Chapter Fourteen

Ethan

ETHAN WAS HAPPY. As hard as that was to admit. He glanced over at Justin, who didn't exactly fit comfortably in the double innertube as they floated around the lazy river at the water park. Ethan checked their surroundings and waited until the tide pushed them around a bend.

"I love you," he said, testing out the words he hadn't quite said back. He poked Justin's side before pulling his hand back.

"Mmm, I love you more," Justin said, and the corner of his mouth tipped up. Ethan couldn't see his eyes but didn't doubt the look hidden by the dark lenses.

Other than gaming, their few trips together, their days at the beach, and their time in his parents' pool, Ethan got to enjoy seeing Justin's playful side full-time. He was usually so serious, but these rare big-kid moments were a nice reprieve—the times when they were alone and Justin was entirely unguarded. Ethan hoped he could think of more things for them to do together, these rare occasions where Justin let Ethan see the real Justin. Like now, as Ethan felt the splash of water hit the back of his neck and hair, Justin tried not to look guilty as his hand trailed behind them in the water.

"You aren't smooth," Ethan muttered, wiping the side of his cheek.

"Let's go do the big water slides after this," Justin challenged.

"You mean you don't want to try and drown me in the wave pool again?"

Justin didn't comment, only the corner of his eye crinkling. Ethan sighed. Yeah, this was happiness, and Justin was a completely different person when he was like this. From what Ethan had observed, when generally in the presence of others, Justin was kind of an asshole at times. He could get extraordinarily moody and irritated quickly. Ethan had seen that side of Justin rear its ugly head on the football field when something seemed unfair or over a penalty. Ethan didn't fear Justin, but Justin took no shit from anyone. It was strangely comforting.

They climbed the stairs to what seemed like the top of the world four times, just to slide down every single one of the interwoven colorful water slides.

"We have to do all four," Justin had said after Ethan complained the third time up.

"Why?"

"Because we finish shit Ethan. If we start it, we finish it."

"Okay then, equating life rules to waterslide rules sounds logical." Ethan sucked it up and trudged up the endless wooden stairs for the fourth time. It was ridiculous, but Justin hadn't seemed to be talking about waterslides, not really. Ethan was a part of something bigger with Justin, as if they were their own team.

"Twenty-eight dollars," Justin said later, from behind the driver's wheel as Ethan beamed at the most fabulous photo on the planet of the two of them at the water park. They'd taken it on a stop Ethan had begged for next to one of the tourist traps. Ethan held up the newest photo, showing it to Justin.

"Fuck," Justin grumbled and started looking around for a store.

" You . You are so good to me," Ethan praised.

"It's more like the shit I'm willing to do for you. I'm buying picture frames and shit, Ethan."

Ethan bit his lip.

"See, that right there. You know exactly what you're doing; don't think I don't know it. You can't get anything past me, Ethan Andrews."

"Well."

"Well, what?" Justin asked.

"Nothing."

There was a growl.

"I mean, you did just kinda throw down the gauntlet there."

"E-than…" Justin warned.

"I love it when you say my name like that—like it's two names. E and then than ." Ethan schooled his expression as Justin pulled into a local store. "Small victories," he pushed.

"Uh-huh."

"I'll show you a victory later."

*

THE FOLLOWING WEEKS seemed to fly by. Like a billion other people on the planet, Ethan wondered why summers had to be so short.

He counted for Justin as he did push-ups. "Nine thousand, two hundred and thirty-four…"

"E-than," Justin panted.

The front door opened, and Ethan's father came out with three bottles of beer.

"Saved by Dad," Ethan sang and took one. He'd been cleared to drink alcohol but in moderation after his doctor discontinued two of his medications and reduced the dosage on another. Ethan took the worst of them in the morning, so he was okay as long as he didn't drink right after that one.

Justin snatched up his shirt and used it as a towel as he sat on the step between Ethan's legs, then flopped back, still sweaty.

"Do you see the things I have to put up with, Dad?"

His father handed Justin a beer and the two clanked bottles. "I used to do that shit to your mom. Still do, if I'm honest."

Ethan sighed, sensing it was something these personality types never really grew out of. Then, it hit him. "You're flirts, the both of you."

Justin and his dad took a drink, then eyed each other. There were zero forthcoming admissions. But his father had come outside to talk to Justin about his last day working with the high school team. Deciding he'd see what his mom was up to in the kitchen, Ethan nudged sweaty muscular arms off his thighs and headed inside.