Quarterback's Hidden Play Falling for the Gay Guy

Chapter 3: A Fateful Hospital Visit

Later that evening, Ethan's body ached from practice, a few fresh bruises marking his arms from the intense tackling drills. But instead of heading straight home, he found himself at Crestview General Hospital. His dad worked there as an ER nurse, and Ethan had promised to stop by after school.

He walked into the busy lobby, scanning the familiar hallways. His dad was still finishing his shift, so Ethan wandered through the hospital, passing patients and medical staff. The sterile smell and fluorescent lights felt oddly calming after the noise of school and football.

As he turned a corner, he spotted a familiar face sitting alone in the waiting area—Phil. The boy looked different here, more vulnerable, like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. His freckled face was pale, and he seemed lost in thought.

Without thinking, Ethan approached him. "Hey, Phil, right? What are you doing here?"

Phil looked up, startled, but relaxed slightly when he saw Ethan. "Yeah, uh... just here for my mom. She's... she's going through chemo. It's been a rough day."

Ethan sat down next to him, his usual confidence replaced with something softer. "I'm sorry to hear that, man. Is she doing okay?"

Phil sighed, rubbing his face with his hands. "Not really. I convinced her to do chemo after a lot of pushing, but it's not going well. She's... not handling it well at all."

There was a moment of silence between them, the weight of Phil's words hanging in the air. Ethan didn't know what to say, but something in the quiet made him want to keep talking to Phil. "I'm here for my dad. He's a nurse. Guess we both have family at this place."

Phil gave a small, weary smile. "Yeah... small world."

For the first time, Ethan saw past the awkwardness and shyness that had marked their earlier encounter. Phil was carrying a lot more than anyone realized, and it made Ethan feel something he hadn't felt in a while—connected.