Page 14 of Nix
“I love winning!” Nix bounced in his seat. He was nearly coming out of his skin and that was after playing an entire game of hockey.
Evan wanted to tie Nix down just so he could think without the constant barrage of questions. Always, so many questions.
Somehow Evan had been roped into taking the rookie home again. He’d practically become Nix’s personal chauffeur. Once Laney had learned, from Nix, that they were neighbors, the captain had tasked Evan with making sure that Nix was settling in well. Even away games had fallen on Evan to make sure that Nix got to and from the bus and hotel. He’d thought that Nix needed a keeper and that was now Evan.
“And the next game is against Vegas! We have to beat Aries and the Vikings. He would never let me live it down if he won.” Nix turned and beamed at him. “It’s a good thing that we have the best goalie ever.”
“Uh,” Evan hesitated.
“What? What's wrong?” Nix demanded.
“I’m not actually in goal against the Vikings. It’s Sergie’s turn. He gets the next three games,” Evan informed him.
Nix gasped dramatically before throwing himself against the door. “No! Please say it isn’t happening.”
“Sergie is a very talented goalie. It’s why we trade off,” Evan pointed out.
“But he’s not you!” Nix exclaimed.
It shouldn’t make Evan feel so good that Nix believed in him like that. “Sergie will do fine.”
Huffing, Nix threw himself back against the seat. “I can’t believe this. I feel so betrayed.”
This little shifter was ridiculous. So why did Evan find himself smiling? “I’m sure it will be fine.”
Nix pulled out his phone. “I’ll just make sure that I get in Aries’s head with all my smack talking. By the time we face him, Aries will be so mad at me. I love my new plan.”
As Nix typed, quite quickly, Evan turned onto the street that ran between their condo buildings. “Do you want me to drop you off at the front?” Normally, Nix went with him to park while trying to get an invitation into Evan’s apartment. It hadn’t happened yet. Evan was concerned that once he had Nix in his personal space, he’d never let the boy leave again. A tied-up boy was a sight that Evan missed more now that Nix often found his way into Evan’s thoughts.
“What…” Nix squirmed. “What are you doing tonight?”
“You’re not coming in,” Evan told him.
“I know.” Nix pocketed his phone. “I was just wondering if you wanted to come over to my place. I could order food, and we can watch a movie. You never did tell me what your favorite movie is.”
Evan turned on his blinker waiting for oncoming traffic to clear as he thought about Nix’s offer. He couldn’t get the rookie out of his head. The more time he spent with Nix, the more Evan was drawn to him. To what could be. And Evan didn’thave any plans for the night. Evan had also been curious to see Nix’s condo and find out how the younger man lived. One night couldn’t hurt, could it? Just a little peek into Nix’s life wouldn’t kill Evan. Hopefully. “I could eat.”
“Really?” Nix sounded so happy.
Evan shrugged before pulling into the parking lot for his place. “I’m hungry.” And he might not be ready to have Nix in his space but Evan liked spending time with the boy.
“Wait! You never told me your favorite food either! I swear you don’t ever answer any of my questions.”
He didn’t have the heart to tell Nix it was because Nix would never stay on one topic for long. Most of the time before Evan could answer Nix was moving onto something else. Evan parked in his assigned spot and killed the engine. “How about some Chinese food from the place down the street?”
“I haven’t tried it yet,” Nix replied. “But I love Chinese food.”
Evan pulled out his cell. “I’ll get it ordered. What would you like?”
“How about sweet and sour chicken? Or orange chicken. And fried rice. No, noodles. Yes, I want noodles. And maybe—”
“I got it.” Evan ordered a little of everything. Did the boy even know how to make decisions? Or was his stomach as chaotic as his mind? “Apartment number?”
“Thanks. 9E.” Nix pushed open the door before leaning in and grabbing his bag from the backseat.
Evan completed the order and exited and decided to leave his own bag for when he went to his apartment. He followed Nixacross the parking lot then the street until they reached the front of Nix’s building.
Nix punched in his code releasing the security door.
