Page 74 of The Head Game

“Aww. You showered without me, Auggie.” Nico pouted.

“I don’t think the nurses will allow you to shower yet,” August said with a smile. “You need to keep the wound dry for a while.”

“Does that mean you’ll give me sponge baths?” Nico looked at him hopefully.

August nearly fired back with a snarky retort before he bit his tongue, remembering his audience.

“I think we’ll leave that to the nurses for now,” he said with a little laugh, keeping it playful. “Just to be safe.”

Thankfully, before Nico could argue, a nurse stepped in.

She lifted the lid off the food tray.

“Okay, I am going to need a little time alone with my patient. He needs to eat his breakfast, then we’ll get him cleaned up a little for the physical and occupational therapists who will be coming in for his assessments. Why don’t you give us a few hours, please?”

That was clearly an order and not a request so August dutifully got up.

“Kiss?” Nico said, catching August’s hand, though his grip wasn’t very strong.

“Uhh.” August cleared his throat.

Shit, this was about to get a lot more complicated. He hadn’t thought about Nico and his family expecting more physical affection between them.

August bent down, pressing a kiss to Nico’s cheek and letting it linger before he pulled away.

“See you soon, uh …”

Shit, he should have thought up a nickname or something. Some term of endearment. He’d never been the type to call a guy babe or baby.

August glanced around the room frantically, looking for something to spark an idea.

A bright sunflower bouquet on the nightstand caught his attention. Flower? No. Dear God no. He couldn’t call him that.

August’s gaze landed on the food tray beside the bed. No, he definitely couldn’t call him oatmeal either. Juice? Absolutely not.

Muffin? Yes. That would do.

“Muffin!” he said a little louder than intended. “See you soon, muffin. Hope the assessments go well.”

From across the room, Skylar shot him an amused glance and he glared back, before he glanced over at Nico.

Nico squinted, clearly confused. “See you, Auggie.”

With a relieved sigh, August escaped the room, Skylar beside him, Isa moving a little more slowly as she said goodbye to her son.

“Muffin?” Skylar asked under her breath.

“Shut up,” August grumbled. “I got desperate.”

She grinned, “Auggie and muffin. I like it.”

August sighed.

How in the hell had he gotten himself into this predicament? And how was he ever going to dig himself out?

CHAPTER TWELVE

Nico was tired as he picked at his dinner that evening.

---