Page 90 of The Head Game

“Yes.”

“It will be difficult for him. This isn’t something he can charm and steamroll into happening. Talent and luck are great but they won’t carry him far enough now. He’ll need your support.”

August shrugged. “To be honest, I don’t know if I’ll be able to do much.”

“If you can help Nico when the going gets rough in his recovery and run interference with Isa and Piet, that will be more than enough.”

Only that, August thought, half-despairing.

Anika gave him a sympathetic look. “I know. They’re no small thing.”

“They’re not,” he admitted. “But I’ll do my best.”

He’d never been someone who shied away from hard work and he was generally a patient person.

Perhaps he could be a big help to Nico.

And yet, there was this looming pressure of what August’s future held hanging over him.

“Has Kate told you anything about what’s going on? That the public knows about our, uh, relationship?”

The word ‘relationship’ stuck in August’s mouth, the lie feeling both easier and harder to let drop from his lips with practice.

Anika shook her head. “No. Though we’ve read the articles.”

August winced. “My career is … well, the league won’t be pleased about Nico and I being involved.”

“I’d imagine not.”

“I don’t know how to do this,” August admitted. “How to be there for Nico and do what I need to do for my career—”

“Auggie?” Nico rasped. He stood at the end of the row of cabinets, rubbing at his eyes. He was shirtless, his sweats hanging low on his hips in a way that made it difficult for August to tear his gaze from. “Where’d you go? I woke up and you were gone.”

“Just helping clean up after dinner.”

Nico yawned. “It’s that late already? Is that why I’m hungry?”

“Probably.”

“Would you like me to fix you a plate?” Anika asked.

“Please.” Nico drifted over and latched onto August, pressing his cheek against the top of August’s shoulder. They were close enough in height it had to be an awkward position to stay in for long but he seemed content to hang off August while he resumed washing dishes.

“How’d you sleep?” August finally asked as Anika pulled leftovers out of the refrigerator.

“Okay, I guess.” Nico lifted his head and yawned again. Loudly. Right in August’s ear, making him wince. “I feel like I could sleep a million more hours. Why am I so fucking tired all the time?”

“Because that’s what happens when your body needs to heal,” Anika said kindly. “There’s nothing wrong with rest.”

“I’m not good at it.” Nico was definitely whining now.

“Well, you’re going to have to be,” she said.

Nico made a grumpy noise, then pressed his cheek to the back of August’s neck, his arms tightening briefly around August’s waist. “Mmm. You smell good, Auggie.”

When Nico teased at the waistline of his jeans, his breath hot against August’s skin, August jerked in surprise, a little bit of water splashing out of the sink.

“What are you doing there?” August asked warily.

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