Page 6 of Nix
Nothing compared to being in front of his net.
It was Evan’s job to protect the net. Between the bars he was at home. Nothing was going to get past him.
The horn blared and chaos ensued.
The crowd chanted his name when Mules made a spectacular save that would have put the Canadian team up by one. They finished the first period with a score of zero to zero.
In the locker room between periods there wasn’t much laughter or jokes. The entire team was locked down and ready to get a goal.
They went back out there and within the first two minutes Laney scored.
Mules tapped his stick on the ice as his own celebration for his captain and team. As soon as they reset, the game was on again with the Canadian team trying to get the score tied.
Not on Mules’ watch.
He rubbed the posts, his bars, before squatting as the team played on the other end of the ice. The fourth line was out now. Nix was out there.
They made it through the second period up by that one goal.
Back to the locker room. This time the atmosphere was electrified. Even Mules was smiling as they rested for one more go at this game. Just one more period. Fifteen minutes on the ice.
Both teams went into the third period with determination. The pucks came at him hard and fast. With six minutes left on the clock the fourth line was out once again. Mules tracked Nix as he skated forward on the left wing, passing the puck to the forward.
At the last minute the puck was returned to Nix. Nix made an amazing move, lifting his stick from the ice and putting the puck over the goalie’s left shoulder.
“Yes!” Mules threw his arms up as the rookie got his first goal in a regular season game.
Nix jumped and shouted, his happiness so contagious that Mules could almost feel it from across the arena.
It was going to be a fantastic year! This was the Orlando Oracles Year. Mules would help his team bring home the Iron Cup.
Chapter Two
Nix
Pausing his game, Nix grinned before he answered the phone. “Hey, shortie!”
Aries sighed on the other end of the line. “We’re the same height.”
“I forget since I look so much bigger,” he teased. It was even more true since moving to Florida, Nix had upped his workouts, possibly because he’d figured out a very attractive goalie’s schedule, and joined Evan in the gym often. The muscle he’d put on filled him in nicely so that was an added benefit.
“Whatever,” Aries snapped.
That…didn’t sound right. “What’s the matter?” he demanded.
“Nothing,” Aries said quickly. Too quickly.
Nix immediately pressed the button to facetime his brother. If Aries was hurt again—
The call connected and he could see Aries. Who looked fine.
“You don’t look hurt. Injury? Your leg?” Guilt still ate at him that Aries had been hurt when they’d vacationed in Hawaii. Although it wasn’t all Nix’s fault. Well, mostly it was. Okay, he was totally his fault.
“My leg is fine,” Aries insisted. “For some reason I was just missing you.”
Nix nodded as he leaned back on the overstuffed leather couch. “It’s weird not being with you guys on game day. I really hoped I’d be put on the same team as one of you.” It would have been better. If one of his brothers was there to cushion Nix’s frantic energy, then maybe Marlin wouldn’t hate him.
Aries smiled. “What are you doing?”
