Chapter Six
Evan
He’d have preferred to take Nix to his place but figured the boy would be much more comfortable in his space surrounded by his own things.
Evan pulled the blankets up to Nix’s shoulders and smiled.
The boy had insisted on lying on the couch instead of going straight to bed.
Claimed he was starving, but Nix was always hungry.
“I’m ordering dinner,” Evan told him as he ran his fingers through Nix’s hair.
“With my treats?”
The boy was determined. A good sign that Nix was feeling better. Still Evan was determined to spoil the boy. The boy that had fought for him. Not that Evan needed anyone to fight for him. It had been amazing to watch Nix go absolutely feral. “Yes, with your treats. What would you like to eat?”
Nix shook his head. “You decide.”
Evan had been noticing more things about Nix with them spending so much time together.
One of the first quirks that he’d picked up was the fact that Nix often deferred to Evan, wanting Evan to make decisions.
“Need anything in the meantime?” He’d already gotten Nix water, which the little shifter was drinking fast. He’d need another soon. Hydration would be good for the boy.
“Movie?”
“Please tell me you don’t want to watch another shark movie,” Evan begged. The first one had been bad enough. He’d suffer through whatever Nix wanted but he couldn’t help teasing.
“Okay, hear me out,” Nix said. “Underground monsters and the first movie stars Kevin Bacon.”
That didn’t sound too bad. “Sure. We can watch that.”
Nix grinned. “It’s saved in my Prime account watch list. I own all of them.”
“There is more than one underground monster movie?”
Cackling, Nix nodded. “The movies get worse and worse. It’s awesome.”
Evan wasn’t sure he could agree with that statement, but he was just happy to see Nix smiling and laughing again.
He’d been worried after hurrying to the locker room and finding Nix passed out.
Evan had been sure that Crowly must have hit Nix hard enough to give him a concussion. Evan had never seen Nix so still.
After Jon assured him, Laney, and a surprisingly worried Marlin that it was just an adrenaline dump, they had all gone about getting showered and dressed.
“Drink your water,” Evan ordered. “You need to stay hydrated. I’ll get you another.”
Waving his water bottle around, Nix gave a sound of agreement.
Evan walked over to the kitchen island where he’d set his phone and bag. He yanked out his phone before pulling up the deli menu. Thank fuck for delivery. Even though he’d been assured over and over that Nix was fine, there was no way that Evan was leaving the boy.
A fight.
A vicious fight with an asshole.
Nix, the little fruit bat shifter, had gotten in a fight for him.
Evan still couldn’t believe it. No matter how many times he thought about it.
Nix had fought for him. It was common practice for Evan to be protected by the entire team.
If a goalie was taken out with injury, it was a big loss.
Especially if the goalie was having a great season like Evan was.
Except normally it was one of the defensemen who enjoyed fighting that would have taken Crowly on.
The boy hadn’t given anyone else the chance.
Nix had gone crazy on Crowly.
At first Evan had been proud but when Crowly had started to punch Nix back, Evan had about lost his shit. Laney had held Evan back, knowing what he’d been planning until Crowly and Nix had fallen onto the ice. Luckily Nix had landed on top.
Evan had broken away from Laney to pull Nix off Crowly.
A short but well-earned fight for Nix.
The playbacks were already making their way around the internet and social media.
Evan had silenced Nix’s phone when it wouldn’t stop with calls and notifications.
He had sent Gem a message assuring Nix’s brother that Nix was uninjured and would talk to everyone the next day then quieted the device.
Ignoring his own messages, Evan placed their dinner order, adding three treats for Nix. The boy deserved them, after all.
With food on the way, Evan headed to the living room.
He stopped and tapped the top of a new ceramic pumpkin decor piece that hadn’t been there the last time Evan had been in Nix’s condo.
With fall now here, Evan had been seeing pumpkins popping up all over the place.
In every store he visited. They all reminded him of his boy.
Evan had even bought a rainbow pumpkin that was still in the box. He hadn’t decided whether to keep the piece or give it to Nix. Now, after tonight, he would be spoiling his boy. The rainbow pumpkin would belong to Nix.
Stepping around the couch, Evan stared down at the little shifter that had somehow wormed his way under Evan’s skin.
The boy had first appeared so carefree and playful but there was so much more.
Nix was a kind and loving person. He wanted to make everyone around him happy, which wasn’t always possible.
Nix shivering caught his attention.
“Cold?” Evan asked concerned.
“No,” Nix said. “I just—” He didn’t sound like he had the words to explain.
Evan didn’t need them. He shuffled to the end of the couch, lifting Nix so he could slide under him. Settling back, Evan repositioned Nix so his head was resting in Evan’s lap. Right where he belonged.
Nix blinked up at him but remained quiet.
Just watching Evan with those unique orange eyes.
He would give the boy all the time in the world.
Nix didn’t normally mince words. Nix was thrown off by his own behavior, that was obvious to Evan, and Nix needed to understand that Evan wanted him just the way he was.
Picking up the remote, Evan found Nix’s streaming service and clicked on his Prime account. Nix was still staring at him. Evan was starting to get nervous while searching the movie selection.
“This one?” Evan asked.
Nix moved his eyes to the screen and nodded but immediately peered back up at him.
Evan hit Play then set the remote on the table. His hand went from the remote to Nix’s hair. He began to scratch gently.
Nix sighed as his eyes fluttered closed.
“Aren’t you going to watch this movie with me?” Evan teased. He gently pulled Nix’s hair.
Without opening his eyes, Nix smiled. “I’ve seen this movie so many times I have it memorized.”
“A favorite then,” Evan said with a hum.
“I love cheesy movies. They just make me happy.”
And Evan loved to see his boy happy. So cheesy movies would be in his future. Evan imagined there were plenty of them to keep Nix settled and Evan would just have to suffer through them.
“Scratch again,” Nix whined.
“Bossy.” Evan didn’t mind and gave Nix what he wanted.
Being able to touch the boy so openly meant a lot to him.
Nix wasn’t asking Evan any questions even though the boy must have so many.
This wasn’t like Evan. He didn’t cuddle and touch Nix.
Or at least he hadn’t. Things had changed.
Majorly changed. Evan’s feelings for Nix had been bubbling under the surface but seeing Nix wailing on Crowly had busted the dam open.
His dragon was nearly as obsessed with Nix as his human side was.
Dragons were fierce protectors. They took any threat against something that they considered theirs very serious. Nix’s reaction when he’d believed Evan had been purposely hurt called to Evan and his dragon. Nix had reacted on instinct. A true partner.
Ours. The dragon’s deep voice rumbled in his mind.
Unlike shifters that could transform into their animal, dragons and humans shared a body.
Two souls that were meant to be one. His dragon was as independent as Evan’s human half.
They both had dreams, wants, and needs. Luckily, dragons were happy once they began collecting their hoards and didn’t require much else.
Dragons, his dragon at least, wanted books, peace, and quiet. Evan was able to give his dragon that on the off-season. Keeping his dragon content was Evan’s biggest job. An angry or dragon fully in control of their human side caused quite a ruckus.
Ours, t he dragon repeated.
Yes, ours, Evan agreed. He continued to scratch Nix’s scalp.
“I feel better,” Nix admitted. He was arching his back while pushing harder against Evan’s fingers.
“Well, enjoy being pampered,” Evan told him. “We leave for a road trip the day after tomorrow.”
Nix gave the longest sigh in history.
Evan chuckled at the dramatics.
“I mean, you could still pamper me,” Nix told him. “I hate flying.”
“You’re a bat. You already told me how much you love to fly,” Evan pointed out.
“Well, it’s cool when I shift and fly. Being in a big metal box isn’t as much fun.”
“It’s a private luxury jet,” Evan said. “So a little more than a metal box.”
“But it’s not the same!”
“What do you usually do on the plane?” Evan asked. Maybe he needed to make sure that Nix kept himself occupied. Hockey players were superstitious and they never broke tradition in the middle of a season. With Nix being the new guy on the team, he’d sat next to their captain.
It might be better if Nix was next to Evan. The seat next to him was normally empty but Evan wouldn’t mind if Nix was there.
“Play video games,” Nix said.
Of course he did. “You could read a book,” Evan suggested.
“A book?” Nix snorted. “But reading makes me sleepy. I don’t like sleeping on the plane. Plus, you read enough books for everyone on the team.”
“Marlin is actually a big reader as well.”
Nix opened his eyes. “Are you lying?”
Evan shook his head. “I swear. I’ve lent him several books.”
“You lend out your books?” Nix sounded scandalized.
“Certain books,” Evan admitted. Truthfully, he only lent books he had several copies of and knew there might be a chance they weren’t returned. Having a defenseman that loved the written word as much as Evan did always pleased Evan. Until Marlin started messing with his boy.