Page 15 of Mr. Charming

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“You look like you just got the shit beat out of you,” Conor says when I step out of the back room at Peeper’s.

I feel like it, but like hell if I’m gonna tell them. “We just had to clear some shit up. You dipshits need to keep your mouths shut tomorrow. No one on the team can know she’s my ex.”

Rowan’s eyebrow quirks. “You really think that’s not going to get around?”

Ruby watches me the entire time I walk over, then grabs a shot glass and fills it with whiskey. She slides it across the bar, and I grab it, downing it. The burn does nothing to soothe my aching heart after seeing the only woman I’ve ever loved again.

God, she smelled good. I could’ve stayed there with her between the door and me forever. I didn’t even have to touch her, I just wanted to be near her again.

“It has to stay between us. This job is really important to her,” I say.

Henry smiles, and when I narrow my eyes, he chuckles into his beer. Asshole.

“We’re not going to say anything, but”—Rowan puts his hand on my shoulder—“you okay?”

I nod. “It’s just weird. It’s been three years since I’ve seen her in person.”

“Yeah, when Jade returned, it was a shock,” Henry says. “All those feelings come rushing?—”

“It’s been over for a long time.” I slide the empty shot glass Ruby’s way.

“Yeah, but anyone can tell there are lingering feelings there. Maybe the door isn’t completely closed.”

I really wish Henry would stop comparing Tedi and me to him and Jade. We’re different.

“Do you want to finally tell us why you broke up?” Conor leans his weight on the bar top.

I could talk to them. They’re some of my best friends, and none of them were tangled up in the situation like all my Florida teammates. Even when I’ve broached the subject with Ford a few times, he somehow ends up saying something that makes me feel as though he sides with Tedi, and we end up in an argument. I finally just stopped talking about it with him. Now it’s been so long since I’ve discussed Tedi and my relationship that I can almost pretend it never happened. But seeing her today… it took everything I had not to pull her into my arms.

“There isn’t much to say. We were on for a long time. We dated for years, and then I got hurt… got traded… and we were off… then Ford retired and had a party, and we were back on briefly before we were done for good.”

There’s so much between those events. We were a couple I’d be jealous of today. But we were young and felt as if we had our entire future in front of us. Now, I’m struggling to stay relevant in my career, and she’s finally made it to the big leagues like she wanted.

“It’s over now. So, just help me get drunk these next few months, and if I’m around her, detour me away. That’s all I ask.”

Ruby pours me another shot, and I down it. She hasn’t said anything, and I know she’ll corner me at some point, but she won’t do it in front of all of them.

“That’s how you want it to be? Just get through it?” Rowan asks. I can tell he’s not judging, he’s only asking.

I shrug. “It’s the only way.”

Henry raises his eyebrows and glances at Conor, who shrugs.

“You don’t think it’s going to affect your game?” Conor asks.

It’s something I gave each of them hell about when they were having problems of their own in the love department. “Nah, I realized a long time ago that Tedi Douglas isn’t mine to keep.”

They each take a sip of their drinks, and the door opens. I’m thankful for the distraction. All I need to do is center myself again and pretend we’re not sharing the same city.

“No dogs!” Ruby scolds, pointing at the girls.

“He could be your mascot.” Eloise, Conor’s now-wife, holds their new dog, Wilbur.

“You’re screwed, buddy. You just got replaced,” I say to Conor, who stares with so much love at Eloise.

“No mascot. No dog.” Ruby narrows her eyes.

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