Page 146 of The Head Game

He glanced over at August who stood nearby with an uncomfortable look on his face. “Since I’m apparently only allowed to go to rehab and take naps like an eighty-year-old, I’m going to go to my room.” He held out a hand. “Come with me, Auggie?”

“Uh, sure,” August said.

“Nico …” Isa said.

“If you’re that fucking worried about my recovery, you should be glad I’m going to get some rest,” he flung over his shoulder. “We’ll be in my room.”

Nico winced when the door shut behind him harder than he’d intended. “Whoops,” he muttered.

August carefully set the bag of records on the floor while Nico shrugged out of his coat, tossing it on the chair.

With an annoyed sigh, he dropped onto the bed on his stomach, frustration still coursing through him. So much for the nice relaxing day.

Nico heard a few rustling noises—probably August taking care of his coat or something—before the mattress dipped.

August settled a hand on his back. “Do you actually want a nap or …?”

“No.” Nico rolled over, staring up at the ceiling. “I could tell the conversation was going nowhere fast. And I know, I shouldn’t have gotten so upset.”

“They were genuinely worried about you.”

“I know.” Nico groaned. “I know that and I know why. I just … ugh.”

“You’re frustrated they’re not treating you like the adult you are.”

“Exactly.” He rolled his head to the side to look at August. “And today was so good. It was the first day I’ve felt almost normal, you know?”

“I get that.”

“Not even since the surgery but last summer when I started noticing symptoms.”

Surprise flickered across August’s face but he didn’t say anything.

“And to come home and be reminded I’m still recovering is really fucking hard. I didn’t want to be slapped in the face that I’m nowhere near where I want to be, you know?”

“I get that too.” August brushed his thumb across Nico’s cheek.

He shivered at the feeling.

“And I’ll apologize to my family once I’ve cooled down.”

“Good.”

“But for now, I just want to be grumpy.”

August chuckled. “Well, go right ahead.”

But Nico could already feel the annoyance leaching out of him. “I’m not very good at staying mad though. I’m usually over it pretty fast.”

“You get frustrated quickly but it fades equally fast.”

Although that wasn’t a question, Nico nodded. “Yes.”

“I noticed that on the ice.”

“Yeah?” Nico looked him in the eye, smiling a little. “So you noticed me, huh?”

“Yeah, you were a pain in my ass.”

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