Page 41 of Nix
“Love you too. Get your nap in, old man!”
He hung up on Gem cursing him. Nix stared at the ingredients spread out over his counter. He needed somethingelse to bake! Nix was now worried about Gem and some vague threat on the ice. Wasn’t it enough that they’d had to work harder for longer just to be accepted in playing hockey?
First, they’d grown up in what was called Friday night lights territory. Football had ruled their hometown and all around them. Nix had been the one who’d decided to go to an ice hockey junior camp and had loved it. Of course, he dragged Gem and Aries along since they always did everything together. Then they realized that they would have to work harder since they were even smaller than the humans in their town.
They had done it though.
All three of them worked their asses off to get drafted in the Paranormal American Hockey League.
And it still wasn’t enough?
The humans didn’t want to play with them. Now the shifters didn’t either? It wasn’t fair!
No, Nix was not going to think about all this. He jumped off the stool to grab the remote to his television. Nix pulled up his music app and put on a fun playlist. Dancing his way back to the kitchen, Nix got to work. He had so much to accomplish before he needed to pack! And Evan said he would be over with lunch. That meant that Nix needed to get busy.
By the time he had the pumpkin bites in the oven and everything else was covered in plastic wrap and set to the side, he was feeling much better. There was a knock on the door and Nix rushed to answer. Now he was excited to get Evan to start tasting everything he’d prepared. And, of course, ignore everything else. Nix was very good at compartmentalizing thingshe didn’t want to talk about. A few well-placed jokes and teasing and everything would go back to normal.
“Hi!” Nix vibrated as he held the door open.
Evan shifted a bag from one arm to another. “You look happy.”
“I baked!” Nix announced. “Come in! Come in!”
Chuckling, Evan entered and walked straight to the island separating the kitchen from the living room. “It smells like fall in here.”
“Isn’t it the best smell ever!” Nix bounced on his toes. Evan looked particularly handsome in a pair of jeans and a team sweatshirt with the sleeves cut off. Nix wanted to go back to the night before when Evan had been so affectionate. He didn’t know if it was better to ignore the things that Evan had said or bring them up. Or how to ask for a kiss that wasn’t on his forehead. His lips were so much softer.
Which meant Nix was totally throwing any thought of being good out the window. Kisses were much better than being good.
“My mouth is watering just smelling all these treats,” Evan said as he set the bags down on the counter across from the island.
“Yeah?” Evan made Nix’s mouth water. Food! Concentrate on all the yummy food. “I made plenty.”
“You made more than enough. We’re about to go on a road trip tomorrow,” Evan said.
Nix snorted. Did Evan think Nix wouldn’t eat all the goodness in a day if left alone? Although he had been planningto fill his carry-on with the treats so that he could share with his teammates.
Evan narrowed his eyes. “You plan on eating all this?”
“I was going to share with you,” Nix promised. And the rest of the team but didn’t it sound better if Evan thought all the yumminess was for them? Would that get Nix a kiss? A real kiss?
Evan laughed. It might be the first time that Nix heard such a robust sound coming from his goalie. He found himself smiling as Evan leaned against the counter for support.
“Come here.” Evan beckoned him forward.
Nix rushed closer. Like it would ever be a problem to be close to Evan.
Slipping an arm around Nix’s waist, Evan pulled him close. Uh, what was happening? It looked like Evan was going to kiss him. Please let Evan kiss him.
“Hi,” Evan murmured.
“Hi!” Why was Nix’s voice so squeaky? He cleared his throat before trying again. “Hi.”
“I’m very happy that you are feeling better. I was worried about you last night.”
“I’m fine. I swear,” Nix said. “I think you were right. It was just the adrenaline spike and crash. I feel just like my regular self now.”
“That pleases me,” Evan told him. “That means that we can sit and have a long overdue conversation.”
