Page 30 of Mr. Charming

“Decker?” I hear Rowan say as we’re stepping away to head to the private room.

We all stop, and I place my hand on the hostess’s arm to tell her, “Sorry, we just have to say hello to a friend.” She smiles wide and looks at the other girl. Definitely way too young for me.

Henry’s shaking the hand of the third baseman for the Colts as I head that way.

“Decker Davis, shouldn’t you be on a beach or some shit?” I put out my hand, and we do the whole man-hug thing.

Decker is one of my agent’s clients, and we see him at our shared gym courtesy of Jagger.

“Yeah, it’s your offseason.” Conor shakes his hand. “Let me introduce you to my wife.”

The guys all do the introductions to the loves of their lives since we don’t see Decker often. Our seasons are during opposite times of the year for the most part, and he doesn’t seem to be a club guy. At least not the ones I’m hanging out at.

I actually don’t know much about Decker, but there is one thing I know about him—he’s Tedi’s twin brothers’ best friend. I met him at her brother Toby’s wedding years ago when he was just a rookie. Now, Decker’s one of the best players in the baseball league.

“So tell us again why you’re not on some beach right now,” I say.

He huffs a small chuckle as if it’s an inside joke. “Eh, I decided not to this year.”

I snap my fingers and point at him. Maybe he knows something about Tedi’s boyfriend. He can give me a little intel, so I’m prepared for who’s going to walk through the door. “Did you hear that Tedi’s in Chicago?”

My friends grow quiet, and I can just imagine them leaning in closer as soon as they heard me say Tedi’s name.

He nods. “I did.”

“She’s supposed to join us tonight. She’s working here for a few months.”

“I heard about that.”

Did Theo and Toby tell him he can’t talk about Tedi in front of me? Why is he being so vague? She’s clearly reached out to him since she got here if he knows everything I do.

“She’s bringing her boyfriend. Do you know him?”

He looks uncomfortable and opens his mouth to respond.

“Shit, never mind. I’m not going to put you in the middle. I mean…” I shake my head. “What do I care? But can I ask you one thing?” I lean in closer and block off my friends, giving them my back.

Decker’s back straightens. I hate putting him in this position, but if he gives me the answer I want, then it’ll be much easier to take a step back, hands up, and leave her behind.

“What?” he asks, voice breaking.

“Is she happy?”

His shoulders fall, and a small breath falls from his lips.

Another blast of cold air hits us all from the circular door, and we turn as if it’s the person’s fault, but my gaze locks with Tedi’s. She stops cold, the door hitting her in the back, and she stumbles forward. I step over, catching her elbows, and our eyes meet.

“Thanks.” She’s quick to stand up straight.

When she looks over, I expect her to be surprised to see Decker. I expect her to squeal and run over, wrap her arms around his neck, and probably pick on him about something from when they were younger.

But Tedi doesn’t do any of that. She slides her arm through his, rises to her tiptoes, and kisses his cheek. “Hey, babe.”

Decker stiffens, his eyes on me the entire time.

“Fuck,” Conor whispers behind me.

A hand lands on my back and rubs up and down. I don’t know which one of their girls felt compelled to try to soothe my pain away with the comforting touch.

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