Page 62 of Off Season

“Just being Elliot,” he answers with a laugh. “Daniel tried to teach him how to use the coffee machine, and he ended up burning his hand on the steamer. He almost dropped a tray of cookies on the floor too, but managed to catch himself before they slipped off.”

I cover my mouth with my hand and laugh. “Oh wow. He’s a wild one.”

“He is, but he’s been awesome. When Blaine’s been helping out here, El’s been looking after Ernie for us. He also found a really old Elvis vinyl and bought it for me the other day.”

My heart squeezes in my chest.

Before they passed, our grandparents had a decades-long tradition of dancing to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley every Sunday.

Since Alex told Blaine about it, they decided to carry on with that tradition. When Alex and I were still living together and Blaine didn’t have a game, they would dance in the living room while I made myself scarce. I was so freaking happy for my brother, but that brought on a whole new wave of grief I didn’t want him to witness.

“That was sweet of him.”

“It was.” I can hear the smile in Alex’s voice. “Anyway, I better go open up. Daniel will be here any minute. Will you call me later?”

“Of course, I will.”

“Cool! I miss you, Jake. I can’t wait for you to come home.”

That damn lump forms in my throat again, causing my voice to come out weak. “I miss you too, Alex. Have a good day.”

We hang up, and I drop my head back onto the cushion, staring up at the ceiling.

There’s a weird mix of emotions coursing through me. I want to stay here, wrapped up in this little bubble Ethan and I have, but I also miss home.

I miss seeing my brother, working at the bakery, and my own bed. I miss my routine and the constant reminders of my parents and grandparents around me.

I wish I could have it all.

Mentally shaking the gloomy cloud away, I get up and go downstairs, heading into the gym where Ethan is working out. He’s sitting on the floor with a weighted ball, grimacing as he shifts it from side to side, and I take him in for a coupleof minutes. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to see him like this again.

The second he spots me, he places the ball on the floor and stands up. His inquisitive gaze roams over my face, a frown lining his forehead under the peak of his baseball cap.

“Is everything okay?” he asks, concerned.

I want to hate the fact he has the ability to read me so well after such a short period of time together, but I can’t. I love how attentive he is, how he pays attention to the little details. I just can’t let myself read too much into it.

“Yeah,” I nod. “I was just on the phone with Alex and started to feel a little homesick.”

His frown deepens, but I wave him off. “I’m fine, honestly.”

Ethan’s silent for a beat, just looking at me with those intense, dark eyes. “Need me to help take your mind off of it?”

I can pinpoint the moment his face changes—the glint in his eye, the way his lips tip up in a smirk, and the sight of those godforsaken dimples that make my knees weak every single time.

“Do you even have to ask?” I say, dropping my voice into a sultry tone.

He takes a step closer and leans down, his breath fanning the shell of my ear. His hands roam down my sides to the waistband of my shorts.

“You’re going to be the death of me.”

“Why?” I whisper.

“Your legs look fucking unreal in these shorts, Jacob.” His hands slide around to squeeze my ass. “And they show off your phenomenal ass.”

Tilting my head up, I graze my teeth over my lower lip, loving how his dark eyes flare with desire as they track the movement. I stick the tip of my tongue out of the corner of my mouth and smirk.

“Should I apologize?”

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