Page 61 of Mr. Charming

“Left wing. Best position.” I wink.

“I know. He loves you.”

My eyebrows raise.

“You know, in that he looks up to you. You’re his idol. Would you mind meeting him and taking a picture? It will just take a minute.”

I shrug. “Sure.”

I’m not going to be the asshole who denies a kid a picture and a quick greeting.

“Great, I’ll go get him.” Her gaze roams over the group, then she giggles. “The single one, huh?” She places her hand on my shoulder. “Me too. The only single mom in the bunch, can you believe it?”

I smile politely, knowing that this isn’t just some innocent woman. She knows exactly who belongs to whom in this group.

“We’re single!” Owen raises his hand, and Waylon follows.

She laughs. “Sorry, boys, I’m too pretty for jail.”

“Oh, look, the boys are coming off the ice.” Jade walks down, and Henry follows.

Maci follows them. “Come on. He’s going to be so excited.” She loops her arm through mine. “You don’t mind escorting me, do you? I’m always so scared I’m going to fall with these boots.”

The heels of her boots are about four inches high, and I’m wondering who she planned to pick up at her kid’s hockey game. Because I’m pretty sure a woman like Maci is looking for a husband or a plaything everywhere she goes.

I entertain her to be nice to her kid, biding my time before I can get the hell out of here and stop torturing myself.

Thirty

Tedi

“Good thing you don’t have lasers that shoot out of your eyes,” Decker whispers.

I blink. “She’s all over him. Look at her. It’s embarrassing.”

“I know,” Eloise joins in. “I hate how these women just assume our players are single.” Her wedding ring sparkles from the lights above.

“I’m sorry, isn’t he single?” Decker asks.

“Good for Tweetie. He deserves to get some,” Waylon says.

Kyleigh smacks him across the back of the head.

“Hey,” he says, but she gives him a look that makes him stop arguing.

They’re all so close. Even to Jade’s brothers. They’re like a family, just like we were in Florida—before Tweetie and I ruined it for all of us. I mean, they all are a family still, and then once in a while, either Tweetie or I are thrown in there.

“Who wants to skate?” Kyleigh asks, already walking down the stairs.

“I hate rentals,” Rowan whines, following her.

“You probably want to leave, right?” I whisper to Decker, but Conor peeks his head into our conversation.

“Come on. You go in net. I bet I can score against you.”

Decker glances at me, and I see it in his eyes—the competitive juices are flowing. Tweetie used to get that way too. Competitive right down to their bone marrow. How many times did I witness Tweetie throw down with someone just to say he won? Poor Mr. Hawkins didn’t know what happened to him after he told Tweetie that he’d be lost putting a puzzle together after he finished the border. We ended up winning the annual Veteran’s Hall puzzle competition. Tweetie displayed that sad little trophy for a year.

“Have fun,” I say.

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