“Fine, fine.” I slip on my pants and jersey quickly as Hannah does the same. I flip the light on the wall to the blinking red option, signaling it needs cleaning, then we walk back out to the bar area with Hannah between us, both of us holding one hand connecting the three of us and I’ve never felt so complete.
47
ETHAN
My heart is going, quite literally, a million miles an hour.
Not only am I still on a high from the most mind-blowing orgasm I’ve ever had, but Hudson Byrnes is here.
He’s hugging and smiling at everyone that’s circled around him. His 6 '4 height towers over almost all of them and ironically he’s the only one not in a Smashers Jersey but in a World Series Championship shirt with the Smasher logo across the front of it.
A small wave of jealousy hits me but I can’t help but smile at the happiness that surrounds everyone.
“Hud!” Dane calls out, practically jump-scaring me, making my heart pump even harder.
“DC!” Dane steps forward breaking the circle and gives Hudson one of those bro hugs that only two guys do when they’re close and care about each other in a platonic way.
“You fucking did it, back-to-back champ!” Dane says excitedly.
“It’s the team, man. Everyone’s at their peak,” Hudson says, running his hand through his dark brown hair which is stilldamp from the shower he probably had to take after getting drenched in Champagne.
“Hey, is he here?” Hudson asks Dane.
Dane nods with a smile and points to me.
I swear to god my eyes saucer out of my head as I look at Hannah then back at Hudson as he makes his way in our direction.
“Ethan,” Hudson holds his hand out, “I’m Hudson. I’ve heard so much about you, it’s good to meet you.” I shake his hand, still in shock so the only words that leave my mouth are a rusty sounding, “You too.”
“Hannah?” He looks at my gorgeous girl, still flushed from the earlier events of the night and she smiles, nodding, not nearly as starstruck as I am. “It’s great to meet you.” He leans in and gives her a gentle hug.
Turning back to me, he places his hands on his hips. “So, in Game five you think I could have gotten that last out in the ninth inning if I were a tad faster when Silva stole second base?”
My jaw drops as I glare at Dane. “You told him that?”
Hudson laughs and pats me on the shoulder and we fall into some easy conversation that brings back memories of talking to all my baseball mates from high school.
An hour goes by, maybe two—I’ve completely lost track—we’ve made our way to the bar while Dane and Hannah talk with others in the group and I swear neither one of us has shut up about the series. We’ve been reminiscing on different plays that made the difference, making their win possible and the conversation is like a happiness drug I want to overdose on.
Looking over my shoulder, I steal a glance at Hannah as she yawns, dipping her head into Dane’s nook. I know it’s been a long day and it’s time to head out, even though I could talk ball all night with Hudson. He’s so down to earth and easy going. Iknew that about him, but in person it’s like he’s one of the guys and doesn’t even know how famous he is.
“So, I hate cutting this night short,” I look at my watch and it’s well after midnight, “Er, I mean cut this night off at all, but I should get her home.”
Hudson glances over at Dane and Hannah both on the verge of passing out.
“He’s invested, you know?” He turns back to me. “In both of you.”
I chipmunk my cheeks as I run my hand through my hair. “It’s complicated.” I pause for a minute before adding, “My father?—”
At the same time Hudson says, “Professor or not—” our words overlap each other and we both stop talking, his brows pinch together questioning why I would say my father versus the huge glaring fact that heistechnically my professor.
“I mean…yeah, that’s a huge problem. I think we need to lay low and just decide where to take things after the semester.” I take in the two of them as I’ve done throughout the day today and IknowDane is invested. I’ve always known, I just haven’t been willing to admit it or accept my feelings for him. “We are too. We want to figure this out. I’m just not sure how yet.”
Hudson smiles and it’s a genuinely happy one. Like he was worried my response would hurt his friend and I immediately mirror his grin because it feels good to say that out loud.
“Just keep him in the loop about how you feel. He’ll stand by your side the whole way, he just needs to know.”
I nod as he pats my shoulder. “I know it’s a bit premature but Afterburn is having a New Year’s masquerade party, are you and Hannah going to come with Dane?”
