Page 72 of Mr. Charming

Despite Tweetie’s victory, everyone is looking at Decker.

“I can’t see,” Decker says, face contorted in pain.

I guess it’s back to the hospital we go.

Thirty-Four

Tweetie

“Hey, the Uber is here. Ready?” I go over to where everyone is trying to help Decker since he still can’t see out of his one eye.

Tedi took him to the bathroom, washed his hands thoroughly, and sat him in a chair while everyone tried to flush out his eye, but he said it still stung. Since it’s his vision, we figured off to the emergency room we go.

“Yeah.” Decker rises, and Tedi holds onto his arm. “I’ve got it,” he says, and she backs off.

“See you guys later. Thanks for another fun night,” Tedi jokes.

I chuckle, although I feel bad that it’s at Decker’s expense.

“Thanks for helping me reach my deductible this year.” Decker waves.

Tedi’s at his side, Easton and I behind them. Easton takes the front seat, leaving me to take the seat next to Tedi.

She reaches to shut the door, and I grab a hold of it. “What are you doing?”

“I’m coming with,” I say, wedging myself between the door and the car.

“Why?” she asks, still holding the inside door handle.

“Because it’s my fault, and I want to be there for him.”

“Can we please just go?” Decker asks, obviously annoyed.

His tone makes Tedi let go of the handle, slide to the middle seat, and I slide in next to her.

“This is fun,” Tedi says, her arms squeezed in on both sides.

I shift to move my arm and wrap it around the back of the seat, and she sinks a little into my side. The smell of her shampoo reaches my nostrils, and I close my eyes briefly, inhaling a little deeper. I’ve always loved the way she smells, no matter what new scent it was.

“You’re complaining? My career is over.”

Easton turns around from the front seat. “That’s a little dramatic. They just have to flush it out properly, and you’ll be fine.”

I tap his shoulder. “I really am sorry. The T-shirt is yours.”

“Oh, thanks. Multi-million-dollar contract gone. But I get a T-shirt that says I won a wing contest. Yay.” Decker groans, and I don’t blame him. I’d probably be the same.

Tedi pulls her phone out and punches something into it. “It says that you should be fine. I’m sure the doctor will help.”

Decker doesn’t say anything, and I feel like an asshole that I’m at fault.

We get to the hospital, and all four of us file out and head inside.

Decker registers himself with the help of Tedi. Seeing them act like a couple sends a shooting pain through my chest. Her digging into his wallet to get his insurance card. Her making the little jokes with the woman registering them. Her touching him and whispering something.

“I don’t get this,” Easton says and takes a seat next to me.

“What?” I don’t take my eyes off of them. That was me at one point. I was sitting where Decker was, and I was one happy son of a bitch.

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