Page 48 of Psychic Obsession
Hjalmar shrugged."I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"He hated when Hjalmar was feeling down.It didn't happen often; he was way more positive than Frode, but everyone had off days.
"I'm fine."He stepped closer and squeezed Frode's shoulder."I promise."Then he took one of the beers from Frode and headed toward the TV room.Frode followed him and placed one beer in front of Nikolai and the other on the opposite side of the table.Walking back into the kitchen, he fixed a green plate for Nikolai and handed it to him without meeting his eyes, before going back and making one for himself.
When he sat at the end of the couch, Hjalmar had the TV guide up on his phone and told him which channel to put on for a hockey match.Perfect.
They ate in silence while watching the TV, taking turns at making commentary on the game.
"Oh, for fuck's sake."Frode motioned at the TV with his beer bottle when a player was sent to the penalty box for nothing.Or almost nothing, at least.
When Nikolai chuckled, he glared at him."That was not right."
"Maybe not."His eyes were dancing, and Frode wasn't sure he'd ever seen it before.He looked at Hjalmar.
"What's wrong with him?"
Hjalmar shrugged."I don't know."
Frode shook his head and focused on the TV again.
* * * *
Frode was fucking hot.Nikolai had been aware before, but as he lost himself in the hockey game, he forgot to glare at Nikolai, and it made all the difference.He liked his hair tied back too.
Hjalmar scraped up the last of his second portion of lasagna and slumped back against the backrest with a groan."Thanks for the food, Frode."He clapped Frode on the shoulder, and he didn't so much as flinch, never taking his eyes off the TV.
"Anytime."
"It was delicious."Nikolai waited for a reply but never got one.It had been delicious.He could get used to nights like this.Julian hadn't been much of a cook, and he hadn't watched any kind of sport.
"Fucker!"
At first, Nikolai believed Frode had meant him, but he was glaring at the TV.Nikolai glanced at Hjalmar and got a grin in reply.Normal behavior then.
The period came to an end, and Frode flopped back against the backrest."More beer?"He looked between Hjalmar and Nikolai.
"Not unless you want to share your bed."Nikolai kept his face blank while waiting for a reaction.
"Only more beer for me then."Frode got to his feet, gathered their plates, and disappeared into the kitchen.
"He seems okay today."Nikolai kept his voice low to avoid Frode hearing him.
Hjalmar shrugged."He's tired, look at his eyes, but it's to be expected the day after."
Frode came back with a beer in his hand."What are you two whispering about?"
"You."Nikolai grinned.
As expected, he got a glare in reply.
"How did it go with Yeager?"Maybe they shouldn't talk about work now that Frode was relaxed, but the words were out of Nikolai's mouth before he could think better of it.
"He's awesome."
It wasn't the reply he'd expected, but he nodded."A good likeness to how you remember him?"
Frode's eyes narrowed."It's not a memory, you get that, right?He's forever stored in my mind as clear as any photo."
