“Not one fucking word,” Evan said to Vin as he strode across the room to the counter where Nix had set up the crockpot with their dinner.
Vin snorted but didn’t say anything.
Nix had to let his brother know how cute he was. He rushed over to where Aries sat on one of the stools at the island. “You are adorable too!” Nix kissed Aries’s forehead.
Aries was wearing a dark blue onesie footie pajama. There were white stars and planets across the thick material.
There were pictures of them from their childhood as they’d all worn the footie jammies. Gem and Nix had grown out of them quickly, but Aries had worn them until at least junior high.
Seeing his brother like this, and with a pacifier, yeah Aries was his little brother.
Nix nuzzled Aries’s neck, feeling emotions swell up inside him.
He missed having his brothers with him every day. They’d not always played for the same team growing up but that had been fine when they still lived together. Plus, it was fun playing one of his brothers on the opposing team.
College they’d not only played for the same team but had shared a dorm room. Even though there was only supposed to be two to a room, they’d talked the university into making an exception.
There was nothing more adult than Nix having to live and play away from his brothers.
Florida, Boston, and Vegas. The three of them managed to be farther from one another than should have been possible. At least none of them had ended up playing for one of the Canadian teams. They at least lived in the same country.
If it wasn’t for Evan and the support of his team, Nix was sure he would have lost his mind. Nix needed a purpose in his life. And not needing to protect Aries or make sure Gem had some fun in his life left Nix with truly little to do.
He glanced over to where Evan was dishing some of the chicken and dumplings into bowls.
Well, he didn’t have little to do.
Making sure that Evan had both hands full with him was just about as time-consuming as playing hockey.
Aries pulled his head back to blink up at him.
Vin had already warned Nix that when Aries was fully immersed in his regression that he was silent. To Nix there wouldn’t be anything worse than not talking but it fit Aries.
“I love you, little brother,” Nix told him quietly.
Aries smiled around his pacifier and nodded back.
“Sit next to your brother,” Evan told him. “It’s time to eat.”
Nix scrambled onto the stool next to Aries. He smacked his elbow against Aries before giving his attention to Evan when a steaming bowl was set in front of him, then Aries.
He leaned forward, emerging his face in the steam. The food smelled so good. It was brilliant of him to insist that they go grocery shopping as soon as they’d gotten into town. Christmas dinner would be a massive production that his mom would be in charge of but they needed to eat before that. Crockpot meals were the best!
“You made this?” Vin asked as he sat on the other side of Aries.
Nix shrugged as he picked up his fork. “Crockpot meals are easy enough. The baking is what I really love to do but this is fine.”
“Yes,” Evan said as he plopped down beside Nix with his own bowl. “Nix commandeered my kitchen for his baking and preparing the food to leave me with bringing in our bags then all of the boxes that he’s sent ahead of us.”
“You didn’t have enough decorations,” Nix reminded him. “We needed more.”
Evan shook his head as he grumbled.
“You did a beautiful job decorating,” Vin praised. “I know Aries loves his tree.”
Nix beamed before looking at Evan. “See? Aries loves his tree.”
Evan rolled his eyes. “Because everyone needed their own tree. That’s not over-the-top at all.”
