Page 126 of Melting the Ice

Ramsey looked from Brody to Dean and back again. “You broke his bed?”

Brody shoved his hands into his pockets. “Don’t make a big deal out of it, okay?”

“Itisa big deal. And sharing—”

Dean growled under his breath.

“Okay,” Ramsey said, throwing his hands up. “I’llbe fine on the couch. I already deprived of you of your romantic date night, I’m not gonna deprive you of your even more romantic bed-sharing. Besides, Brody kicks at night.”

“I do not,” Brody retorted.

Dean winced.

“Do I?” Brody couldn’t believe it. “You didn’t say anything.”

“You’re too cute in the morning,” Dean said, lowering his voice and tucking his head down, near Brody’s. “It’s alright. I don’t mind it. It’s . . .it’s worth it.”

Brody’s heart melted, right there in front of Ramsey.

“If I leave you on the couch, are you going to sneak out? Avoid me in any way?” Brody asked Ramsey in the sternest voice he could manage with his heart currently in a puddle at his feet.

“Swear to God I’ll be good. I won’t even sneak over and press my ear to the door. Hope that I can hear some of your antics for myself.”

Dean rolled his eyes. “There aren’t going to be any antics.”

“Guess I should apologize for that, too,” Ramsey said.

“No need,” Brody said, clearing his throat. “I’ll go grab you some sweatpants. The couch is pretty comfy.”

Ramsey glanced from Brody to Dean. “Do I want to know the sexual history of this couch?”

“No,” Brody said and hoped Ramsey would leave it at that. Andfinally,he did. In fact, as Brody glanced over at him, he looked tired.

“I’ll grab you some blankets. A pillow,” Dean said, slipping out of the living room.

Brody made sure Ramsey was all settled, couch made up as best he could, and after leaving him with a bottle of water and a pair of loose sweatpants, he ducked into his own bedroom, and sure enough Dean was there, stretched out on the bed as he scrolled through something on his phone.

“He all good?” Dean asked.

Brody nodded. “Not happy about staying here. Not happy about the concussion. But he’ll stick around. He knows if he doesn’t, I’ll report him to Dr. Robison.”

“Did you get out of him what happened?”

“Some fucking fool in one of those pedi-cabs ran a stop sign, and Ramsey had to swerve to avoid getting hit. Fell over the curb and smacked his head on the sidewalk. A faculty member saw it happen and insisted on taking him to the hospital. The idiot wasn’t wearing his helmet. He got lucky, butugh.”

“Could’ve been worse,” Dean pointed out.

“Could’ve been better too.” Brody let out a frustrated breath. Sat down on the bed, and took Dean lifting his arm as aninvitation, nestling his body against Dean’s bigger one. “You know how easily a promising career can be derailed.”

“I do know,” Dean said.

“And here I am . . .” Brody trailed off. He didn’t even want to say it. But that didn’t change it. It was still true.And here I am, thinking I’m gonna throw away perfectly good prospects. Prospects anyone else would’ve killed for.

“You can’t think like that,” Dean said firmly.

“It’s hardnotto think like that,” Brody retorted.

“You’reyou, not anyone else. You know what you gotta do, what you believe is right, more than anyone else.”

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