Page 42 of Mr. Charming

She stands quickly, grabbing her coat. “Yeah, let me get you home, babe.”

My insides clench with the pet name.

She walks by me, giving me a soft smile.

“You sure you got it?” I’m ready to help her, though leaving her at his place would kill me.

“Yeah. We’re good.”

Decker gives me a nod and a wave before they leave.

I pick up all the empty glasses and take them to the bar, continuing to dodge Ruby, before heading up to my place to try to get Tedi out of my head and not think about her and Decker sharing a bed tonight.

Twenty-One

Tweetie’s Journal Entry

Ten years ago

Florida

To my teenage self,

* * *

I can’t believe I’m about to tell younger me this, but we did the one thing we always said we’d never do—we tattooed a woman’s initials onto our skin. Yeah, I know, we said that was some lame bullshit that doesn’t mean shit, but I kind of like it. Like a brand that she’ll always be mine. I admit, I felt a little pressured, but I’m glad I did it. This is how it all went down…

* * *

We were hanging out with everyone, and Cory decided he was going to get a tattoo of Ande’s name on his chest. The guy is next level and makes me look even more like a schmuck who won’t commit.

Ever since I had that conversation with Tedi about never wanting to get married, things have been good. Great, actually. She never brings it up. Now that we’re living together, maybe that’s really enough for her.

Suddenly, Cory saw a tattoo shop, and it was like he was hypnotized, walking toward it and forgetting all of us.

“How romantic,” Tedi said, hitting me. “What about you?”

“I love you, Tedi, but this is other-level shit.”

“Seriously?” She crossed her arms.

I was pissed at Cory for putting me in this position. This was like facing my demons head-on with an audience, and I wanted to stomp my foot and say “fuck you all” and storm out of there.

Tedi gave me the cold shoulder, but her I can deal with.

“You know what? Make that two.” Tedi walked up to Cory’s side. “You might not believe in us, but I do.” She poked me in the chest.

She had me, she knew she did. I wasn’t going to let her tattoo my name on her skin and not do the same.

I ran a hand down my face. “Fuck. Make it three.”

Tedi smiled in Cory’s direction.

Thankfully, it was a slow night, and they were hockey fans because they squeezed us all in.

I settled on getting Tedi’s initials only because it felt safer to me than her entire name. I got it on my shoulder blade because Cory got his over his heart, and I didn’t want to copy that sap. She looked a little annoyed. Especially since she got Tweetie tattooed along her right rib with a heart.

I felt like an asshole.

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