Page 2 of Nix
Nix shrugged. “Not really. Gem complains that I talk in my sleep. Aries even recorded me one time. It was so funny.”
Mules stared at him for a long minute before shaking his head.
Nix beamed at his new friend. Sometimes he did make others speechless. That was okay, Nix could talk enough for both of them!
Instead of saying anything, Mules pushed the locker room door open and strode in, leaving Nix standing there alone. Nix shrugged as he followed behind. He veered off to his locker, which was across the room from Mules. If he was very sneaky, Nix could watch Evan from the corner of his eye. Not in a creepy way! Just like he didn’t want Mules to sneak away before they finished talking. See! That was totally innocent. All innocent.
“Hey, buddy!” Nix greeted as he dropped down to the bench where his captain sat. “Can I still have an ice cream? I tried really hard to distract Mules. He’s just the best goalie ever so I don’t think heisdistractable!”
Carter Lane, Laney to the team, grinned at him. “We saw. It was very amusing. I’m surprised he didn’t knock you over the head with his stick.”
“He wouldn’t do that,” Nix told him. “We’re going to the best of friends.”
The look he received from Laney was comical. Like, how did his eyes get that big? “He agreed to that?”
“Why wouldn’t he?” Nix began to undress. The locker room was filling with the sounds of his teammates doing the same. The showers were already running with steam escaping, making the room grow humid.
Laney sighed. “Did he actually agree or is this something that you came up with?”
“I thought it would be a nice surprise,” Nix replied.
“I…” Laney started. “Nix, Mules is a quiet guy. He might not appreciate your…uniqueness.”
Nix wasn’t an idiot. His new teammates were older than him. There had been a few transfers, but Nix was the only rookie on the team that year. He might be young and small but Nix was aware that he was extra in a way not even his brothers always appreciated. “It’s all good.” Nix waved his hand and Laney finally backed off, giving Nix a tight nod.
Nix concentrated on preparing to shower now that his mood plummeted. Nix’s mom had always embraced his quirks. She’d told him to never change for anyone, and Nix had taken that to heart. However, now that he was playing professionally for the PAHL, maybe it was time for Nix to take things more seriously. Or at least stop trying to make sure that everyone was happy and smiling. It was kind of his thing. If someone was having a bad day, game, or needed cheering up, they called on Nix. Nix loved being that person for so many. Playing professional hockey could very well change what Nix liked most about himself.
Nix loved hockey.
The best seasons had been when he played with his brothers but that had only been in college. In their younger years, they’d been placed on different teams to make it fair to everyone. Nix didn’t see how that was fair to him but he never complained. Nix didn’t ever complain. That just wasn’t him. College had been fun and getting to play on the same team with his brothers was a dream come true. He’d had stayed in college forever if possible.
Admittedly Nix hadn’t studied as hard as Gem or joined every club like Aries but he’d made so many friends. It had been important to his mom and stepfather that they all got a good education in case something happened to their hockey careers. Nix had a degree in communication because how awesome was that! After playing hockey, maybe he could be one of the broadcasters that got to talk about hockey. Match made in heaven as he loved hockey and talking!
His mom hadn’t been thrilled with his choice.
After the human league had kicked all paranormal beings off teams, there had been a few years where there hadn’t been hockey for people like him. Luckily, Nix and his brothers had been young enough that they were still able to play in the lower leagues. Some of his teammates wouldn’t have been so lucky.
The Paranormal American Hockey League had been formed for the paranormal players in the United States and Canada to play again. After the inaugural season, it turned out that the fans, paranormal and human, flocked to their games.
The fans enjoyed the fact that some rule changes meant that the players didn’t have to hold back like they’d done in the human league.
Even with their league was thriving, Nix’s parents had still worried about them. Nix truly believed that the league and all of them would be fine. Their games were constantly sold out. Hockey was fun!
He just had to make sure that he stayed in the league.
Nix’s first game was the next day. He felt good about their chances of winning the opener. The preseason games had been split with two wins and two losses. Unlike Aries, that hadn’t gotten to play in the preseason, Nix had been on the ice with his team. He’d even scored in game three when the puck had given a lucky bounce off his stick.
The feeling of scoring with his new team had been a high that Nix could hardly explain to anyone who had never played.
His teammates had been as proud of him as Nix had been.
Realizing that he’d gotten lost in thought and the locker room was clearing out, Nix hurried to finish undressing. He didn’t want his teammates to get out of taking Nix for his treat. He had tried to distract Mules after all. Was it really his fault that Mules was the best goalie ever?
Speaking of Mules, Nix searched the locker room, but the goalie was gone. His bag still hanging from a hook must mean that Mules was in the shower. Did he want to go get ice cream with them?
Nix wasn’t sure if he’d remembered to invite the goalie.
It would be rude not to. Plus, if they were going to be besties then they needed to hang out.
