Page 21 of Mr. Charming

Eleven

Tweetie

A boyfriend? She has a fucking boyfriend? What the fuck, Aiden? He tells me she’s coming to Chicago, but not that she’s seeing someone? Not that it matters. We’re not going to be anything anyway. It’s over for us, but fuck, she killed me with that information, and she knows it. I hate that she saw my reaction.

Now she stands up there with Coach, and I’m front and center, but I’m not the only asshole in this room who’s staring at her. The only difference between me and the other unattached guys here is that I’ve had her. My hands have slowly unbuttoned her out of blouses and pants like she’s wearing today. I’ve taken her heels off after a long day or night and kissed my way up her legs. And I was the lucky asshole who found her wet and wanting.

“So, no one give her a hard time. If you do, you have Tweetie to answer to.” Coach saying my name pulls me out of my maze of memories with Tedi.

“Oh, I can handle myself. I don’t need a bodyguard.” She smiles at Coach and shakes her head.

Her laugh dies quickly, and it’s not hard to see she’s uncomfortable, which is not very Tedi-like at all. Maybe I’m the only one who sees it.

“I think I speak for all of us when I say welcome, and we look forward to helping you make this program a success.” Coach smiles at her. “She’s going to be meeting with each of you in the coming days, but I’ll let her explain it some more. The floor is yours, Tedi.”

Coach stands to the side, and Tedi takes the center stage.

“I’ve done a random selection, so you’ll all receive an email from me later today. If the time I selected is a conflict for you, just let me know. I’m pretty flexible.”

The doors in the back shut, signaling someone just walked in. Rustling in the seats sounds as the players turn to see who’s joined us.

“My dream team. Good morning.” Bud Caldron walks down the steps, patting a few players on the back, stopping at Rowan and telling him how great he looked the other night. When he reaches the bottom, he extends his hand toward Tedi. “I haven’t had the pleasure. Bud Caldron, GM.”

Tedi shakes his hand. “Tedi Douglas. I was going to stop by your office after I was finished here.”

He laughs because he’s kind of a goon. He nervous-laughs at things that aren’t even funny. Plus, he tends to only look at and appreciate the guys on the first line. Whoever is selling the most jerseys is always his favorite. The word team doesn’t seem to be part of his vocabulary, and he makes you feel about as dispensable as a napkin.

“No need. Here I am.” He holds out his hands.

Bud is tall and thin with a small beer gut that hangs over his belt. He dresses as though he never left the nineties, with wide-legged slacks, loafers with tassels, and huge sports coats. I really don’t like the guy, but he was the one calling me in Nashville, promising me he was putting together an unbeatable team, and he hasn’t been wrong. I’m at the tail end of my career, and I want to win again, not just play.

“Tedi was just telling them about the interview process,” Coach says.

“Yeah, that Gill wasn’t worth his weight in—” Coach clears his throat, and Bud waves off his comment. “Anyway, I’d like to talk to a few players and Tedi. I have some ideas. Do you mind?” Bud looks at Coach.

Coach sighs but reluctantly nods. “Fine, but I need them on the ice in a half hour. Who do you want?”

Bud turns to me and nods. “Tweetie, Rowan, Henry, and Conor.”

A few guys groan. I’m sure it’s because we’re seen as the best on the team, but we couldn’t win without everyone here.

Tedi’s back straightens. I’m sure she’s pissed off that he’s taking over her agenda, but since Bud called in the favor to get her here, she’s smart enough not to make waves. I hate that my heart still hurts when she hurts.

Bud holds out his arm for Tedi to go first, and she leads the way up the stairs. All of us have our heads down because it’s like being the teacher’s pet and everyone hates you when you’re singled out like this.

In the hallway, Tedi’s jaw is hard, and her eyes have that fire they do when she’s trying to hold in her anger.

Bud walks toward the same room she was in with Coach earlier, and now there are refreshments on the side table. Fruit, juice, coffee, water, and some bagels. What the hell is this, a timeshare meeting?

“Please help yourselves to something to eat.” There’s already a bagel with cream cheese and a coffee in front of a chair Bud sits in. Seriously, what’s it like to be a GM?

We all take a seat. My friends and I cross our arms, extending our legs, all of us on the same page with not liking Bud. Tedi also sits and doesn’t take anything to eat or drink.

Bud takes a bite of his bagel, looking around to see we’re all waiting for him to tell us why we’re here. He laughs and swallows. “No one else is hungry? Okay then.” He turns to Tedi. “There’s really no need to focus on the entire team. I’ve decided to center the campaign around a select few.”

Tedi’s eyebrows scrunch, and she stares at him as if he told her he doesn’t want to win the Cup this year. “Excuse me, Mr. Caldron, but?—”

“We did it your way, Tedi, and you sent us Gill.” He shuts her down quickly.

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