Page 46 of Mr. Charming

The plane pushes off from the terminal and heads toward the runway.

Now I know the anxiety people feel on a plane. The suffocation that makes it feel as though you can’t breathe. Because I’m on this plane with her for the next two hours, and I have to try to pretend everything is normal.

After the plane barrels down the runway and we’re in the air, I try to rest my head on the small pillow. I wiggle to try to get comfortable, but when Conor slides into the seat next to me and I see McCormick take his place, I forget trying to sleep.

“Message for you, sir.” Conor drops a piece of paper on my lap and fastens his seat belt.

“What’s this?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. Sally asked me if you like-liked Tedi during study hall and said to give it to you.”

Rowan and Henry chuckle, their eyes on the note now in my hand.

Why would Tedi send a note to me instead of just talking to me? Have we really lost our way that much?

I open the letter, and my gut twists at seeing her handwriting again.

* * *

My room after check-in. Room 532. ~ Tedi

* * *

“Hmm… looks like being an asshole is working for you.” Conor looks at the guys. “Our little boy got an invite to her room,” he whispers.

“Now hopefully he doesn’t blow it.” Henry picks up his phone again.

“Doubtful. He refuses to grow up.” Rowan picks up his phone, doing the same as Henry. They’re probably playing some game on an app and competing with each other.

“You guys can all go fuck off,” I grumble.

The plane lands, and when I get into the terminal, I can finally breathe, being away from her. We file onto the bus, and Tedi sits up front with Coach Buford, thanking him for letting her do the interviews during the away game. The note burns a hole in my pocket.

What could she possibly want with me? There’s no way she… nah, she’s not looking to hook up with me. There’s no way. But if she was, would I want to? Fuck yeah, why did I even think twice about that? Sex with Tedi was always off the charts. I’ve missed it over the years. More than I care to admit.

Basically every other girl I’ve fucked since her, and there have been a lot, was in an effort to get her off my mind. To find someone else who measured up. But they never did. They never even came close.

We get our room keys, and I head up to the room I share with Conor. He drops his bags and plops on the bed as soon as we get in the room.

“Now, honey, remember, abstinence is the best form of birth control.” He finds the remote and turns on the television. We have about two hours before we have to show up to the rink.

“Screw you.” I walk out of our hotel room and find the hallway completely empty.

Taking the elevator down to the fifth floor, I follow the signs until I’m outside her door. I lift my hand to knock but lower it. What am I doing? This is a really bad idea. Tedi and I in a hotel room?

My stomach is a riot of nerves and anxious energy as I lift my hand again, my knuckles ready to knock on the door when it swings open.

“Jesus, Tweetie, what the hell are you doing?” Tedi walks away, and I put my foot out to stop the door from shutting.

She’s changed out of her dress slacks and blouse and into tight-ass workout pants and a T-shirt. She looks fucking hot, and I really wish this was a booty call even though it would fuck with my head even more.

The farther I get into the room, the more I see, and I realize that she’s got a suite.

“How did you know your room number?” I ask.

“Because I booked it myself and checked in on the app. Why does it matter?”

“It doesn’t, but I was curious.”

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