Page 130 of Mr. Charming

“The hell I did. I’ll find another team. You want to play games with my contract? Do you think you’re going to tell me what I can post on my social media? Try to peg me as a certain person that you think the people want? All that should matter to you is how I perform on the ice. And that I fill that fucking arena for you. So fuck you, Bud, I’ll find another organization that appreciates me.”

He shakes his head, smirk still intact. “Not when I’m done making phone calls.”

Tweetie leans in. “Try it. I’ll have fun seeing you in court.”

Bud just smiles but thankfully keeps his mouth shut.

Tweetie takes my hand, but I stop, wanting to get in the last word. “Have fun explaining to Mr. Gershwin how you just lost the best player on your team. I’d hate to be in your shoes.”

Tweetie pulls me out of the coatroom, and there are a lot of eyes lingering on us. We must have been louder than I thought. Regardless, Tweetie stops us, pushes me against a pillar, and smashes his lips to mine.

He claims me without a care in the world of who might see, making me fall in love with him even more—which I thought was impossible.

Sixty-Two

Tweetie

We went to Tedi’s after the gala, and she packed a bag, then we came back to my place.

I ran out this morning and got us bagels. She’s still sleeping when I get home, and I watch her for a moment, loving the image of her sleeping in my bed. Her dark hair is strewn across the pillow, her arms tucked underneath. I love the fact she’s naked under that sheet because of our incessant need to touch one another as if each of us still can’t believe the other one is really there. Those light touches led to a lot more several times throughout the night.

I lean down and kiss her shoulder, but she pushes me away with her hand.

“Not yet,” she groans.

After last night, I’m not sure what to expect, other than that she’s going to lose her job, and I’m more than likely either getting traded or retiring. One thing is for certain—with Bud as the GM, Chicago is no longer an option for me.

My phone blew up last night in my guys’ text message thread—both Chicago and Florida—but I ignored them, just wanting to be with Tedi. We need to figure out this next step together without anyone else’s opinions or advice.

I go into the kitchen and put the bagels with cream cheese on two plates. I pour two cups of coffee and walk back to my bedroom, figuring I’ll take my time admiring her, waiting for her to wake up. She stirs, sliding over when she feels me climb into bed, and wraps her arm around my waist while placing her head on my side.

She moans and wraps one of her legs around mine. “Ew, sweatpants.”

I laugh, and she kicks my legs as she tries to get comfortable. I push her dark hair away from her face.

She peeks one eye up at me. “Time to face the real world?”

“I got you bagels.”

She lays her head back down. “I’ve been spoiled the last couple of years.” After a kiss on my stomach, she sits up, and when the sheet falls to her waist, I admire her tits out for my viewing pleasure. “That’s the first place we’re going when you visit New York. We’re getting bagels.”

“Visit?” I raise an eyebrow.

She gets out of bed, wrapping her arms around her body as if she’s cold, and tiptoes to my closet. She grabs a sweatshirt and puts it on before crawling back into bed.

“I don’t want to be presumptuous,” she says, sitting against the headboard, crossing her legs, and grabbing her plate to bring it closer.

“Be presumptuous, Tedi.”

She glances at me, then back at the bagel, taking off the paper. “Then I would say when we visit together. A weekend trip maybe.”

I tilt my head, not understanding.

She sighs and concentrates on getting her bagel free of the parchment paper. “I don’t think I can do long distance.” She slowly lowers the bagel to the plate and places it on the nightstand. Swiveling, she faces me but doesn’t look me in the eye. “I made my decision when I agreed to start us back up. And I don’t want you to fight it. This is what I want, and it has nothing to do with what happened… well, that’s not true.” She grows quiet again.

“Tedi, you can tell me anything.” I place my hand in hers, and she cups her other hand over mine. “I want us to do this together. Make these decisions together because we come first.”

“I’m going to resign.”

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