You are twenty-three years old. Why thefuckareyougoing home?”
I pull up an app on my phone and wave it at him.
“Look, man, I love you, but I’m gonna get my dick wet. Think I deserve it after yesterday, don’t you?”
He blushes.
“Oh. Yeah, dude. No problem.”
I wave at the rest of the team and head with Ethan to the coat check. Soon, we’re walking down the street, heading south toward the high rises of downtown.
“So, uh, you’ve got a hookup lined up?” Suddenly Ethan doesn’t seem as relaxed as he was at the bar.
“Oh. Uh, no. I just didn't want to deal with Matty’s bullshit.”
If I'm not mistaken, Ethan smiles. “Oh. Good.”
“Good?”
“I mean, uh, notgood, I mean sex is healthy and, um...I'm not sure what I'm saying.”
I laugh at his honesty.
“Healthy, huh?”
He looks at me and bites his lip.
“I like to think so, yeah.”
“Hm. As my captain, don't you think it's your duty to help keep me as healthy as possible?”
It's a risk, and I know it. But I also know how he was looking at me in that bar and I figure it's worth it. Sure enough, he smiles – not the quirk of a lip I've gotten used to, but an honest-to-God smile.
