Chapter Six #2
“I would have never figured Marlin as a big reader,” Nix admitted. “It just goes to show that we don’t always know people the way we think we do.”
The boy was more right than he knew. No one saw the real Nix. Evan was even starting to wonder if Nix’s brothers saw how much he put on a happy face for them. Nix wanted to be the brother that made everyone laugh. He might go overboard but Nix’s heart was in the right place.
Nix had a beautiful heart and soul.
Evan was already addicted to the boy.
“He was very worried that you’d been hurt,” Evan shared.
“Who?”
“Marlin,” Evan clarified.
“Marlin was worried about me being hurt?” Nix sounded shocked.
“He was,” Evan told him. “It’s kind of his job to fight but you took care of everything and he has to respect that.”
“Huh.” Nix smiled. “Cool.”
“Now let me watch this movie that you like so much,” Evan ordered. “It won’t be long until the food gets here.”
Nix rubbed his stomach. “I’m starving.”
“I know.” Evan went back to scratching Nix’s scalp as he admired Kevin Bacon in some very tight jeans. Maybe this movie wouldn’t be so bad after all.
* * * * *
Nix
The kitchen smelled so good that Nix couldn’t help snacking along with his baking, even if it was almost time for lunch.
It was pure heaven in his opinion. He’d already made a batch of pumpkin cream cheese cookies, a pumpkin and chocolate chip loaf, and now he’d just rolled his pumpkin donut bites and had them resting.
Nix still needed to smother them in the cinnamon sugar he’d mixed.
There was also a cookie sheet of pumpkin seeds drying on the counter, so he’d have plenty for his upcoming road trip.
Nix had woken up jittery and needed to put all his excess energy somewhere.
Baking was the perfect solution. So much happened the previous evening.
Nix had gotten into his first major fight, Evan had pampered and babied Nix all night long, even giving Nix a goodbye kiss on his forehead.
As tired as he was, Nix couldn’t fall asleep.
He just stared at his ceiling for hours once he’d been left alone.
Nix hated being alone.
He’d always had his brothers, teammates, his parents. Being in the PAHL was awesome but Nix couldn’t seem to find his place. It was just so damn lonely. Except when he was with Evan. Being with his teammates was okay but nothing compared to spending time with his goalie.
He was trying so hard to be good. Scaring Evan away would be the worst thing ever.
Nix was attracted to his goalie, of course he was—Evan was hot as fuck.
More importantly Nix liked Evan. Just being around Evan made Nix happy.
Nix knew he could be a lot. He’d been told that his entire life.
Being in a relationship with Nix wasn’t easy.
The one time he’d tried to have a relationship with a teammate, things had not ended well.
Believing he was in love, Nix had been all-in.
Nix often took it upon himself to make sure that every one of his relationships was working.
It didn’t matter if it was with a family member or lover, Nix had a habit of changing who he was, how he acted to please the other person.
It had been the relationship with the teammate back in college when Nix realized he’d stopped being him.
Luckily, he had Gem and Aries as a support system.
They’d been trying to tell him for years that he needed to be with someone who accepted the true him. Nix just wasn’t sure who he was with a partner. He tried too hard. If his heart was involved, Nix needed it to last. And he ended up fucking up every single time.
Evan was different than anyone Nix had been in a relationship with previously. And they weren’t even romantically involved. At least Nix didn’t think they were. So the kiss confused him.
Lying in bed, all that Nix could do was picture everything that could go wrong between them. Evan was essential to the team. Nix felt his position was more replaceable. Taking the chance on anything with Evan was a true risk with real-life consequences.
The phone ringing drew him into the living room where his cell was charging.
Nix had forgotten to plug it in the night before since he had been more interested in Evan taking care of him.
It hadn’t been until he’d dragged himself from bed that he’d noticed his cell was almost dead.
With only eighteen percent, Nix had checked and responded to a dozen messages before he began his baking.
He would listen to the numerous voicemails later.
His mom had left most of those although Gem and Aries had each left one.
He wasn’t even surprised by the caller. “Hello, brother,” Nix greeted.
“About time you answered,” Gem grumbled.
“I was busy!” Nix defended. Not that his brother needed to know he’d lain in bed for hours thinking about his goalie before falling into a fitful sleep.
“Mules had time to message me,” Gem pointed out.
“Yes, but I was being pampered.” He was kind of proud of that. Nix knew his family wouldn’t be happy about his actions, meaning the fight of course. Nix wasn’t a fighter, but his teammates were pleased with him.
“Pampered,” Gem repeated. “For getting in a fight?”
“My team is very proud of me,” Nix shared. The text messages from his teammates were his favorite. They even promised him a pumpkin pie blizzard after they returned from the away games they were leaving for the next day. Score!
“You’re not a fighter,” Gem said. “Leave that to the men that get paid for it.”
Nix sighed. Gem wasn’t wrong. “I know.” His ribs still ached, plus he might have a black eye. Nix decided not to share those details. Gem was a bit of a worrywart after all.
“It was a good fight. You threw a nice punch.”
“Really?” Nix hadn’t expected the compliment. Oh! This was awesome! “You think so?”
“I was proud of you,” Gem responded. “But don’t do it again!”
“I won’t,” Nix promised. He actually meant the words too. Still, Nix had zero regrets. “It was a heat-of-the-moment thing.”
“Because it was Mules?”
“Of course! He is my best friend,” Nix shared.
“Nix…” Gem drawled out his name.
“What?” Nix whined. He didn’t want to hear another lecture. Nix was very aware of what a mistake it would be getting involved with Evan. It had kept him up all night. Not that it was easy for him. Nix was attracted to Evan.
“I know how you get when you like someone,” Gem said.
“I like everyone.” Maybe Nix could redirect this conversation. That would be nice for a change.
“You are attracted to Mules,” Gem pointed out.
“He’s a hot guy,” Nix replied.
“And you spend a lot of time with him.”
“How do you know that?” Nix demanded. “Are you checking up on me?”
Gem snorted. “Of course I am.”
“You have a spy!” Nix accused.
“Many spies,” Gem teased. “I have to keep an eye on my little brothers.”
Okay, it was funny when Nix teased Aries about being older but not when Gem used that line on him. “Your little brothers are just fine.”
“I’m not going to lecture you,” Gem told him.
“You’re not?” Was this a trick? Gem was smart. He might be trying to trick Nix into admitting something. Hmm, Nix needed to watch what he said.
“I think your actions last night speaks volumes,” Gem said. “Mules is yours. We both know how you get when you really care about someone.”
Yeah, Nix was sort of obvious with his feelings.
“If Mules means something special to you then I will do whatever I have to in order to watch your back.”
Nix appreciated his brother. “Thanks. But Evan and I are just friends.”
“Evan.” Gem snorted. “I don’t think I even knew his first name.”
Nix laughed. “Isn’t it a sexy name.”
“Uh, not to me,” Gem said. “But I’m…happy for you.”
“Nothing is going on!” Nix insisted louder.
“Okay!” Gem laughed. “I’m not saying anything other than if something does happen, I’ll be here for you.”
“What about you?” Nix was tired of talking about himself. Gem had a habit of concentrating on him and Aries so he didn’t have to think about his own life.
“I’m fine,” Gem told him.
“Are you though?” Nix asked quietly. There was something weird in his voice. Nix strolled back to the bar and pulled out a stool. He sat, thinking about how best to answer. “Really? Tell me the truth.”
“I always tell you the truth. I just miss you guys,” Gem said. “I miss you guys so damn much.”
Nix was shocked. Gem never said anything like that. Now he was worried. “Gem—”
“It’s fine.”
That was more like his brother. “It’s okay if you’re not okay. This has been hard on us all.”
“I am fine,” Gem said. “It just doesn’t help that I’m not having a great season.”
“The season just started!”
“I know. I’m struggling a little.” Gem coughed. “But that’s not why I called.”
“You should have called me earlier. I would tell you how awesome you are,” Nix said. “Because you know you are. You are an amazing goalie. How many other goalies get the top goalie slot in their rookie year?”
“Thanks. I don’t want to talk about it right now. I just need to settle in with my team. There was something that we need to talk about,” Gem said.
“Now what?” Nix asked.
“I need you to be careful on the ice,” Gem told him.
“I am being careful!” Nix defended. “Do you see my games? I’m rocking it this year in assists.”
“You are playing remarkably. I’m very proud of your record so far. But getting in a fight is not being careful,” Gem replied.
Oh! Nix had forgotten about that for a moment.
“We’re being targeted,” Gem told him.
“Targeted? By who?” Nix asked. He poked at one of the pumpkin bites. He had no idea what his brother was talking about. “For what?”
“The other shifters in the league,” Gem said.
“Why?” They hadn’t even been in the league long enough to make enemies. “How do you know?”
“Word has gotten around to me,” Gem replied.
“Your spies,” Nix hissed. “I knew it.”
“I keep an ear to the ground.”
“I don’t see what we have done. Why would they be targeting us?”