Page 29 of The Head Game

Nico’s family had money. Both of his parents came from well-off families and his dad’s NHL salary and later career as a business analyst for a European sports company meant Nico had never worried about anything financial.

The Hanleys were orders of magnitude richer.

They’d made their money in mining and forestry hundreds of years ago. Centuries of investments and clever tax dodges meant they were one of the wealthiest families in Toronto.

Skylar stood to inherit billions.

That was one of many reasons the family had thoroughly disapproved of Skylar and Nico dating. He was practically destitute by their standards.

“I know they’re not going to ignore it but it doesn’t mean I can’t try to put it off as long as possible,” Skylar said, lifting a bite to her mouth.

She glared over her California roll, chewing aggressively like it would somehow make his words not true.

“It’s not going to get better with more time,” he pointed out.

“And neither is your head.”

Nico grimaced. “Fair.”

“Did you talk to Dr. Strickland like you promised you would?” She reached for another California roll.

“No. I didn’t have time,” he protested. “This morning, Kate called me in for a meeting to rip me a new asshole about what I got up to last weekend.”

“I still can’t believe you fucked a ref,” Skylar said with a laugh. “Only you.”

Nico shrugged, staring down at the yellowtail nigiri maki. “What can I say? No one can resist me.”

“Arrogant much?” she asked drily, poking his thigh with her big toe.

“I can’t help it if it’s true.” He snapped his chopsticks at her toes like he was going to grab them.

She squealed and tucked her feet under her thighs in a cross-legged position, barely catching her food before it tumbled off her lap. “You’re such an asshole.”

“So they tell me.”

They were both silent a few minutes as they chewed.

“Is your head hurting that bad?” Skylar asked softly a few minutes later. “You look miserable.”

He realized he’d been rubbing his head and he let his hand fall to his thigh. “No. I mean, it doesn’t feel great but it’s fine.”

“Then why are you pouting?”

“I’m not pouting,” he protested. “I just … I kinda thought I’d hear from August.”

She snickered. “Aww. Are you pining over your referee?”

“I’m not pining and he’s not my referee! He’s just some guy I hooked up with. I … I don’t know.”

Nico hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the way August had kissed him. Or the way he’d acted like he was trying to fuck Nico out of existence. Or how much softer he’d looked after, relaxed and sated.

“You’re only interested because you can’t have him.”

Nico huffed and jabbed violently at his sea urchin. “That’s not true.”

“You are the worst liar in the world and you can’t hide from me.” She waved an eel roll threateningly.

“It was different somehow.”

---