Chapter Three #2
“Sure,” Nix drawled before taking a long drink of his beer. “Like a party trick you could do. For me. While making me a s’more.”
“I don’t breathe fire,” Evan revealed. Although he’d had a cousin who did. Lithis would love Nix, the two of them so similar. Chaos and kindness described both.
“Oh.” Nix’s shoulder slumped.
“Do you still want to know my thing?” he teased.
That perked Nix back up. “Yes! I need to know!” Nix claimed.
“Dragons have a hoard. And I’m not talking about gold,” Evan confessed.
“Coins? A pallet of cash?” Nix guessed. “Diamonds? Jewels? There are so many possibilities! You have to give me more than that.”
“A dragon’s hoard is valuable to that dragon. It doesn’t have to be currency. Just something that the dragon likes to collect.”
“What do you hoard?”
Evan had been waiting for that question. “Shouldn’t my bestie know that?”
Nix bounced. “I should!” He got a very serious look on his face. “I can totally guess this! I can.”
“I’ll leave it to you to figure out.”
“That means that you’ll have to let me into your apartment!” Nix jumped up, raising his hands over his head. Beer spilled from the top of the bottle, but the shifter didn’t seem to notice. “I’ll come over tomorrow.”
Well shit, Evan hadn’t thought about that. “I go to the gym in the mornings. You know that since you’ve been going as well.”
“I’m not stalking you.” Nix sat back down.
“Didn’t say you were.” Evan sipped on his own beer as he watched Nix. The statement from the boy did amuse him. Maybe the rookie wasn’t stalking him but he was always around. Not that Evan was worried. The kid was just too sweet.
Nix still hadn’t settled down. Wasn’t the kid tired? His phone chiming pulled his attention away from the conversation. “The food is downstairs.”
“I’ll go get it.” Nix set his bottle on the coffee table then waved his hand. “Feel free to snoop while I’m gone. I plan to return the favor.”
Evan snorted. He’d set himself up for that.
Once Nix was out of the apartment, leaving the front door open, Evan rose.
There wasn’t much artwork, but Nix did have a few pictures set on shelves by the balcony door.
He wandered over to check them out. To the left of the sliding glass door were four photos of the triplets together.
All at varying age and all of them in hockey gear.
On the left were two framed pictures of the triplets with an older couple. Must be Nix’s parents.
Since he was there, Evan pushed the long vertical blinds out of the way. He nearly dropped his bottle. What the hell?
Evan placed the bottle on the closest shelf before trying to slide the door open. Of course he needed to unlock the damn thing first. After unlocking the latch, Evan was finally able to slide the door open. He stepped carefully onto the balcony since there really wasn’t that much room.
Nix had his very own oasis out there.
The trellis running around the inside of the balcony hid the treasure that Evan had no idea existed. Fruit bat shifters might not have a hoard of their own but what Nix had accomplished came pretty damn close.
“You found my babies!” Nix exclaimed.
Evan turned. “You grew these?”
“Aren’t they gorgeous?” Nix asked. He set down the bags of food before running over to Evan. “My stepdad made the platform. My mom brought me the seeds, soil, and fertilizer from home.”
“But you have been caring for them?” Evan asked.
He didn’t know why it shocked him that Nix had his very own pumpkin patch.
The little shifter was just so chaotic and full of energy that Evan hadn’t put a lot of stock into what Nix did in his free time.
Growing something like the amazing pumpkin patch took dedication and hard work.
“It’s not like I don’t have plenty of time,” Nix said.
Evan turned. There was something off about Nix’s tone. He frowned. “Wh—”
“Food!” Nix announced. “We should eat before it gets cold. And we need to pick a movie.”
“Wait.” Evan caught Nix’s arm before the boy could turn away. “What’s the matter?” He’d never seen Nix look sad.
Nix sighed before peering up at Evan. “I know I come across as some dumb kid but I’m not.
Or that’s not all that I am. I love my pumpkin patch, and I take the responsibility seriously.
I bake for all my neighbors to share a little of what I have.
I keep a clean apartment. If you need anything, any help, I would be there in a second. ”
Evan squeezed Nix’s arm. “I believe all of that. I don’t think that you're a dumb kid. I know you are a good person.”
Nix swallowed hard. “Thanks. I appreciate that. It’s been an adjustment. Moving here, starting with a new team—”
“Not having your brothers with you,” Evan added.
“Yeah.” Nix looked away. “Gem is the responsible one. He’s always making sure that we have all the gear we need. Eating right and staying hydrated. We would have been lost without him in college.”
“I’ve seen him in interviews,” Evan admitted. "He is one cool and calm man.”
“He is.” Nix pulled away as he looked out toward the street.
“My mom told me when we were young that she worried that Gem would take everything too serious. Our father, the sperm donor, never took responsibility for us. My mom was the other woman. Not that she knew it. My mom loved him, thinking they were building a future together. Until she told him that she was pregnant. He confessed to being married. Said that he’d pay whatever she wanted as long as his wife and the children never found out about us. ”
“That is terrible,” Evan whispered, horrified. “He is terrible.”
Nix shrugged. “We didn’t mind. The money allowed my mom to stay with us while running a little farm with plenty of space for our fruits. She sells items at the local farmers market. And he paid for all our hockey equipment, tournaments, and whatever else we needed. Paid for college too.”
“You mentioned a stepfather.”
“The love of my mom’s life. And he’s a great dad,” Nix said.
“But before she married him Gem was the oldest. The man of the house,” Evan guessed.
“Exactly,” Nix confirmed. “I made it my mission to make Gem laugh at least once a day. I kept count and everything. Even if it was the stupidest thing ever, I knew it was important to my mom.”
That sounded just like something the boy would do. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together. Evan was starting to figure out who Nix truly was behind the act he showed everyone else. More, Evan really liked what he saw. “I like that.”
“Aries was different than Gem. He’s always had this wide-eyed innocence. He’s so trusting and sees the best in everything and everybody. It didn’t matter what someone said or did to him, Aries wanted to be friends with everyone.”
“So you became his protector.”
“Gem had too much to worry about,” Nix said. “It’s the least that I could do.”
But who had given Nix what he had needed?
“I’ve played the role that my family needed of me,” Nix said quietly. “Being here, I’m not sure what role I’m supposed to play anymore.”
“Nix—” Evan reached for him.
Nix laughed as he backed away. “Anyway! You don’t have to worry about my babies out here. They will be just fine. Now I’m starving. And I could use another beer.”
He remained quiet as Nix led the way back inside.
Evan watched Nix closely as he thought about how to make Nix smile again.
A real smile. He ached to make the boy truly happy, even as he wondered if Nix knew how to be happy on his own.
Nix had said it himself, he’d been playing a role, but that didn’t mean that was all Nix was.
Evan sat, vowing to keep an eye on the boy.
It was official. Evan was intrigued by the little shifter.
And one trait about dragons was that they could easily become obsessive. Evan could already feel it happening.
* * * * *
Nix
Snickering, Nix glanced at Mules from the corner of his eye. He’d picked the most ridiculous movie that had been available to stream just to see how the goalie would react.
Leaning forward, Mules set his cartoon of food on the coffee table. “A toxic six-headed shark. This…this is so bad.”
“I know!” Nix shoved the last bite of food into his mouth. “Isn’t it great?”
“No,” Evan groaned. “It’s terrible. This is the worst movie that I’ve ever tried to watch.”
Leaning against the couch, Nix grinned as he tilted his head toward the cushion. He’d chosen to sit on the floor, using the coffee table for his dinner with his back to the couch as Mules remained sitting in the corner.
Mules shook his head. “I feel like I’ve lost at least two IQ points.”
“Nah.” Nix rubbed his stomach. He’d eaten too much. A common problem. But the food had been so good! “This is entertainment at its finest.”
“Nix,” Evan said. “I’m truly worried about your choices in movies. Brain rot is a real issue.”
Nix’s phone chimed and he picked it up. Another message from Aries.
“Everything okay?” Mules asked.
“Aries,” Nix answered as he typed out his reply. He was really getting concerned by the one and only topic that Aries messaged about. Nix wasn’t there to watch over his little brother and…wait! He snapped his head to Mules. “Hey!”
Mules cut his eyes from the screen. “Yes?”
“You’re old!” Nix winced as Mules scowled. “I mean you’re…”
“Do not say old again,” Mules warned.
Nix shivered at that tone. It was pure dominant. Fucking sexy! He turned, placing his arm on the couch cushion. It was so much better to ignore his body’s reaction to being so close to Evan and concentrate on the problem at hand. “You played for the NHL.”
“I did.” Evan reached out and picked up the remote before pausing the movie.
“You know Vin? The vampire defenseman from Vegas?” Nix asked.
Mules lifted a brow. “Yes, we are friends.”
“Friends?” Was that good or bad? Nix was already calculating how to get hold of the vampire. He had plenty of good threats that had worked over the years. Vin was a little intimidating though so he needed insight.
“Good friends,” Mules replied.
Shit! Mules probably wouldn’t help him.
“Why are you asking about Vin?”
Nix considered how to respond.
“I don’t like the look on your face,” Mules told him.
“What look?” Nix batted his eyelashes innocently. “I always look like this.”
“Why are you asking about Vin?” he repeated.
Damn it. Nix shook his phone. “Aries talks about him. A lot. Like all the damn time.”
Mules pressed his lips together before he gave a slow nod. “I can see that.”
“Why?” Nix demanded. If the vampire thought Aries was easy prey, then he would learn the truth real fast. Nix wasn’t scared of him or not afraid enough not to protect his little brother.
He’d taken on all kinds of men to protect his Aries over the years.
During the first few weeks in college, Nix had gotten in a fight every damn day because some of the other guys bullied Aries.
Mules shifted on the couch, bringing his knee closer to Nix’s hand.
Nix wanted to touch him. He just didn’t know how Mules would respond. They were friendlier. Mules even used Nix’s teasing bestie nickname, but their friendship was so new. Nix didn’t want to mess anything up. Especially not when Nix was feeling all kinds of riled up about Mules.
He jerked out of his thoughts as Mules grabbed his wrist. “Nix? Vin is a good guy. He wouldn’t hurt Aries.”
“Are you sure?” Nix pressed. Some guys just acted like they were good but when they didn’t get what they wanted from Aries, they turned angry.
“I know it for a fact.” Mules squeezed Nix’s wrist. “Vin is the type of person that will do whatever he can to protect Aries, to make him happy. Your brother couldn’t find a better friend.”
“I’m pretty sure that Aries isn’t only interested in him as a friend.
” And that meant something big. At least for Aries.
Aries wasn’t like him. His little brother didn’t fuck around at all.
Aries identified as demisexual. He had to really know the person before he was attracted.
Trust. Aries might want to be friends with everyone but finding a true partner had been difficult.
“Did Aries tell you that?” Mules questioned.
“He doesn’t think like that,” Nix replied carefully. It wasn’t his place to share information that Aries didn’t just tell anyone.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Mules said.
Nix threw his hands up. “I can’t tell you, Mules!”
Mules barked out a laugh. “For fuck’s sake, call me Evan.”
Oh! That must mean they were real besties. “Evan.” Nix tested out the name. It suited Mules. No, Evan. Yes, Nix liked that. “We really are besties! Now tell me everything about Vin. Everything. Especially if he has any weaknesses.”
“Not going to happen,” Evan replied. “It isn’t my place either.”
“But we must protect Aries!”
“Your brother will be fine.” Evan sounded so sure.
Nix narrowed his eyes. They were playing Vegas next. Nix knew there had to be a way to get Vin alone to interrogate him. “I’ll call Gem!”
“That doesn’t sound like a recipe for disaster or anything,” Evan teased.
“Could be worse,” Nix offered. “I could call our mom.”
“That sounds terrifying.”
Evan wasn’t wrong. Maybe Nix would hold the mom card for now. Until he saw Aries and Vin together with his own eyes. No need to get his mom involved until Nix knew more. Popping up unexpected wasn’t something his mom was past doing.