Ethan Cole - The Unlimited System

They gathered in the cozy living room. The space felt lived-in and warm, filled with worn-in furniture that hugged the body and a subtle scent of lavender drifting from somewhere unseen.

Photos covered the walls—smiling faces, graduation caps, birthday cakes. The kind of memories that built a home. Julie and Jessica were still in the kitchen, their laughter faint but steady in the background.

Then came the creak of a door.

An older man stepped out slowly from the hallway. He moved with measured care, but his posture remained straight, his presence quietly commanding.

Harold Moore was sixty-six, a retired carpenter with the frame of a man who had once carried beams on his shoulders and crafted homes with bare hands.

Time and illness had thinned him, but nothing could take away the strength etched into his broad shoulders or the dignity in how he carried himself.

His silver hair was combed neatly back, and his warm brown eyes held the depth of someone who had seen much—and still chose to smile.

"Ah, so these are the friends Jessica brought home," he said, voice low and rich with a gravelly charm.

He leaned lightly on the doorframe, a gentle smile playing across his lined face.

Ethan stood first, stepping forward and offering his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Moore. I'm Ethan."

"Call me Harold," he replied, gripping Ethan's hand with surprising firmness. "We're not formal folks around here."

Jordan stepped forward next, his trademark grin in place. "I'm Jordan. And can I just say you've got a wonderful home here?"

Harold chuckled, the sound deep and familiar. "Thank you, son. Julie says you're the sunshine of the group. Good to see some light around here again."

Jordan grinned. "That's me. Sunshine with an appetite."

Mark approached last. Quiet, composed.

"Mark," he said simply, offering a nod.

Harold's gaze lingered on him a little longer than the others. He studied him, not in judgment, but with the silent recognition of a man who'd walked a few hard roads himself.

"You've been through some things," Harold said, not as a question—but a truth spoken gently. "I can see it in your eyes."

Mark paused, slightly taken aback, before giving a small nod. "I suppose I have."

Harold smiled, slow and knowing. "That's not a bad thing. Men like you… you don't say much, but when you do, it counts. The house feels safer with someone like you inside."

There was something unspoken between them then, an understanding forged not from words, but from mutual respect.

"Thank you," Mark said, his voice quieter than usual. "That means a lot."

Harold made his way to his favorite armchair with Ethan's help and sat down with a pleased sigh, waving them all toward the seats.

"So, tell me, boys. What brings you to our little corner of the world? City life too fast for you?"

Ethan smiled. "It wasn't really planned. My mom heard Jessica was coming back here and told me to drive her."

Harold's eyes lit up with playful curiosity. "Your mom, huh? And you just happened to be available?"

Ethan blinked. "We're just friends. That's it."

"At the moment?" Harold teased, the crinkles around his eyes deepening with his grin.

Jordan leaned in dramatically. "So you're saying there's a plan for more than friends?"

Everyone burst out laughing. Even Mark gave a rare, genuine chuckle.

But Mark's eyes caught something the others missed, a flicker in Jordan's smile. Just a momentary shift—too fast for most to notice.

A look not of jealousy, but of something… heavier. It passed, replaced instantly by Jordan's usual grin as he leaned back.

'So... not just the matchmaker, huh?' Mark thought silently. 'I guess they're at that age.'

Still, he said nothing.

Meanwhile, Harold continued with a laugh, "Jessica's our princess, no doubt. And I'm strict about who gets close to her."

He looked at Ethan with mock seriousness. "But if it ever turns out to be any of you boys… I'd consider it. Just don't let her outrun you. Girl's got fire."

"Exclude me, please," Mark said with a chuckle.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Jordan whistled. "Pressure's on, Ethan."

Harold laughed again, glancing around at all of them. "Julie told me a bit about you boys. I'm just glad she's surrounded by good hearts. That's all a grandfather can hope for."

The laughter eased into silence, but the kind that felt warm. At ease.

And for the first time in a long while, the Moore living room felt full—not just with people, but with life.

"Now, don't let this old man keep you boys from relaxing. But if you're interested in hearing a story or two about the town, or some of Jessica's childhood antics, I'm your guy," Harold said with a grin.

The group laughed together and enjoyed each other's company as they got ready for an evening of good conversation and stronger connections.

Harold's presence made everyone feel more grounded, highlighting the strength that comes from living a good life.

The sound of the front door opening caught their attention. Two identical boys walked into the house, their faces red from running around.

They were dressed in matching sports gear and backpacks slung over their shoulders.

They were Josh and Joshua—Jessica's twin younger brothers—looked every bit like high-energy teenagers, though exhaustion was clear in their posture.

Despite this, their faces lit up when they noticed the group in the living room.

"We're back!" Josh called out, his voice carrying a cheerful tone as he waved.

Joshua followed, his grin wide. "Sorry. We didn't know we'd have company."

Harold, seated in his armchair, greeted them warmly. "There you are, boys. How was training?"

"Exhausting," Josh replied, plopping his backpack onto the floor. "But good." He turned to Harold, his tone softening. "How're you feeling, Grandpa?"

Joshua chimed in, "Yeah, you look good today. Did you rest well?"

Harold's face softened at their concern, his smile gentle. "I'm doing just fine, boys. Don't you worry about me."

The twins nodded in unison before turning their attention to the guests. Their curious gazes flicked between Ethan, Jordan, and Mark.

"Hi, I'm Josh," one of them said as he stepped forward and offered his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"And I'm Joshua," the other added, following suit. "Thanks for visiting our humble home."

Ethan shook their hands, smiling at their polite demeanor. "Ethan. It's a pleasure to meet you both."

Jordan grinned as he shook their hands. "Jordan. And I've gotta say, you two make me feel like I'm seeing double."

Mark nodded, his handshake firm but polite. "Mark. Nice to meet you."

The twins exchanged a quick look before spotting Jessica walking toward them. Their exhaustion seemed to vanish instantly as their faces broke into identical grins.

"Jess!" they shouted together as they ran over to her. They hugged her tightly, and their laughter filled the room.

Jessica laughed, trying to keep her balance. "Alright, alright, you two! You're all sweaty. Let me breathe."

"But we missed you!" Josh said, pulling back slightly, though his grin remained.

"Yeah," Joshua added, "it's been ages since you visited. How've you been?"

Jessica smiled warmly, ruffling their hair playfully. "I'm good. What about you two? Staying out of trouble?"

"Of course," Josh said with mock seriousness before adding, "Well, except for football."

Jessica raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with football?"

Joshua sighed, his shoulders slumping. "We've been substitutes the whole year. Coach says we need to work on a few areas before we can make the first team."

Josh nodded in agreement. "Yeah. It's frustrating, but we get it. We just need to get better."

That was when Jordan leaned forward, his grin widening mischievously. "You two want to get better at football? Need tips to step up your game?"

The twins nodded eagerly.

"Well," Jordan said, pointing a thumb at Ethan, "you're in luck. This guy right here? He's your man. Knows all about being the best on the field."

Ethan blinked, caught off guard. "Jordan, what are you—"

"Oh, don't be modest," Jordan cut him off, leaning back dramatically. "Back in school, Ethan was a beast on the field. Captain of the team, MVP, you name it. If anyone can help you get off the bench, it's him."

Josh and Joshua's eyes lit up, their expressions a mix of awe and excitement. "Seriously?" Josh asked, turning to Ethan. "You played football?"

Ethan scratched the back of his head, shooting Jordan a pointed look before nodding. "Yeah, I played a bit in high school. But Jordan's exaggerating. He was actually as good as—"

"Don't listen to him," Jordan interrupted with a wink. "He's being humble. Trust me, you'll want his advice."

Jessica crossed her arms, a smirk tugging at her lips. "I didn't know you played football, Ethan."

Ethan chuckled, "Just a little bit during school days. Nothing much."

"As I said earlier," Jordan cut in with a grin, leaning forward, "you really shouldn't take his version of the story at face value. That was just a humble brag. He was actually scouted by Novan United FC."

Jessica's eyes widened. "Wait... the Novan United?"

"Yup," Jordan confirmed proudly. "One of the biggest clubs in Arland. And guess what this guy did? He rejected them."

Ethan groaned. "Here we go…"

"You were scouted too," Ethan countered, shooting Jordan a pointed look.

Jordan shrugged as if it was nothing. "Ridge Rovers FC. Second division. Not even close."

Even that was enough to make the twins freeze, eyes wide in disbelief.

"Hold on," Josh said. "That's still huge!"

"Both of you got offers from actual pro teams?" Joshua added, almost in awe. "That's insane…"

Harold turned to Ethan, his voice tinged with curiosity. "But… why did you turn them down?"

All eyes were on him now. Ethan shifted slightly in his seat, scratching the back of his neck. "It just… didn't feel right at the time."

He looked up, his tone more serious. "The truth is, I didn't know if I could make it. One injury and the dream's gone. You're replaceable. And I didn't want to hang everything on something that fragile."

The room grew quiet for a beat.

"That's why I took the scholarship instead," he added, more softly this time. "It felt safer. More… solid."

The twins looked at each other, clearly impressed. To them, football wasn't just a sport—it was a passion. And knowing Ethan had the chance to go pro made him instantly ten times cooler.

"Still…" Josh said, eyes shining. "Novan United scouted you. That means you're legit. You've got to teach us. Please!"

"Yeah!" added Joshua, already bouncing with excitement. "We'll do whatever it takes!"

Ethan laughed. "Alright, alright. If you're both serious, I'll give you a few pointers tomorrow."

He pointed his thumb toward Jordan. "But if you want to learn how to kick the ball hard enough to break bones, talk to him. He's got a cannon for a leg."

Jordan raised his brows and feigned modesty. "True. But don't expect style points. My shots are all brute force."

Ethan smirked. "Exactly. His nickname used to be 'The Sledgehammer.'"

Jessica giggled. "That's… actually pretty fitting."

There was a beat of warm silence as everyone chuckled, the energy in the room lighter, more playful.

Talking about football brought something back—something unspoken between Ethan and Jordan.

A flicker of nostalgia. Shared sweat. Faded dreams. Missed chances. But also… a bond.

The twins exchanged an excited glance, practically glowing. "This is gonna be awesome!" Joshua grinned.

"How about we play this evening? There's a football field nearby," Josh asked, eyes pleading.

Ethan nodded. It had been a while since he last kicked a ball, and since he was here, he should make the most of it.

Harold chuckled, watching the lively interaction. "Well, it seems like you've got a new mentor, boys."