Chapter Two #2
“Nothing,” Nix said quickly. He didn’t want to bring up his thoughts in case Evan didn’t realize how much he’d been sharing during this trip. “Hey!” Leaning back, Nix peered up at Evan. “Does your dragon have a name?”
“A name?” Evan asked.
“Yeah, I don’t need a name for my fruit bat, but it’s still me. Your dragon is you but not…so does he have a name?”
Evan chuckled. “Yes, before I bonded with my dragon, he was known as Eirwen.”
Nix grinned. He loved having a name for his dragon. “Thank you.”
Evan snorted. “What are you going to do with that information?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Nix hadn’t thought of anything yet. It would come to him though.
“Just you saying that makes me want to worry,” Evan replied but he was smiling. “Now turn around so I can wash your hair.”
“Yes, Daddy,” Nix said with a chuckle.
The best part of showering with Evan? Nix didn’t have to do anything but raise his arms or legs. He wished Evan and he could always shower together. Evan had refused to even consider it when they were in the locker room. And Nix had tried! Their teammates knew about them.
Once they were bundled up in towels straight off the warmer—yes, his Daddy did have a towel warmer—Nix bounced into the bedroom.
“Christmas jammies!” Nix declared as he moved to the dresser.
Evan had insisted on emptying Nix’s suitcase into a drawer. Even though Nix had assured him that he was fine living out of a suitcase for a few days. He did it all season long.
“Uh.” Evan rubbed the back of his head. “Or sweats would be appropriate.”
“Nope!” Nix wouldn’t have it. He bought them matching Christmas jammies and he couldn’t wait to show them off.
“Baby,” Evan said.
Nix grabbed his set and turned. “You packed yours, right? You promised!”
“Yes, I packed them,” Evan replied. “But—”
“The sooner you get dressed, the sooner we can eat,” Nix reminded him.
Evan’s sigh was long. Nix knew that he won though when Evan strode to his own dresser.
He hurried to pull on the red lounge pants with white polar bears and matching long-sleeve shirt. Next came the soft white polar bear slippers.
Nix dropped onto the mattress as he waited for Evan.
Evan was taking his sweet time.
“Hungry, Daddy,” Nix told him.
“I know.” Evan pulled the matching pants up his legs and over his tight red underwear. He pulled the shirt on and barely had his head through the hole before heading toward the door.
Oh! No, that was not happening. “Daddy!” Nix called.
Evan stopped with his hand reaching for the knob. He didn’t even turn. “Yes?”
“You forgot the slippers!” Nix helpfully reminded him.
“Nix,” Evan’s growl sent shivers down Nix’s spine.
If he played this exactly right, Nix might go to bed with a red-hot ass. “Please, Daddy! I bought them specially for us.”
Evan’s shoulders dropped.
Nix bounced off the bed and grabbed the slippers from in front of the dresser. He ran them over to Evan. “I’ll help!” Dropping to his knees, he held the left slipper out. “Lift your foot, Daddy.”
“I’m going to spank your ass so hard,” Evan warned but he did lift his foot.
“Okay, Daddy,” Nix agreed. Like that wasn’t what he’d been planning when he’d insisted that they wear matching Christmas jammies. In front of other people.
Nix would have bought the set for himself anyway. But picturing Evan matching him with Aries and Vin there to witness the awesome moment? Yeah, he totally deserved a spanking and would enjoy every moment of it.
“Let’s get this over with,” Evan said and yanked open the door.
Nix was happy that he practically floated toward the kitchen. Okay, he wasn’t floating but he was bouncing and that was just as fun.
They reached the kitchen and to Nix’s absolute delight, Vin and Aries were already there.
Vin was pouring some apple juice into a sippy cup as Aries sucked on a pacifier.
“Aww,” Nix cooed. “You’re so cute!”
Aries whipped his head around and his eyes grew wide. He giggled and clapped before pointing at Nix then Evan.
Nix cocked his hip. “Aren’t we adorable?”
Aries’s head bobbed up and down.
Vin nearly poured too much juice into the cup as he stared and cursed.
“Not one fucking word,” Evan said to Vin as he strode across the room to the counter where Nix had set up the crockpot with their dinner.
Vin snorted but didn’t say anything.
Nix had to let his brother know how cute he was. He rushed over to where Aries sat on one of the stools at the island. “You are adorable too!” Nix kissed Aries’s forehead.
Aries was wearing a dark blue onesie footie pajama. There were white stars and planets across the thick material.
There were pictures of them from their childhood as they’d all worn the footie jammies. Gem and Nix had grown out of them quickly, but Aries had worn them until at least junior high.
Seeing his brother like this, and with a pacifier, yeah Aries was his little brother.
Nix nuzzled Aries’s neck, feeling emotions swell up inside him.
He missed having his brothers with him every day. They’d not always played for the same team growing up but that had been fine when they still lived together. Plus, it was fun playing one of his brothers on the opposing team.
College they’d not only played for the same team but had shared a dorm room. Even though there was only supposed to be two to a room, they’d talked the university into making an exception.
There was nothing more adult than Nix having to live and play away from his brothers.
Florida, Boston, and Vegas. The three of them managed to be farther from one another than should have been possible. At least none of them had ended up playing for one of the Canadian teams. They at least lived in the same country.
If it wasn’t for Evan and the support of his team, Nix was sure he would have lost his mind. Nix needed a purpose in his life. And not needing to protect Aries or make sure Gem had some fun in his life left Nix with truly little to do.
He glanced over to where Evan was dishing some of the chicken and dumplings into bowls.
Well, he didn’t have little to do.
Making sure that Evan had both hands full with him was just about as time-consuming as playing hockey.
Aries pulled his head back to blink up at him.
Vin had already warned Nix that when Aries was fully immersed in his regression that he was silent. To Nix there wouldn’t be anything worse than not talking but it fit Aries.
“I love you, little brother,” Nix told him quietly.
Aries smiled around his pacifier and nodded back.
“Sit next to your brother,” Evan told him. “It’s time to eat.”
Nix scrambled onto the stool next to Aries. He smacked his elbow against Aries before giving his attention to Evan when a steaming bowl was set in front of him, then Aries.
He leaned forward, emerging his face in the steam.
The food smelled so good. It was brilliant of him to insist that they go grocery shopping as soon as they’d gotten into town.
Christmas dinner would be a massive production that his mom would be in charge of but they needed to eat before that. Crockpot meals were the best!
“You made this?” Vin asked as he sat on the other side of Aries.
Nix shrugged as he picked up his fork. “Crockpot meals are easy enough. The baking is what I really love to do but this is fine.”
“Yes,” Evan said as he plopped down beside Nix with his own bowl. “Nix commandeered my kitchen for his baking and preparing the food to leave me with bringing in our bags then all of the boxes that he’s sent ahead of us.”
“You didn’t have enough decorations,” Nix reminded him. “We needed more.”
Evan shook his head as he grumbled.
“You did a beautiful job decorating,” Vin praised. “I know Aries loves his tree.”
Nix beamed before looking at Evan. “See? Aries loves his tree.”
Evan rolled his eyes. “Because everyone needed their own tree. That’s not over-the-top at all.”
“Exactly!” Nix nudged Evan’s side. “You finally get it.”
Aries giggled around his pacifier before whining when Vin removed it from his mouth.
“Eat, baby,” Vin said.
“Yeah, eat,” Nix told him. “You get to open presents after dinner.”
Aries nearly fell off the stool in his rush to grab his fork.
“Great,” Vin complained. “That reminder was a brilliant idea.”
Of course it was. Presents were the best!
* * * * *
Aries
The stack was overwhelming. And Aries had only bought Nix two gifts and Evan one. He shuffled backward until his back hit Vin’s chest.
“It’s a little much,” Nix said as he knelt by the tree sorting through the presents. “I know that. It’s just…once I started shopping, I couldn’t help myself. There is so much cool stuff nowadays! We didn’t have half of this when we were younger.”
Aries understood. He did. When Nix put his mind to something, there was something that made him go overboard.
“Okay, baby?” Vin asked.
“Sure.” Aries forced the words out and didn’t even know if they were true or not. “How are we going to get all this home?”
Nix glanced up and his face turned red. “Evan thought of that. We got you an extra suitcase to pack your stuff in.”
Oh. That was smart.
“You don’t have to…” Nix waved his hand around. “Did I mess up? Is this pressuring you? I just wanted you to have a special Christmas celebration as your little self. I knew you likely wouldn’t be comfortable in front of Mom or Dad.”
Now he felt bad. Aries dropped to his knees to crawl closer to Nix until their knees touched. “I feel weird getting all of this when no one else has anything to open.”
A naughty look passed over Nix’s face. “Don’t you worry, baby bro. Evan will be opening me up later tonight, all night.”
Eww! Aries reared back.
“Phoenix!” Evan barked.
Nix’s eyes grew impossibly wide.
“One more word like that and you will spend the night in the corner,” Evan threatened.
“Sorry!” Nix said quickly. He turned to Aries. “Sorry. I just wanted to assure you that you’re not the only one getting what they want for Christmas.”
Aries nodded but wished he hadn’t brought up his concern. He didn’t like his brother getting in trouble.