Page 32 of Mr. Charming

“Tweetie,” Bud bellows, and a shiver runs up my spine at the sound of his voice.

“Bud.” Tweetie shakes his hand, then extends it to the woman. “Tweetie Sorenson.”

She puts her hand in his. I’ll give her credit, she doesn’t let her gaze shift from his eyes. Then again, Tweetie has great eyes. Big, blue, and dreamy. Bastard.

“Is that, like, your real name?” She laughs, and Bud joins in with her.

I grunt, and Rowan glances at me again.

“Your attention should be on the front of the class.” I circle my finger in the air.

Rowan snickers and turns to watch the scene playing out in front of him.

“No one knows Tweetie’s real name. He keeps it close to the vest,” Bud answers for him.

The night Tweetie told me his given name flickers in my memory, but I swallow it down, pushing it as far back as I can. Decker was right, my brain is like a catalog, and I wish it would lose all the entries with Tweetie in them. It would make my life a lot easier.

Bud walks his girlfriend, or date, or whatever she is, to the table, and Tweetie’s gaze pauses on me as if he’s remembering that I’m one of the only people who knows the truth of his name. Everyone stands and shakes hands with Bud and the girl who is named Mila. Decker and I are the last couple to be introduced to her, and Bud’s eyes widen when he sees Decker next to me. Maybe I should’ve found an average Joe to draw less attention.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Caldron.” Decker sticks out his hand.

Bud looks at me while shaking Decker’s hand. “Decker Davis? That’s your boyfriend?”

I slide closer and rest my cheek on his shoulder. “He is.”

Bud nods as if he’s impressed I can score such a catch. Asshole. He finally turns his attention back to Decker. “So happy you could join us, and sorry for how your season turned out this year. Tough one.”

Decker nods. “I think we’ll turn it around next year.” Their hands drop, and Decker shifts his gaze to Mila. “Nice to meet you, Mila.”

She nods frantically. Although I have no interest in Decker, I’d appreciate it if she didn’t look at my fake boyfriend as though she wants to fall to her knees and suck him off.

I tighten my grip on Decker’s upper arm and clear my throat.

“Let’s sit.” Bud interrupts our silent catfight.

Everyone goes back to their seats, but Tweetie takes the one right next to Decker, immediately engaging him in conversation. Decker doesn’t help with all his fawning over the Falcons and how exciting they are to watch.

“If you want tickets—” Tweetie says midway through appetizers.

“Oh yeah, Tedi said she could get me some.” Decker nods, leaning back in his chair as we wait for our main course.

“If you don’t mind sitting in the wives and girlfriends section, I can get you in there. Tedi will be on the bench with us, scoring pictures for social media.” Tweetie smiles at me.

I grip the stem of my wine glass harder. “God knows you don’t ever use your tickets in that section.”

Tweetie chuckles. “Keeping tabs on who I invite to games?”

“I just figured you find your entertainment after the game, and then they’re gone before the next one.” I shrug and sip my wine again.

“Man, that calamari was really good. What did you think, Tweetie?” Decker tries to change the subject.

Tweetie’s narrowed gaze doesn’t veer away from mine. “Like I said, keeping tabs on me?”

“I don’t have to. I hear the rumors. Your extracurricular activities are talked about more than your slap shot.”

Rowan chokes on his bread, and Kyleigh asks if he’s okay as he reaches for his water glass.

“Oh, that’s right, you believe everything you read, right?” Tweetie picks up his drink.

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