Page 25 of Nix
Oh! Nix straightened. “To protect your hoard?”
“And third,” Evan said. “No touching anything.”
“Like anything? Anything?”
“Yes.”
“What about a fork? Can I touch a fork? Or spoon? Glass? Am I supposed to eat with my toes?” Nix shook his head. “No, that would still be touching, right?”
“You know what I mean,” Evan replied.
He did but this was Nix they were talking about. “I’m going to be real honest with you.” As much as he wanted to see Evan’s apartment and the infamous hoard, Nix also didn’t want Evan to be mad at him. “I’m totally going to touch stuff.”
Evan stared at him then shocked Nix by smiling.
Wow, Evan was so pretty when he smiled. Wait! He couldn’t think that. They were friends. Just friends. “What did I miss? Why are you smiling?”
“I would suggest you follow the rules unless you want to be punished,” Evan warned.
A shudder rocked through him so hard that there was no hiding his reaction. Fuck! It had been the tone. Nix hadn’t heard words like that, said quiet and firm, in months!
“Damn!” Evan dropped a hand on Nix’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Nix swallowed hard. Evan shouldn’t have said it if he didn’t mean it. If he didn’t mean it the way that Nix wanted him to. Friends. They were just friends. Nothing more. Evan hadn’t given Nix any indication that he would be interested in anything more.
Food. Nix should concentrate on food.
“Nix?”
“What are we going to eat?” Nix asked.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have joked—”
“It’s fine,” Nix assured him. “But I am starving!”
Evan smiled again. “You’re always hungry.”
“I have more pumpkin seeds but that’s not real food,” Nix complained. “I need real food. I use up so much energy playing. And I played good, right? Didn’t you think I played well? Did you watch me? Since you were on the bench the entire game. I bet you did. I would watch me. But anyway, I need food thatisn’t pumpkin seeds although those can be a snack if you want to share some.” He did need to restock his seeds though.
“Let’s get settled inside and we can decide what we want for dinner,” Evan offered.
“Cool.” Nix grabbed the handle and pushed open the door. By the time he made it around the car, Evan was standing waiting for him.
“Let’s go.”
Nix followed Evan to the doors of his building, bouncing like a puppy. He was so excited. This was going to be great! He’d wanted to see Evan’s sanctuary so bad! It had to be awesome with the way that Evan guarded the place.
It seemed to take forever until they reached the fifth floor and were standing in front of Evan’s door.
Laughing, Evan used a key to unlock the deadbolt. “You are so excited. I’m afraid that you’re going to be very disappointed.”
“Never!” Nix assured him.
With a shake of his head, Evan pushed the door open.
Nix ran past him to stop in the middle of the tiled entry. Looking around, he approved of the warm colors and decor.Homeywas the first word that came to mind.Crowdedwas the second. While Nix’s condo was simple and clean, Evan’s was…full. Like every inch of the place. There were more bookcases and books than Nix had ever seen in his life. More than libraries and… He whirled. “You!” He pointed a finger at Evan.
Evan stood inside the door, watching him. “Me?”
