Serendipity

Chapter 3

Sitting at the ice rink with Tyler, aunt Harper, Hannah, and Harley about twenty minutes before the start of the hockey game. Harry and Travis play hockey for the high school team with Harry as a co-captain with Mark Torrence as the other co-captain.

I love the Saturday games, but the only thing I don't like about the Saturday games is we're up by 5:30 a.m. if the game is away. Today we had to drive forty-five minutes away from home for a 7 a.m. start time. Tyler rode with us in aunt Harper's van. Yawning behind my left hand as Harley climbs onto my lap, sitting sideways as he snuggles into my for extra warmth. Kissing the top of his head as Tyler, Hannah and I talk with aunt Harper.

"Ethan, can you take me to the bathroom, please?" Harley softly asks with lightly tinted pink cheeks.

"Sure, buddy," I softly reply as we both stand to our feet.

"Where are you two going?" aunt Harper asks as we walk by here.

"The bathroom," I murmur, so I don't embarress Harley as we keep walking.

On the way back to our seats located behind the bench of Harry and Travis' team, I notice someone geared up who I swear looks like Liam.

Weird. I didn't know he played hockey.

Sitting down in the seat I was in before with Harley sitting back on my lap. The players from both teams are now out skating around the rink to warm up. Harry and Travis skate over to the boards to wave up at us with bright smiles as the guy who looks like Liam joins them.

He pulls his helmet off to smile up at us, and it really is Liam.

While he waves up at us, his curious eyes linger on me and Harley for a few seconds before the three of them skate off.

An hour later the game is finished with Harry's team winning by the score of five to three. Harry scored two goals, Travis scored one goal, and Liam with two assists. While the team changes in the locker room, we wait for Harry and Travis by the front of the entrance, and they show about twenty minutes later. They are sweaty, and changed into the regular clothes while carrying their sticks, and duffle bags with the uniform and pads.

"Hey, we're going out for breakfast before heading home," Harry tells his mum with a tired smile.

"How are you and Travis getting home?" aunt Harper asks with with a raised right eyebrow.

"We're getting a ride from West," Harry answers with a nod toward the friend he mentioned.

"Okay, see you at home then," she tells him before telling Travis and Harry to behave, which she doesn't need to do, but as a parent it's her job.

"Ethan and Tyler, do you want to come with us?" Liam offers before we can leave the building. "I can give you a ride home."

"Sure," Tyler instantly agrees with a smile at Liam in appreciation for including us.

"Um, no thanks," I reply as we normally don't go with the team does thing like this.

"Why not, Eth?" Travis asks, and it's evident that he is upset that I'm not coming with them.

"I promised I would take Harley to the park when we got home," I reply, and I'm being honest as I did promise Harley this.

"We can go later when you come home with Harry," Harley instantly replies with a bright smile at me.

"Um," I start to say, but I'm instantly shut down when Tyler squeals as he grabs me by the hand to pull me along with the others.

Tyler and I follow Liam to his car, and I'm shoved into the front passenger seat by Tyler, who is smirking at me when I turn to pout at him. Squinting at his smirk, he just winks at me as he goes to sit in the back passenger seat directly behind meas another guy sits next to him - I think the guy's name is Austin.

"Follow Harry to the resturant," the guy tells Liam as he starts the engine of his car.

"Sure," Liam replies as he drives behind Harry's truck.

"Evan, why does your name start with an E and your siblings start with an H?" Austin asks a few minutes into the drive.

"My name is Ethan, not Evan, and they are my cousins, not my siblings," I reply turning slightly to see the guy.

Austin frowns at me as he says; "Then why do you live with them, and not your parents? Did they not want you?"

I think he's trying to be funny since he is smiling at me, but Liam, Tyler, and I don't laugh, and his smile instantly drops off his lips.

"My mum died four years ago from breast cancer, and I don't know who my dad is," I reply with a scowl.

His facial expression goes from neutral to crestfallen as I spoke, and he rushes out; "Dude, I didn't mean what I said. I was just trying to be funny. Please don't tell Harry or Travis what I said, or they are gonna kick my ass!"

Instead of replying with what I wanted, too, I just turn forward, and the four of us remain silent the rest of the drive. Upon arriving at the resturant for breakfast, we climb out silently, and remain silent even as we enter, and sit down with everyone.

"Why are you guys being so quiet?" Harry asks once we're all sitting down, and have placed our drink order with the server.

"Austin decided to ask Ethan why he lives with you guys - if his parents didn't want him," Tyler growls out much to Austin's horror, and is instantly squirming in his seat as the entire team, and coaches stare at him in shock.

The head coach ripes into Austin about being insensitive towards another person, and the coach decides that Austin will be doing extra warmups for the next three practices for his insensitivity. The entire time we're with the team, I don't speak with anyone, and wish I hadn't come, and went home with aunt Harper and them.