Page 138 of Well Played

Summer

“Try to get some rest,”Nico smirks before turning around and heading out of my room.

Just like that, he’s gone. It feels like he took the oxygen with him. True to his word, he stayed until I came up here and got settled. I close my eyes, hoping to calm my racing heart and frayed nerves. I tell myself it’s because of the stupid shingles and the fact that I don’t want to be here, but I know that’s a lie.

The pit of coiled snakes in my belly has nothing to do with how physically awful I feel. It has everything to do with Niko. For once, it’s not because he did anything wrong. It’s because he did everything right.

Painon the right side of my face and head wake me. At least I slept. I woke briefly at five in the morning when someone took blood, checked my vitals, and hooked the antiviral medication up to my IV, and then again when a doctor came to examine me.

“Everything looks good,” he said after dilating my eyes and shining a bright light in them, causing the pain to spike.

I was too tired to ask what he meant by good, but I thought it. Because if I looked that good, I wouldn’t be here. As soon as he left my room, I closed my eyes and fell right back to sleep.

The pain medication must have worn off. I groan and roll onto my left side, hoping to alleviate the pain.

“Can I get you anything?” My pulse rate increases to a sprint as the rich, velvety voice catches me off guard.

“Nico?” I whisper, certain I’m dreaming.

“Right here.” The volume of his voice matches mine. Clean-shaven and looking more alluring than ever, Nico crosses his arms over the bed rail and rests his chin on top of them.

“You’re here?” I don’t know or care if he can see how happy I am. All that matters is that he came back. Unless I’m still asleep and this is about to turn into an ugly nightmare.

“I am.” He reaches over the side of the bed, stroking my arm with his fingertips. “You look like you slept a little. How do you feel?”

“I’m not sure,” I answer through a yawn. “Is your face going to melt and drip off?”

“What?” He laughs at the ridiculousness of the question and gives me a sideward look. “Are you high on pain killers?”

“I wish. Then I wouldn’t be in so much pain.”

I stretch my hand out, wanting to run it through his thick, dark hair, but stop short of touching him. Instead, I recoil my arm and reach for the tissue I have on my pillow. I can’t believe he’s here.My heart thrums with excitement.

“Is there something wrong with how I look?” His hand stills on my arm, while the other hand smooths over his cheeks. “Do I have shaving cream on my face?”

How do I convey that the only thing wrong with how he looks is that him standing there laidback and smiling the way he ismakes me want him in a way I’m not sure he’d approve of? After all, no fraternizing with league members.

“Not at all.”

“You scared me. Thought I showed up with globs of goop on my face.”

“No. Nothing but your deep dimples and heart-throbbing smile.”Oh shit!Did I say that out loud? Please let this be a dream. Maybe I really do want his face to peel off.

His eyes drop, and his smile broadens. “Heart throbbing, huh?”

I close my eyes and take a breath. I already slipped up, now I need to come clean. “Well, yeah, I mean anyone that sees you would notice that you're good looking,” I try to recover. “But when you smile...” The only thing I’m recovering is my awkwardness around him.

“When I smile?” Despite his no hook-up rule, I think he likes the idea of me wanting him. I do want him, I admit to myself, as warmth spreads through my body like melted butter.

“Understand, it’s not that you smile a whole lot. At least not around me. I mean, usually, you yell and complain.”

Silence.Nice work, Summer!

“Are you still in a lot of pain?” He asks when the quiet becomes unbearable.

“Yes,” I dab my eye, which serves as a reminder that while Nico looks more attractive than ever, he’s spending all this time with me as I look my worst. “I’m surprised you’re here?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.” He pulls away and leans his back against the chair. I didn’t realize his hand was still resting on my arm until he took it off. Feeling a chill from the absence of his touch, I pull the blanket up to my shoulder. “I could leave.”

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