Page 110 of Melting the Ice

And that didn’t even touch on what the fuck they were going to do about it besides enjoying the year and a half they both had before they inevitably went their separate ways. Brody to whatever amazing thing he decided to tackle next, and Dean to the NFL.

“Okay good.” The concern melted off Brody’s face and it softened. Dean felt his fingers brush against his knee, then moveaway, like he needed to reassure both of them that he was actually fine.

“Seriously, though, I’ve been getting a lot of interest,” Ian said. He paused, grinning. “So you can’t inhale Dr. Pepper and die now.”

“Wasn’t planning on it. Good interest?”

“I’d say just about every team,” Ian said.

“That’s fantastic, Dean,” Brody said enthusiastically, like he didn’t mind at all if Dean took off and chased his NFL dreams.

It didn’t necessarilymeanthat, but that enthusiasm dimmed his own perspective, and a little bit of the hope he’d been holding on to.

“Yeah, it’s great news,” he said slowly. He wanted to hang on to the way it had felt when he’d realized Brody had come to his game.

Then do it, that stupid squirrel voice insisted.Nothing has to change, even though you’ve caught feelings. It’s been good between you. Keep it good.

Even though it was the stupid squirrel part of his brain and Dean would’ve assumed totally clueless, that was actually pretty decent advice. He could do that.

Truthfully, it was way fucking easy to keep it good with Brody. Because itwasso goddamn good.

“I think the only thing I’ve got to say is keep annihilating those offenses, and keep doing whatever else you’re doing,” Ian said, the sly glance he gave Brody giving away exactly what he meant.

“I can do that,” Dean said.

The waitress came with their orders and they shifted into small talk as they ate, Ian telling a story about some of his boyfriend Carter’s shenanigans at their local bar.

“Wait,” Brody said, chewing some of his Reuben and swallowing, “the bar you go to is called thePirate’s Booty?”

Ian grinned. “Yep. Funny isn’t it?”

“It’s hilarious. What team does Carter play for again? I can’t remember. It’s the Piranhas, right?”

Ian chuckled and Dean didn’t hold back his eye roll. “It’s the Condors, and you’d better not say that around them. They take that kind of stuff personally.”

“The Condors and the Piranhas are division rivals,” Dean explained and Brody’s eyes lit up.

“Oh! Like the Rangers and the Canes?”

“You hockey guys are so weird,” Dean teased.

“Oh yeah, like we’reanyweirder than you football guys,” Brody dished right back, grinning at him.

For a second, it felt like the whole world fell away. There was just that bright smile on Brody’s face and the affection in his honey brown eyes, andmore, Dean hoped. He was going to enjoy what he could, while he could, but there was no way not to hope that maybe someday, Brody might feel the same.

Ian cleared his throat and the moment broke. Brody looked away, back down to his sandwich, and Dean fished around on his plate for a few leftover fries.

“Well, I think as a third-party arbiter, I’m gonna say you’rebothweird, but I’m gonna give the edge to football,” Ian said.

“That’s only ’cause you’re dating a football player,” Dean objected.

Ian raised an eyebrow. “Yep, I get a front row seat to all that weirdness. And then Carter’s got his own idiosyncrasies.”

“Making him one of the best receivers in the NFL,” Dean pointed out wryly.

“But probably not any easier to live with,” Brody said.

Ian nodded, but this sweet, gooey look crossed over his face. Love, that was what it was, Dean realized. Ian was wildly in love with Carter, the same way he—

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