Page 47 of The Head Game

“See you soon,” he echoed, hoping that was true.

After Dustin left the room, Kate took the seat next to his bed. “Well, I knew you were dramatic but this is a new one even for you.”

Nico laughed. “Well, you know me, go big or go home.”

But the laughter turned into tears he couldn’t stop anymore and he covered his face with his hands.

“I’m scared,” he admitted as tears flowed down his face. Too many for him to wipe away.

“Of course you are. That’s perfectly natural in a situation like this,” Kate said, her tone reassuring. She smoothed his hair off his forehead.

“Promise me I’ll wake up after,” he begged Kate, reaching for her.

“You’ll wake up after.” She took his damp hand, then leaned down and kissed his forehead.

Nico desperately wished that it was his stepmom Noor instead of Kate. Kate’s touch was gentle as she kept petting his hair but it wasn’t the same.

Noor was the one who had gotten him through all of his stupid childhood bouts of flu and chicken pox. The one who’d read to him when he got restless and fussy and soothed him with songs and simple games.

Kate continued, her tone gentle. “But you’re tough, Nico. You can get through this.”

He didn’t feel very tough right now. He didn’t feel like a twenty-six-year-old pro athlete. He felt like a scared kid.

After the tears finally stopped, Kate offered him a tissue.

Nico mopped his face and blew his nose and when he had control of himself again, she smiled gently.

“Everyone with the organization will be rooting for you while you deal with this. Dustin will be in Columbus with the team, but I’ll stay behind with you. At least until your family gets here and you’re through surgery.”

“Yeah, please. Do you think maybe we can put the surgery off until tomorrow though? They don’t have to do it right away, do they? I want to see my family before I let the doctors chop open my head.”

Skylar was on her way from Toronto. Nico had tried to argue with her but she’d ignored him and assured him she could drive a couple of hours to see him.

According to Kate, Nico’s parents—all four of them—were already on their way too but they were probably over the Atlantic right now. It was at least fourteen hours on a plane and that didn’t include security and customs. They’d probably fly private to get here faster but still, even with money, international flights took time to arrange.

“I don’t know but that might be possible. Do you want me to see if the nurse can get Dr. Douglas back in here so we can ask her?”

“Please.”

When Dr. Douglas returned there was a lot of paperwork for him to look over.

“I’m glad to hear you’re going through with the surgery, Nico,” she said with a smile after he’d signed a bunch of papers.

“Thanks for letting me wait until tomorrow morning. I want to see my parents before I go under.”

“Of course. Like I said, we want to move quickly. But you’re not in any immediate danger at the moment. Tomorrow will be fine.”

Nico sighed with relief.

“I’d like you to read through that information I gave you about what to expect and let me know if you have any questions.”

Nico skimmed through the packet she’d handed him. He frowned when he saw they were going to have to shave a portion of his head. “Ugh. My beautiful hair. I can’t believe they’re going to shave it off.”

Kate laughed, shaking her head fondly. “It’ll grow back.”

Nico made a face. It would but he’d never worn it buzzed short before. Ugh.

Good thing he was hot enough to get away with it.

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