Page 24 of Mr. Charming

“Hi, Tedi.” But I heard it in her tone. She wasn’t calling me to tell me, “Good game last night.”

“Hi, Melody.”

We exchanged a look, and Tedi nodded. I loved the way we could speak to each other without words.

I took the phone off speaker and got out of bed. “What’s up?” I asked my mom, walking into the bathroom.

“Please tell Tedi that I’m sorry for not chatting, it’s just… um… Georgia is here too.”

“Hey, JD,” my sister said.

My mind went to thinking about how quickly I could get home, because something was very wrong.

“What’s going on?” I asked again, hoping one of them would stop being so vague.

“Your dad died last night,” Mom said, and my phone almost slipped from my grasp.

It felt like a blow to the chest. But he wasn’t in my life anymore, so it shouldn’t matter. Plus, I’d been preparing for this day for a long time. In some ways, I felt how I did when I was a kid and he’d flake on me, and I’d tell myself I didn’t give a shit.

I cleared my throat. “And?”

“JD,” Georgia said.

“I don’t give a shit what happened to him.” And I didn’t. Maybe some small part of me did a little, but I would never admit that to anyone. Because I shouldn’t care. He’d never cared about me.

“Don’t be like that,” Georgia said.

Tedi came into the doorway, silently asking if I was okay. I waved her over to me and widened my legs so she could sit in my lap as I sat on the edge of the tub. She laid her head on my shoulder, offering me the silent comfort she thought I needed.

“Fine. How’d it happen? Although I can guess.”

“Suspected overdose.” Mom’s voice didn’t crack. “They called Georgia since she’s next of kin.”

“All right, well, thanks for calling. I gotta go. Love you both.”

My mom sighed, and Georgia called my name, but I still clicked End.

I placed the phone on the side of the tub and wrapped my arms around Tedi. “I’m starving. Come on.” I patted her hip, and she rose, walking into the bedroom without asking me anything.

We’d touched on our pasts before, but I hadn’t told her about my dad. When she met my mom and sister, I explained his absence by telling her he just wasn’t part of my life, and she’d never pried for more.

I barely ate any of the breakfast Tedi made, and she kept stealing glances at me. I knew I could trust her, and it was time she knew how fucked up my dad was. I wasn’t sure if there was a funeral for the son of a bitch or who’d have to pay for it. I wouldn’t go for him. I’d go for my mom and for Georgia, but not for him.

Since it was only a matter of time before Tedi would be privy to the fact that my dad had died, I might as well get it over with. She was the woman I’d fallen in love with, and she deserved to know everything.

“Hey,” I said, running my hand down her arm until her hand was in mine.

She looked over and squeezed my hand, giving me encouragement and confirming silently that whatever I told her would stay between us.

“I’m going to tell you why my mom called, but I don’t want you to be upset or sad for me because I’m not, and I’m going to tell you why. Just don’t hug me or feel like I need to be treated with kid gloves, because I don’t.”

She pushed the tray back to the end of the bed and turned to face me, her tanned and toned legs crossed and my hand tight in hers in her lap.

“My dad died last night.”

She schooled her reaction. She didn’t hug me or tell me she was sorry.

“Probably overdosed, but I don’t really care.” I shrugged.

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