Page 73 of Off Season

“Where are the others?” I ask.

“Outside by the grill. My brain was having a bit of an overload, so I came inside to unwind, and Izzy ended up showing me her bracelet-making kit. I decided I’d make one for everyone.”

“Ethan.” Isabela taps my leg. “Sit.”

“If I get on the floor, sweet girl, I won’t get back up, but you look after Elliot, okay? I’ll go and find your dad.”

She nods firmly, seeming happy with that answer.

I make my way outside and see Kendrick manning the grill with Jackson. They both wave when they spot me. Blaine and Mitch are playing knee hockey with Jackson’s son, Ryan, and Peyton is relaxing on a sun lounger, sipping on a beer.

“You made it!” Peyton throws his hands up, causing beer to slosh onto his hand . “I was starting to think I’d have tobreak into your apartment and force you to come have a hot dog.”

I chuckle and shake my head. Taking a seat next to him, he hands me a beer from the cooler, and I lean back.

“I didn’t want to risk being tickled by Elmo,” I deadpan.

He grins. “Knew that would scare you.”

I roll my eyes, then glance around the backyard.

“No Zach?”

“Nope. Dude’s still in Denver. I don’t know how they don’t get sick of each other spending all that time together. It’s like they’re a married couple or some shit.”

I don’t even know how to answer that.

Zach and Carter’s friendship is…complex. They’ve been friends since they were six and have done everything together up until they were both drafted by two different cities. I can’t lie and say I’m not concerned about the codependency they’ve got going on, because that kinda connection often leads to one of them getting hurt, and I just know in my gut it will end up being Zach.

Not that Carter is a bad guy, but Zach is too nice for his own damn good.

Peyton’s vizsla, Daisy, comes bouncing over, her tail wagging like crazy. She takes one sniff of me, then looks at me with an almost perplexed expression. Instead of sitting next to me like she normally does, she moves to Peyton’s other side, curling up with a huff, and gives me sad eyes.

“Dude, your vibe is making my dog sad,” Peyton states. “What’s going on?”

I look at him out of the corner of my eye and shake my head. “It’s nothing.”

“Clearly it’s not nothing, ‘cause even the dopey dog doesn’t want to be near you.” He points at Daisy.

Not that I blame her. I’m a miserable motherfucker at the moment, even more than usual.

Knowing I need to start opening up more to these guys, I look over to where they’re standing around the grill. I don’t know if I’m ready to confess everything to all of them, especially Blaine, considering he’s dating Jacob’s brother, but if I talk to Peyton, it’s a start.

Baby steps, right?

“I’m having trouble with some things,” I begin.

“Such as?”

“I can’t stop thinking about this guy, and I’m not sure how to handle it.”

Peyton’s silent for a moment, then his face breaks out in a stupid grin. “Dude, I was worried you were gonna sprout some bad shit, like you're sick or something. Wait, unless you’re getting back together with Ian.” His brows furrow. “Please don’t tell me you’re getting back with that fucker.”

“Fuck no.” I quickly shake my head.

He lets out a relieved sigh. “Then what is the problem?”

Rubbing my hand over my face, I mumble, “I fell for Jacob.”

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