Page 133 of Mr. Charming

“Oh,” Coach says, eyeing me, not being discreet at all.

That sourness in my stomach lifts.

“He thinks he has eyes everywhere? Well, this is my organization and my team. I’ve been watching him for a while. I haven’t liked a lot of things he’s done when it comes to the players and some of his other decisions as of late, but you were my final straw. Tweetie, you’re what I want this team to represent. My daughter showed me some of the social media posts where you went to the school in Philly. The school sent us a thank you note with a picture of all the kids wearing our T-shirts.” He smiles. “It was really cute. And you didn’t do it because someone made you. You did it on your own.”

“Actually.” I cringe. “Tedi… Miss Douglas…”

He waves me off. “You did it for the girl?”

“Well, partly, but had I heard the story from someone else, I would’ve done it just the same.”

“You know, Tweetie, I’m old-school. Maybe I’m getting old, but I think people get better with age. And I’m not about to replace my older players just because they’re old with new shiny kids that will come with a media storm. I’ve watched you mature, and now you’ve found yourself a woman you love. And who must love you since she resigned in order to be with you.”

I could go on and on about Tedi and me. I have no idea if he knows about our past or not.

“I wanted to call you up here to tell you that whether we win the Cup or not at the end of this season, we want to resign you. I hope you still want to be a Falcon.”

Coach smiles at me and pats my knee.

“I do.” I nod eagerly.

“Good. Bud is an idiot. A line like you guys comes around once in a career, and he would have blown that up for reasons I’ll never understand.” He shakes his head. “Oh, and my daughter also showed me your declaration post of that picture of the tattoo. I’ll never understand why people tattoo each other’s names on their bodies, but I think a lot of Chicago will be happy to see you so happy. Back in my day, you held your cards close to the vest. You kids just put it all out there. It’s refreshing.” He presses a button on the phone on the table next to him. “Shirley, make a reservation at that new Italian restaurant and call Glenda and tell her I’m picking her up at six for a date.”

Shirley says okay, and his finger releases the button.

“Now you’re making me a romantic,” he says.

“Thank you, Mr. Gershwin. I really appreciate the opportunity to play for you.”

“You don’t have to thank me. You earned your spot.” He looks at Coach. “Scared you, huh?”

Coach nods. “I didn’t know what I was going to do.”

Mr. Gershwin laughs and puts up his fingers, a little space between his pointer and thumb. “Okay, I like to scare a little bit. It’s fun.” He shrugs.

To him maybe.

“You said the second issue was who is going to replace Tedi?” I prod.

“Oh yes, I wanted to mention my daughter. She’s the one up on all this social media stuff. She said she liked Tedi’s angles on your campaigns and would like to talk to her.” He takes a card out of his pocket and slides it across the table. “I just hate the idea of her being out of a job because she found love. What kind of happy ending is that? Tell her to call my daughter. She has her hands in a lot of companies. I can never keep them straight. It’s some clothing company she’s been trying to get off the ground.”

I pick up the card. “Thank you. I feel like I need to promise you I’ll win the Cup. This is all so generous.”

He shrugs. “You don’t have to guarantee the Cup, but it would be nice. I love a girl who gave up her dream to marry me and raise our kids. She says she’s never regretted it, but I think had she been able to have a career and be a mother, she would’ve preferred that. Her overinvolvement in my kids’ schooling and extracurriculars says she’d probably be better at running this organization than me. It was different times then, though. Anyway, I guess when you have four daughters and never want to see them sacrifice anything, it changes your way of thinking.”

I pocket the card. “Thank you again.”

“You’re welcome… again. Now go tell the girl.” He points toward the door.

I stand and shake Mr. Gershwin’s hand, and when I try to say thank you again, he shoos me out of the room.

I go back down to the locker room, grab my bag, and order my rideshare, eager to get back to tell Tedi that we have a home base. A place to start the next chapter of our life together.

Sixty-Six

Tedi

I blink. Then blink again. There’s no way I’m seeing what I think I am.

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