Page 38 of Beach Bats

“It’s true!” Aries cackled. “I’m just better at hockey than you are!”

“Are not!” Nix yelled.

“Am too!” Aries argued.

“Stop,” Gem snapped. “Behave the both of you.”

Slowly Nix turned to face Gem. Gem was still standing on the shore, clapping for Luka. Nix was pretty sure with how far Luka was out that he couldn’t even hear Gem, not that that little detail mattered to Gem. It was kind of sweet. Although Gem was only being sweet to his boy and not his brothers.

“He didn’t just say that,” Nix whispered to Aries.

“I think he did.”

Hmm, that meant that Gem needed to be reminded that Nix wasn’t the only loser on the beach. He hopped up to a crouching position and eyed Gem. Okay, he just needed to creep a little closer.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking about doing but I would advise against it.”

Nix startled and fell back on his ass as Evan spoke into his ear. He’d been so focused on Gem that he hadn’t noticed Vin and Evan stand up and walk over. Vin had his palm over Aries’s mouth as it was obvious the little brat was giggling.

“I wasn’t going to do anything!” Nix lied.

“He wanted to pounce on me,” Gem said without turning around. “I was ready for him.”

That deflated Nix a little. Dang! No one ever let him have any fun. This was when he needed the other troublemakers like Robbs and Marlin.

Evan laughed as he picked Nix up.

Finding himself back over his Daddy’s shoulder in a fireman carry, Nix wailed. “But I didn’t do anything!”

Smacking Nix’s ass, Evan started to jog toward the water. “You’re pouting since you didn’t pick up surfing as fast as you thought.”

“Am not.” He totally was. “Gem was being mean.”

“I’m sure he was.”

It didn’t sound like Evan believed him. That wasn’t nice either. “I’m going to try again.”

“Of course you are,” Evan said. “You need more than one lesson.”

“Then I’m going to be a better surfer than anyone else,” Nix claimed.

Evan’s feet kicked up water as he sauntered into the waves. “Maybe you should practice swimming more.”

“I know how to swim!” Did Evan really doubt Nix that much.

“I guess you’ll have to show me then.”

That sounded suspicious. “What are you doing?” Nix asked.

“This.” Evan flipped Nix back over into his arms bridal-style, then threw him.

Nix hit the cold water and sank. He came up sputtering and unprepared when Evan jumped on him.

They both went back under the water with the waves crashing above them. Evan wrapped his arms securely around Nix’s waist. Oh! Now this Nix wasn’t going to complain about. Their mouths met again before they broke the surface together.

“If you wanted to kiss me, you didn’t have to dunk me in the ocean,” Nix teased.

“But then I couldn’t do this.” Evan kissed him again. This time slowly drawing Nix closer as their tongues met and stroked together.