“Say my daily affirmations in the mirror, run a bath and relax, then dress in my favorite clothes and lounge until I have to face my family.”
“Good boy. You’ll have a reward delivered to your PO box by the end of the week. Make sure you call me before you open it.”
Even though Gem couldn’t see Ty’s full face, the excitement was evident in his eyes. “You're sending me something.”
“Good boys get rewards,” Gem said simply.
“Thank you, sir,” Ty said quietly.
“Message me when you get home tonight,” Gem ordered.
“Won’t you still be with your family? Leaving tomorrow morning?”
“What did I say?” Gem questioned sternly.
“I’ll message you when I get home, sir.”
“Good boy.”
Ty was smiling as he disconnected the call. Gem felt good himself. He tossed his phone onto the mattress before climbing out. He stretched his arms over his head, working out the kinks from sitting against the headboard for so long.
Gem hadn’t meant the call to last so long, but he didn’t regret it. A long-distance relationship was always difficult. Not being able to just jump in the car and go see his boy bothered him more than Gem thought. Not that Gem had any intention of changing their dynamic. It would be hard for him to be in a relationship with anyone even if they lived next door to him.
His rookie year was going both better than expected but also was much harder than he could have imagined. The pressure was intense. The management of the team called it a rebuilding year but Gem knew what was needed. He had to deliver. Every single time he was in front of the net it was up to Gem to keep their team in the game. They needed goal scorers, but they also needed Gem to be on his game.
Gem was proud that as a rookie he’d won the starting spot.
Working hard had never been a deterrent to him. Gem thrived on the competition. It was one of the reasons that he’d gone for goalie back when they all started as kids. They could barely skate when they’d first hit the ice.
Nix had been determined to show their small west Texas town with a football obsession that there were other sports. Nix had always been ornery like that. Aries just enjoyed the feeling of flying down the ice. Gem had to be there to watch over his brothers and the only player on the ice every shift was the goalie.
Striding to the bathroom, Gem mentally ran through everything that he needed to do once he got home. He’d have to prepare tomorrow before he was back on the ice. He’d find something to send to his sub and make sure that Ty was following through with his affirmations. That gave Gem an obtainable goal as he silently worried about the rest of his life.
* * * * *
Nix
“Please!” Nix would love to say that he could talk Evan into anything, but his Daddy was a stubborn man.
Evan sighed as he pulled a shirt over his head. “I’m not sure if we’ll have time.”
“But I promised Eirwen,” Nix argued.
“Eirwen understands,” Evan told him.
“That's not the point!” Nix stomped his foot. It was getting frustrating that Evan was so difficult when all Nix wanted to do was show Eirwen he was important too.
Evan had been reaching for his shoes and he froze.
Uh-oh. That wasn’t good.
It was really bad when Evan straightened and turned to face him.
Nix immediately started to back up.
“Do not move another step,” Evan ordered quietly.
Damn it! Nix did not want to fight with Evan before Christmas morning with his family. Actually, he couldn’t ever remember really fighting with Evan. Evan was just so level-headed and calm that normally Nix could push and push. Sure, he might end up with a red ass, tied up, or both, but Evan was never mad when he spanked or tied Nix up.
