Page 51 of The Head Game

The nurse smiled. “Yes. We were informed he’d be expecting a few visitors. I’m afraid I can’t let you in to see him at the moment though.”

“Is he okay?”

She hesitated. “What is your relationship to the patient? We can’t divulge any information except to immediate family, spouses, partners … that sort of thing. If you were his fiancé or something—”

“Yes, fiancé,” August blurted out then immediately wondered if he’d gone temporarily insane. “I’m uh, Nico’s fiancé.”

He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out his NHL badge. “See, I’m with the league. We’re obviously keeping our relationship out of the public eye but …”

Her face brightened. “Oh, that was you in that photo in JockGossip! I recognize your coat now that you mention it!”

August almost cried with relief. God, what were the odds of her being a sports gossip reader?

“Yes,” August said gratefully. “That was me.”

“Well,” she said. “Dr. Douglas is in with him now. Why don’t I show you to the private waiting area? Once she’s done, she’ll come update you on his condition.”

“Yes, okay,” August agreed. “Thank you.”

Still not sure what he was doing or if he’d maybe had a temporary lapse in sanity, August followed her to a small private waiting area.

He felt powerless to do anything else.

When she asked if he needed anything, he shook his head. “Uh, no, I’m fine,” he assured her. “Thank you.”

After she left, August took a seat, wondering if he’d hit his head during the game. What was he doing? Had he actually lied to a nurse and told her he was Nico’s fiancé? What on earth was he thinking?

They’d figure the truth out eventually.

Nico would laugh his head off at the idea of them being engaged.

The thought of Nico’s reaction almost made August let out a hysterical little laugh too. Even in the hospital Nico made him do things he’d never have done otherwise.

It would almost be funny if he wasn’t in the middle of this.

Any amusement August felt dissipated when he remembered what the nurse had said.

Should he be worried that the doctor was in with Nico right now? Was that routine or did that mean something was wrong?

August stood and started pacing. He should leave. Hopefully if the nurse mentioned him to someone, they’d think there was a mix-up about who he was.

August groaned. “What was I thinking?” he muttered. “Showing my badge like an idiot. It’s like I want someone to catch on.”

He’d just convinced himself that he should go before he made a bad situation any worse when a blonde woman walked in the door.

She smiled. “August. So good to see you. I was wondering if I was ever going to officially meet Nico’s fiancé.”

All of the blood drained from August’s face when he realized Skylar Hanley stood in front of him.

Oh, he’d fucked up. He’d fucked up big-time.

“Umm,” he managed.

The nurse from earlier stood behind Skylar, smiling at them both. “Let me know if either of you need anything.”

“Will do,” Skylar said.

When the nurse was gone, Skylar turned on August, her sweet smile falling away into something more assessing.

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