Page 30 of Nix
“I checked out the menu online,” Evan told him. “They have a whole section of pumpkin items.”
“Really?” Nix squealed. The confusion cleared as excitement lit his features.
Evan wanted to laugh. He knew that would work. “How many goals should you have to score to earn some treats?”
“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.
