Page 133 of Melting the Ice

“Yeah,” Finn said in a dry voice. “He sure is. Wanting to make sure his investment is paying off.”

Dean understood a little of Finn’s bitterness.Hisbitterness was different, of course. More of awhy do my parents both think I’m worthlessflavor, but he imagined that having an overly invested parent would be hard, too.

“Hey, if my dad was a famous hockey player, I’d fucking love it,” one of the guys Dean didn’t recognize said. One of the guys Dean was pretty sure wasn’t a hockey player.

Ramsey and Brody exchanged a knowing glance.

“You don’t know anything,” Brody said slowly, as Finn’s gaze drifted back to the ground.

“All those genes and the money and the exposure,” the guy kept arguing.

Ramsey cuffed the guy on the back of the head. “Hey, you,” Ramsey said, turning to the guy with his most flirtatious smile, “why don’t you go get me another drink?”

“Me?” the guy squeaked. Looking downright floored that anyone who looked like Ramsey would trust him to do any kind of errand involving Ramsey’s mouth.

Brody rolled his eyes and Dean stifled a laugh.

“Yeah, you,” Ramsey said.

“Sure, be right back,” the guy said. Leered one more time and then left.

“Sorry,” Ramsey said to Finn, who just shrugged. Like he didn’t want to be bothered. But Dean could tell he was bothered.

“We know it sucks,” Elliott said.

Finn shrugged again. Clearly he didn’t want to talk about it, and that much was obvious to everyone, so why had Ramsey brought it up in the first place?

“You need anyone to take some of his attention, you just say the word,” Ramsey said.

“You couldn’t walk for days after his last private lesson,” Finn said, barking out a laugh.

“Drills are all I can do anymore. No contact til I’m cleared.”

“Soon, right?” Dean asked, deciding that he might as well join in the conversation. He was here, wasn’t he? And he was dating, whether or not they used the actual word in public, a hockey player.

Ramsey nodded. “Next weekend I’ll be clear, for sure.”

“Good. I missed you,” Brody said.

“Oh, I just bet you did,” Ramsey said, and to Dean’s surprise, he sidled closer to Brody. “Bet I could do a few other things you’d miss too.”

Dean hadn’t been very far away from his guy, but he’d been at least trying to keep a respectful distance that said,we might be dating but I’m gonna make everyone speculate. Ramsey split the distance and gathered Brody close.

Everyone knew when Ramsey turned on the charm—it was like he flicked on a spotlight—and he was grinning at Brody now, hand stroking up and down his side.

Brody didn’t look surprised or bothered oranything.

“Yeah?” He laughed. Like Ramsey wasn’t serious. Like it was normal. Like it wasokay.

Dean wanted to howl.

Put a fist right into Ramsey’s smug, handsome face.

He didn’t, because he was possessive but not crazy. Besides, Ramsey and Brody were friends, weren’t they? Dean wouldn’t say he was this touchy-feely with his friends, but he and Wes touched plenty, and it wasn’t like Marcus ever wanted to punch him.

Right?

Suddenly Dean wondered.

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