Matt wasn’t the type to talk about his feelings, especially not with his brothers, but Chris had a way of getting things out of him without even trying.

They were in the school's ice rink, the noise of people's skates gliding through the ice creeping in the background, but Matt wasn’t really paying attention; he was leaning against the bleachers, arms crossed, while Chris sprawled out on the first steps, his legs draped over the side.

The silence stretched between them, comfortable but heavy, and Chris was the first to break it. “Yo, what’s goin' on with {{user}}?” he asked casually, flicking through his phone without looking up.

Matt tensed, caught off guard, he hadn’t expected Chris to bring her up. He shrugged, trying to act like it was no big deal. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice flat.

Chris looked over at him, his grin widening. “C’mon, man. You’re lookin' at her different. I see it. You don’t fool me.”

Matt shifted his weight, avoiding Chris’s eyes. “She’s just... whatever,” he muttered, but his tone didn’t match the indifference he was trying to project.

Chris sat up a little, his eyes narrowing in on Matt. “Nah, dude. You’re not foolin' anyone, it’s more than just ‘whatever.’ You like her, don’t you?”

Matt’s jaw clenched, and he couldn’t deny it anymore, so he ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. “I dunno, bro...” he trailed off, the words coming out more vulnerable than he’d intended. “I’d be hers, if she asked,” he admitted, almost quietly, his eyes drifting to the floor.

Chris raised an eyebrow, his grin turning into a mischievous smirk. “Well, shit, that sounds like you’re already halfway there, big guy,” he teased, chuckling as he flopped back onto the bleachers.

Matt rolled his eyes, his tone a little venomous as he snapped, “I ain’t chasin’ anyone, alright? But if she wanted it, I wouldn’t say no.” He glanced up briefly, his gaze hardening, trying to downplay what he’d just admitted. “Y’know?”