Chapter Five #2
“Treats?” Nix repeated. “I like treats.”
“I know. How many?”
“One?” Nix offered.
“One?” Evan repeated. “That’s all?”
Nix sighed. “I haven’t scored much this season.”
“You’re leading the team with assists. I think we should count those. By showing that you’re a team player, you deserve rewards for that.”
“Yes!” Nix danced. “Three then! Either three goals or assists and I can have two pumpkin treats.”
Evan nodded. Two wasn’t asking too much. “I need you to get your head in the game. I know this is all a lot but make me proud.”
Nix’s smile was so big it was almost blinding. “I will!”
He wanted to kiss the boy. Damn, Evan didn’t care who was watching. He nearly took Nix into his arms and devoured him. Instead, Evan returned to his own locker to get ready. It was time to play!
Even as he began to dress, Evan watched Nix. The smile on Nix’s face was huge and drew a matching one from Evan. The teammates close to Nix, including Laney, returned to their lockers as time was counting down for them to get on the ice.
Pride filled him as Nix started to laugh and joke with their teammates like the last twenty minutes hadn’t happened.
They were going to win the game and Evan would make sure that Nix got his treats.
* * * * *
Nix
With the right motivation, anything was possible.
He had already scored once and assisted with a second. They were on fire and the LA Grinders were feeling it. And they were pissed. The hits had become harder, the chirps and insults constant, and even Nix was getting a little tired of trying to stay out of the line of fire.
Nix passed the puck to his center, barely avoiding being boarded by Alan Crowly.
“Fucker!” Nix spat as he skated away.
“I’ll get your little ass,” Crowly threatened.
“You have to catch me first,” Nix threw over his shoulder. He returned to the bench to wait for his next shift. It had been a hard game but Nix was feeling good. He was totally earning those treats that Evan had promised him.
“Careful,” Laney warned as Nix dropped onto the bench next to him. “Crowly is out for blood.”
“I will be. I like my blood inside my body, thanks.” Nix was wired in a strange exhausted but amped way. It had been two and half long periods. He was working his ass off. “He’s just such an asshole.”
“Always been that way,” Laney said.
In front of them on the ice, the Grinders caught the puck on a rebound and took off, headed for Evan.
Nix, Laney, and everyone on the bench leaned forward as the Grinders’ center shot the puck.
Evan threw up a glove, catching the puck right before it went into the net.
Nix leaped to his feet, shouting before banging his stick on the side of the boards.
“Yeah!” Laney yelled while waving his stick.
This was such an awesome game. In all the years that Nix had played hockey from the peewee leagues, through junior high, high school, college, and now professionally, there had never been a game like this.
Everything was perfect.
The team was meshing.
The feeling in the arena was electric.
Nix bounced on the bench as he waited for his turn.
In what seemed like forever, he finally got the tap to go in. Nix flew over the boards, heading right for the puck. He faked one way, went the other, forward, back, then stole the puck. He actually stole the puck from Crowly!
Crowly swung his stick at Nix, right at his ribs, but Nix was already moving, ignoring the pain. He was going to feel that one later. The refs should have called that as a penalty. Not that Nix planned on slowing down.
His linemates were with him. Skate by skate. Even. Calm.
The pass to his center was dead-on. The puck hit the tape as they skated forward. His center drew back then sent the puck right into the net!
“Yes!” Nix threw his arms up before he skated to his center and hugged him. That had been a beautiful shot and Nix was also very proud of his own pass.
Down by their net, Evan was banging his stick against the ice.
Nix turned and flashed Evan three fingers. He’d done it! Nix was totally getting his treats! Best reward system ever! Nix followed his teammates back to their bench. That was three goals for them with the Grinders putting up a big fat zero.
Back on the bench, Nix had to wait again.
Hockey was a long game, played in four shifts at a time for three periods. Nix had been broken-hearted when he’d been put on the fourth line. Aries had made first line as a rookie, but Nix hadn’t come close.
Nix wanted to be as good as his brother.
He wasn’t playing for the same team though. Nix’s team was filled with talented players that had already earned their spot. That was one of the reasons that he was the only rookie. The opportunity wasn’t the same.
Nix had been holding on to doubt until Evan had pointed out that while he might not be the lead goal scorer like Aries, Nix did have a place with his team. He belonged. And finally, Nix was feeling it. Nix was right where he was meant to be.
Shift change again and Nix was back on the ice.
He raced to the puck until the Grinders’ left wing passed it.
It was a battle.
Nix was sweating, panting, and had never been more alive! It fucking ruled!
He chased after the Grinders’ players as they all battled in front of the Florida net and Evan. Evan blocked a shot and then a rebound. He was on fire.
The hits became dirty. Nix was yanked off his feet as Crowly hooked his ankle with his stick. Nix scrambled to his knees but before he could get up, Nix saw Crowly push his own guy into Evan.
Evan shouted as two players landed on him.
Crowly smacked at the puck.
“Fucker!” Nix growled out. That was illegal as fuck. He jumped up and threw himself at Crowly, knocking the bigger man back.
Nix wasn’t known for his fighting skills.
He was the smallest member of his team. People fought for him, not the other way around.
It didn’t matter when Crowly had purposely crashed the net.
Evan could be hurt! He dropped his stick and gloves, deciding that it was time to protect his goalie himself.
Nix swung his fist, connecting with Crowly’s jaw.
Crowly’s head flew back as he growled. “Now you’re in for it, little shifter!” He dropped his stick and gloves as Nix had done before fisting Nix’s jersey tight.
He yanked Nix around while drawing his fist back.
Nix wasn’t dumb and was not going to stand there to be beat up. He punched Crowly in the stomach.
Crowly tried to hit him, but Nix ducked.
Fury filled him as behind Crowly’s back, Evan was getting helped to his feet.
He saw red!
Nix began to wail on Crowly.
There was no missing that Crowly was hitting him back. Nix’s mouth was bleeding and his vision dimmed after a vicious punch to the eye. Nix didn’t feel any of it. Not riding the wave of adrenaline and pure anger.
Nix fought back with everything that was inside him.
They ended up on the ice. Nix on top of Crowly, delivering blow after blow.
He was yanked back off Crowly and fought the arms around him.
“It’s okay, Nix.” Evan’s warm breath was against his ear. “Stop now.”
On his knees he turned and clung to Evan’s jersey. “Are you hurt? He did that on purpose. I saw him!”
Evan nodded. “I’m fine, I promise. You're the one bleeding all over the ice.”
Nix wiped his mouth with the back of his hand then looked down at the blood. “Oh!” That was gross.
Crowly was shouting at him. Cursing him.
Nix turned his head to bare his teeth. Damn asshole! That was all Crowly was. A big bully, a prick, and Nix was glad Crowly was bleeding.
“They’re throwing you out of the game,” Evan said. “Wait for me in the locker room.”
“K.” Nix allowed Evan to pull him to his feet. That sounded like a good plan. Thank goodness Evan was telling him what to do. This had never happened to him before. Nix was at a loss. His stomach felt weird too.
Evan pulled Nix in close.
Nix had to hold on to him to remain on his skates.
“Good boy,” Evan whispered into his ear.
Nix gasped and almost fell. The ref was waving at him.
“Go!” Evan pushed Nix toward the ref.
“Yeah.” Nix shook his head. The ref grabbed his arm to escort him off the ice.
As he passed his bench, his teammates shouted for him while banging their sticks on the ice.
Holy shit! Nix was getting thrown out of a game for fighting. His mom was going to be so mad at him! And Gem, Gem was going to lecture him for hours. This was not good.
Still, as Nix made the long walk up the tunnel toward the locker room with only the trainer following behind, he couldn’t help the smile on his face. Evan had been proud of him. Had called Nix a good boy.
Nix was a good boy.
He had defended his goalie!
Nix stomped toward the locker room. He had never been in a game fight before. His hand was already hurting and where were his gloves and stick? Someone would get those for him, wouldn’t they? He turned to the trainer, Jon. “My equipment?”
“I got it.” Jon waved Nix’s stick while holding his gloves under his arm.
“Thanks,” Nix said sincerely.
Jon grinned at him. “Proud of you, Nix. That was a good fight.”
“Yeah? At least I didn’t make a fool of myself.” Pushing open the door, he entered the empty locker room.
“No, the team is proud,” Jon told him.
Nix stalked over to his locker and started to undress.
“I want to check you for injuries,” Jon said, joining him.
“I’m fine,” Nix said even though he didn’t know if that was true. He felt off. What if he got suspended? Crap! This was bad. And now that the adrenaline was wearing off, his legs were starting to shake.
Nix dropped down on the bench. He was getting hot. Too hot. Starting with the laces on his skates, he stripped down.
Grabbing the towel, he wrapped it around his waist as Jon joined him.
Jon hummed to himself as he pushed on Nix’s sore ribs. Fucking Crowly and his stick. “I need you to look at this light. I want to check you for a concussion.”
“Okay.” Nix followed Jon’s commands until the trainer sat back on his heels.