Page 118 of The Head Game

“Hey, what’s wrong?” August asked. He crouched down and rubbed Nico’s back.

“Head,” he managed and threw up again.

August’s touch was gentle as he slid his hand up Nico’s neck, gently rubbing the base of his skull.

“You want anything?” he asked. “What can I do to help?”

“Just let me die,” Nico muttered. “Please, let me die, Auggie.”

August laughed softly but he didn’t leave Nico to die.

Instead, he gently coaxed Nico into a standing position. “Up, up. I know you can do it.”

Thankfully, either the contents of Nico’s stomach had finally decided to stay where they belonged or he had nothing left to throw up. Probably the second one.

“C’mon.” August’s hands were warm against Nico’s clammy skin. “Can you handle a shower?”

“Quick?” Nico asked, squinting at him.

“Yeah, just enough to rinse you off. You’ll feel better.”

“K.”

He felt limp with exhaustion, although he tried not to sag against August too heavily as he helped him over to the shower. The light was still off and everything they did was by the light pollution of the city streaming in.

August let the water run a moment, rubbing Nico’s back while he rested his head against August’s broad shoulder.

The shower was the perfect temperature, not too hot, not too cool, and Nico felt a little better as he washed the sweat from his skin. He allowed August to rinse him off, then gargled with a little water to wash away the taste of sick in his mouth.

After, August toweled him dry, handed him some mouthwash, then helped him to bed.

Nico slid between the sheets, shaking with tiredness.

August disappeared but before Nico could ask where he was going, he was back. He placed something by the bed.

“Here’s a trash can. You can throw up in it if you need to.”

Nico squinted in the dark bedroom and managed a half-assed thumbs-up.

August laughed softly. “Anything else you need?”

“Water?”

“How about something with electrolytes? That might go down easier. I’ll get your meds too.”

“K. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll be back soon.” August ran a hand along Nico’s back.

“K.”

Nico burrowed against his pillow, then stole the one August had been sleeping on. He pulled it to his chest and breathed deep. Just the smell of it made some of the awfulness fade.

The fabric smelled like August.

Nico wasn’t sure what the scent was but it was nice. It reminded him of the days in the hospital when all he’d wanted was for August to be close.

Despite the pounding in Nico’s head, he realized how weird it was that he still wanted that.

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