Brad laughed. The tension visibly drained from the girls. The atmosphere relaxed, and Brad caught himself glancing more and more at Stone, who was clearly growing more at ease.
"How was your first day in our town, doctor?" Lipski asked once they had satisfied their initial hunger.
"Thank you, it was very pleasant. It's a very charming town."
"Have you been to the beach yet?" Angela asked enthusiastically.
"No," he smiled at her like a shy boy. "I haven't had the chance yet. But on my way into town, I saw the stunning coastline. It's limestone, isn't it?"
Brad and Angela immediately looked at Olivia.
"Yes," she admitted, but didn't elaborate, which was unusual for her, Brad noted. But it had been a tough day for her too, for all of them, and yet all he could focus on was that he needed to get laid. He should find a way to cheer up the girls, but he had no idea how. They hadn't even wanted to go out for ice cream with him.
Oh, right. Ice cream!
"If not beer, doctor," he looked at Stone, "what do you say to some ice cream for dessert?"
"Ice cream?" For some reason, the doctor almost never stopped blushing.
"We have strawberry and rocky road," Angela continued to sound enthusiastic, as if making up for her sister's quieter, more somber demeanor.
Stone hesitated for a moment.
"Gladly, though I'm not sure I can fit anything else in my stomach. That dinner was exceptionally good."
"Really?" Angela's eyes sparkled like stars.
"Oh yes, definitely."
"If you don't mind, we could sit on the couch, watch something on TV, and wait until we make room for dessert," Brad suggested, and as soon as the words left his mouth, he was surprised he had even said them.
He hadn't planned this. He wasn't in the habit of suggesting such things—just simple, effortless closeness, spending time together with no particular purpose other than just being near someone. And he certainly didn't suggest it to men he barely knew.
Yet now he sat there, staring at Colin, waiting for his reaction, while alarm bells rang in his own head. What the hell was he doing?
Colin lifted his gaze from his plate, his long lashes fluttering slightly as he looked at Brad. A faint blush still colored his cheeks—maybe from the warmth of the meal, maybe from something else entirely—and for a brief moment, Brad thought he looked absolutely adorable.
Damn adorable.
Brad cleared his throat quickly, as if trying to shake off the thoughts that had started to sprout in his mind. This was nothing. Just an invitation. Just a desire to stretch this moment out for a few more minutes. Nothing more.
"But we don't have to wait, right?" Angela's voice brought him back to reality. "We have room for ice cream."
"You don't have to wait. So, doctor? Will you be tempted?"
Colin Stone considered for a moment, then nodded. Seeing this, Brad felt something strange—something that resembled quiet satisfaction, as if the evening was taking on a whole new flavor.
"Alright," the doctor confirmed.
"Great!"
The men hadn't even finished eating—they had noticeably larger portions than the girls—when the twins jumped up from the table, taking their empty plates with them. As one pulled the ice cream from the freezer, the other fetched bowls from the cupboard.
"Sorry about the chaos, doctor," Brad smiled apologetically. He wanted Stone to feel comfortable in his home. "Once you get used to it, it actually becomes quite enjoyable."
"I don't mind chaos. I worked in the ER, so compared to that, this kind of family energy is quite nice. Speaking of the ER, I should probably take a look at your wound."
"There's no need, it's just a scratch..." Brad instinctively brushed off the offered care, raising his hand in a dismissive gesture. It was just a minor injury, nothing worth fussing over. At least, until his gaze met Colin's once again.
The doctor looked unfazed, but Brad caught something in his eyes—something that resembled an unwavering resolve hidden beneath a mask of professionalism. He wasn't the type to give up easily.
Maybe it was that cold determination, or perhaps the subtle crease on his forehead, that made Brad change his mind.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to let this man touch him.
The thought anchored itself in his mind, and suddenly, what had been a trivial matter turned into something he genuinely wanted. Soft, warm fingers on his skin, a subtle touch checking if he was alright. It was… foolish. But also tempting.
"Alright," he agreed, his voice lower than he intended. "But I don't want the girls seeing the wound. Can we do this in my room?"
He wasn't sure what amused him more—his own uncharacteristic compliance or the way Colin lifted his chin ever so slightly, as if hiding a trace of triumph.
Stone parted his lips as if to respond but then seemed to change his mind.
"No problem. I'll just get my bag—"
"Olivia, can you hand me the first aid kit?"
The girl immediately reached into a cabinet, pulling out a not-too-large red plastic case with a white cross. As she brought it over, she looked directly at Stone.
"Is the wound serious?" she asked.
"No," Stone assured her with a professionally warm smile. "But it still needs to be taken care of."
"I understand. I'll leave my uncle in your hands, Doctor."
"Thank you. I'll take good care of him."
She just nodded.
"Let's go, no need to worry the girls any further."
Brad stood and moved away from the table, adopting a relaxed, almost nonchalant posture. Colin did the same, though his movements were more deliberate—still a little stiff, as if he didn't quite feel at home here. Brad noticed.
Hell, he noticed too much, especially when the doctor absentmindedly brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead, tilting his head up to glance at him from beneath his lashes in a way that really shouldn't have sparked any associations.
Lipski felt a little strange leading another man to his room. He hadn't done that in at least ten years—not in this house, at least. It felt so familiar, yet entirely different. Colin followed him, unknowingly closing the distance.
He was warmth just behind Brad's back, soft breath at the nape of his neck, a subtle presence that made Brad uncertain of what unsettled him more—the fact that they were going there for an entirely innocent reason or the way his imagination was running wild.
What a shame, he thought. A real shame.
If only the doctor wasn't straight…
Their relationship would be heading in a completely different direction right now.
Maybe Colin wasn't the type to surrender easily, but Brad would be more than willing to test the limits of his determination—if only he found himself in the right arms.
If things had played out differently, his hands wouldn't be leading Colin to his room for such a harmless purpose, and the warmth behind his back wouldn't be just an innocent presence—it would be a prelude to an entirely different kind of closeness.
But this wasn't that world, not that scenario. At least not yet.
Have mercy on me, doc.
Because if you don't, I might really start wondering… what if?