It was surprising to me that after all of the confusion I went through the past few days I was still able to focus during our hockey game on Friday night. I could practically feel my father cringing from where he sat in the stands due to the amount of shots I had blocked and the way I was finishing my checks. Surely, I would be sore later, but at that moment it didn't matter. I was having a hell of a game.

We were up 2-0 in the third period when I skated for the puck and ended up being shoved into the boards from behind. I fell to the ice as I heard a whistle being blown and a commotion behind me. I slowly turned my head to see that Fox was shoving the player that had hit me as the ref tried to hold him back. Quickly, I got to my feet and made my way to him, grabbing onto his jersey and pulling him away.

"We're about to get a power play, don't mess it up," I said as his eyes searched my face.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, looking as if he was searching for any visible injuries.

We didn't have time to say anything else as we had to get in formation to continue the game. Fox won the face off, like he seemed to always do, and passed it back to Josh who then passed it back to me. I didn't have a clear shot so I whipped the puck back to Fox. As soon as the puck hit his stick, he redirected it directly into the back of the net.

The five of us that were on the ice gathered in a huddle for celebration before skating back to the bench.

"Ellis," Coach Silva called out. "Do you want to sit for the rest of the game?"

"No, I'm good," I told him with a reassuring smile.

"You've had a lot of time on ice tonight," he pointed out. "It's okay if you're tired, especially after that hit you took."

I just reassured him again that I didn't need to sit out. However, he only put me in for one more shift before the game ended.

"Alright boys good win tonight," Coach Silva congratulated us. "After tonight we have officially clinched a spot in the Masters Tournament up in Maine."

This caused a chorus of cheers throughout the locker room. The Masters Tournament was the biggest hockey tournament in New England. Only the best teams got a shot and the winner won some funding for their team. I had been before with my old team. It was challenging, but it was a good time.

Coach Silva finished talking and allowed us to leave. I took a quick shower then met Josh back out in the locker room.

It turned out that Ava had plans the other night and couldn't participate in our movie night, so we changed it to tonight.

"Are you coming out with us tonight?" Fox asked, walking up behind me with just a towel around his waist. It took all my will power to keep my eyes on his face.

"Can't," I replied, clearing my throat. "I have plans with Josh and Ava."

Fox seemed surprised by this, but didn't comment on it. Instead, he nodded and dropped his towel on the bench before getting dressed. I felt my cheeks heat up and figured Fox only did that to mess with my head. He knew exactly what he was doing.

"Ready to go?" Josh asked me from my other side.

"I guess I'll see you guys later," Fox said before I could answer Josh. He smirked at me and patted me on the shoulder before leaving the locker room.

"What was that about?" Josh questioned, motioning toward Fox.

I let out a deep breath, trying to get the heat out of my face before anyone could notice.

"Nothing," I lied. "Let's just go."

Josh didn't look like he believed me as he sent a skeptical look my way, but I kept my gaze forward as the two of us walked out to the car. We didn't speak on the ride home, but the silence between us was comfortable as the music flowed throughout the car.

"Great game tonight, boys," Dad greeted us as soon as we walked in the door. He was dressed up in a button down shirt with slacks, looking as if he was getting ready to leave.

"Why are you dressed up so nice?" I asked, pointing at his attire.

Dad looked down at his clothes with a smile. "It's date night!"

Just as he said that, Mindy came rushing down the stairs in a knee-length red dress and high-heels, shoving a dangling earring into her ear.

"And there is my beautiful wife," Dad said, holding out his arm for her to take.

Mindy looped her arm through his before looking toward Josh and me.

"You boys will be good, right?" Mindy asked, staring us both down. "No parties, that goes for Ava too. Make sure she behaves."

"We got it, Mom," Josh answered.

"Good, good," Mindy replied before turning to yell up the stairs, "Ava! We're leaving!"

Ava just let out an incoherent response from her room.

Mindy pulled Josh's face toward her to give him a kiss on the cheek before giving me the same treatment.

"We'll be back later," Dad said, looking down at Mindy with a smile. "Don't wait up."

And with that the two of them left.

"What are you up for watching tonight?" Josh asked as the two of us walked up the stairs.

I shrugged. "Anything. Maybe Ava should pick."

Josh nodded in agreement before the two of us separated to our own rooms to get changed. Once I was in some comfier clothes, I met Josh and Ava downstairs in the living room where the two were arguing over a movie.

"Why do you always have to pick out messed up movies?" Josh questioned her with a slightly irritated look.

"You told me to pick so I picked!" Ava shouted back. "I picked what I like!"

I looked to the TV to see that Netflix was pulled up to a movie called Creep.

"Are we going to watch or what?" I asked them, trying to break up their fight. I walked between the two of them to take a spot on the couch.

"Fine, whatever," Josh grumbled, sitting down beside me. "But Mom and Dan will be pissed at us if they find out we let you watch this weird shit."

Ava sat down on my other side and shot Josh a dirty look.

"This is why Elijah is my favorite brother," she told him.

I smirked over at Josh who just shook his head as he pressed play on the remote.

The movie was weird right off the bat and Josh didn't hesitate to voice his distaste, Ava ignoring him. Josh watched the entire movie with a look of discomfort while Ava sprawled out across the couch, throwing her legs over my lap.

"That was stupid," Josh said as the credits came up on the screen.

"I'm done with your negativity tonight," Ava said, standing up from the couch. "Goodnight favorite brother and Josh."

I chuckled as she walked away, kicking Josh's shin as she went by him.

"You agree with me, don't you?" Josh asked, rubbing his shin.

"It was weird," I agreed with a laugh.

"I don't know why she likes those kinds of movies," Josh mumbled as he looked through Netflix for something else to watch.

He settled on some random reality show and the two of us watched in silence until Josh decided to speak up.

"So is everything going okay?" he wondered in a soft tone.

I gave him a strange look. "Yeah?"

"I mean, like–" he sighed, running a hand through his hair "with Fox. You're okay? Even with your... feelings?"

I couldn't help but laugh at Josh's question, even though I didn't even know if I was okay with everything. My feelings for Fox were confusing, and the state of our relationship was even more so after her admitted his feelings. But I couldn't say that to Josh.

"Everything's fine," I assured him.

He didn't look convinced.

"Seriously," I told him. "He knows I like him. He's cool with it."

"He knows?" I thought Josh's eyes were going to fall out of his head he opened them so wide.

I nodded. "I told him. He's cool. It's fine."

"Oh," he said. "Good."

I nodded again and the two of us continued to watch what he had put on.

"We should do this more often, the three of us," I suggested, causing Josh to send a surprised look my way.

Even though it was hard for me to admit, it was nice hanging out with my siblings. It made this place feel more like a home rather than just a place I slept.

"Yeah, we should," Josh agreed. "Ava's not picking every time though."

I laughed. "Definitely not."

Josh and I stayed on the couch a little while longer and eventually, he fell asleep. It wasn't long after that when my phone lit up with a message from Fox.

From: Fox

You busy?

I looked at Josh's sleeping figure for a moment before replying.

From: Fox

Do you want to hang out for a little while?

I smiled down at the message and quickly replied that I would like to see him. It didn't take long for Fox to show up. I turned the TV off and headed out the door, locking it behind me.

"Hey," Fox said as I let myself into his car.

A small smile crept onto my face as I buckled up.

"Hey."

The street light above us illuminated his tan skin, making it hard for me to look away. He wore his glasses that framed his face perfectly, making him look even more attractive. His lips were quirked up slightly on one side as he stared back at me with a deep gaze, his head resting on the headrest.

"Is there a reason you wanted to hang out?" I asked him, matching his expression.

"Just wanted to see you," he told me in a low voice.

The fluttering in my stomach was almost unbearable, as if itching at me to remind me just how I felt about the guy in front of me.

"Are we just going to sit in my driveway or do you have something planned?" I asked with a quiet chuckle.

Fox rolled his eyes and put the car in reverse. "I don't have anything planned."

He pulled out of the driveway and started out of the neighborhood.

Fox rested his arm on the center console, placing his hand on the shifter. I contemplated placing my hand on his, but couldn't find the courage to do it. He must've seen the pondering look on my face out of the corner of his eye because he reached out and grabbed my hand in his, placing both of them on the center console.

My cheeks flushed but I couldn't help but grin at him.

"Have I ever told you I like your glasses?" I asked, earning another eye roll from him.

"You have."

"They're hot," I added, my grin widening.

Fox smirked. "Are they?"

I hummed in confirmation, nodding my head.

"I guess I should wear them more often then," he replied.

"You should," I agreed. "But then you'd be attracting a lot more attention."

"So I should only wear them for you then?" he asked in a teasing tone.

"Yeah, that would work."

Fox chuckled at my words before pulling into an empty parking lot at the local park. I had only been here a few times, but the park was undoubtedly more eerie at night. If I was alone, I would be paranoid, but being with Fox calmed me.

A low rock song played on the radio as Fox parked the car underneath a streetlight. Once parked, we turned to face each other. The glasses on his face almost made the scar above his eyebrow unnoticeable. That blemish on his skin was the only thing that seemed out of place on his otherwise perfect face, but it didn't make him any less handsome.

"I really want to kiss you," I blurted before I could stop myself. I was too enamored by him to filter my thoughts.

A coy smile took over his face. "So do it."

Less than a second later, my lips were on his and his cheek was caressed by my hand. The kiss was slow, our lips moving together at a matching pace. It was like they wanted to get to know each other, to know every inch. It wasn't long before Fox slipped his tongue in my mouth and let out a moan. I couldn't keep myself from doing the same thing.

The pace never quickened, but eventually Fox pulled away and attached his lips to my neck, kissing up to my jaw.

"Fox..." I said in a breathless voice as he sucked on a sensitive area of skin. That only encouraged him to continue.

My fingers tangled in his hair as he continued kissing me, moving from my jaw, down to my neck and then my collarbone. I let out a flustered breath before bringing his face back up to mine to press our lips together again. I could feel Fox smile into the kiss as his hand moved down to my hip, dangerously close to my front.

"I'm not hooking up with you in a car again," I breathlessly mumbled against his lips.

"Fine, I'll be good," Fox replied, moving his hand away.

Fox and I spent at least another half hour making out in his car before deciding to head back to my house. It was later than I thought, already past midnight. Dad and Mindy were sure to be home by now and they wouldn't be too happy with me if they found out I was out this late without telling them.

"Shit," I muttered as Fox pulled up to the curb in front of my house.

"What?" Fox asked, putting the car in park.

"I left my key inside," I told him as I sifted through my pockets, hoping for the key to turn up.

"I can get you inside," Fox said, causing me to tilt my head in confusion.

"What?"

"You can get in through your window. Josh used to use it to sneak out," he told me with a shrug.

"Josh sneaks out?"

"When we were younger before we had cars and later curfews," Fox clarified.

That didn't seem like Josh. He was too much of a rule-follower. I guess I didn't know him as well as I thought.

Fox got out of the car and motioned for me to follow him around the back of the house toward my bedroom window. Josh's window was at the front of the house with no way to get in or out while mine was at the back above the back porch and a low section of the roof.

"Unless you've locked your window, it's not locked," Fox said as we stood below it.

I rolled my eyes. "Great."

Fox laughed. "I'll boost you up and make sure you don't fall."

As Fox cupped his hands, I placed my foot in them to boost myself up on the railing. I definitely could've done this myself, but I wasn't going to deny any help from Fox.

Once I was up, Fox stepped on the floor of the deck so he could reach up and place his hands on my sides. As I pulled myself up onto the roof, Fox's hands fell to my ass. I looked down at him with a glare to which he held his hands up in defense.

"My hands slipped," he said with a cheeky grin.

I rolled my eyes. "Sure..."

I turned around and quietly made my way toward the window. Luckily, the window was unlocked and I pulled it open with ease, letting myself in my room. Once I was safely inside, I looked out the window to send Fox a wave to which he returned before walking back to his car.

After changing and getting ready for bed, an instagram notification popped up on my phone. I assumed it was just Ryan sending me some meme that I wouldn't understand like he had been since he started up my account again, but the message I received was much worse.

Heard you made it to the masters. didn't think they'd let faggots in. you might wanna be careful when we see you there...

The message from an old teammate caused a lump in my throat and all of a sudden, my messages were flooded with hateful warnings from my old team.

I shut the phone off and threw it down on my nightstand, my heart beating fast.

My head wouldn't be clear for the rest of the night.

**