Page 124 of The Husband Game

Charlie swallowed, his skin prickling. He felt so exposed right now. And he hated that Dustin had to deal with all this shit.

Yeah, he was sincere about it now but Charlie knew exactly how long that lasted.

The last time Charlie had tried to let someone convince him they’d stick around through Charlie’s meltdowns and struggles with anorexia, they’d bailed when it got ugly. Exactly like he’d known they would.

Even someone as great as Dustin would grow tired of dealing with it.

With him.

Rather than reply, Charlie turned away, ducking out from under Dustin’s arm and tossing his barely touched food into the trash, then stuffed the bowl into the sink.

He turned to face Dustin with a fake smile. “Okay, what should I wear for this interview tonight? I’ll take it with me to work, get ready there, then meet you at the hotel.”

Dustin frowned but all he said was, “I think they suggested you bring half a dozen outfits or so for the photoshoot. It’s all in the email from Wade.”

“Right.” Charlie cleared his throat. “I remember now. Okay, I am going to go get that organized. Have a good day at practice.”

He leaned in and gave Dustin a quick peck on the lips.

But Dustin gently clasped his upper arms and looked him in the eye. “You’ll text me if you change your mind? I don’t care how it comes across. I will cancel this, even at the very last second.”

“I will,” Charlie promised. But he wasn’t going to change his mind. If there was one thing he’d learned in his skating career, it was that no matter what, the show must go on.

And yeah, a part of him that sounded like his therapist and Taylor all wrapped up together reminded him that mindset wasn’t healthy.

But he shook it off, squared his shoulders, and looked Dustin in the eye. “I’ll see you tonight, okay?”

“Sure, kitten,” Dustin said quietly, his brow furrowed. He leaned in, brushing his lips across Charlie’s cheek. “Message me if you need anything. Anything at all.”

For a few heartbeats, Charlie looked at him, wanting to open his mouth and say something.

He was so tempted to spill all of his secrets right now but he needed to go to work and Dustin needed to go skate and take care of his other obligations.

Charlie had promised himself he’d do everything he could to make Dustin’s life easier.

That was what he’d paid him for. To put on a good show and not be too much of a distraction from hockey.

So that was what Charlie would do.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The week after training camp, practices and pre-season exhibition games began.

The Fisher Cats lost their first game in Buffalo, 5-2, then flew to Detroit and won 6-3.

Dustin, Matty, and Dominic didn’t play in either or travel with them.

The pre-season games were designed to help the coaching staff solidify the roster and as the team began to take shape with new players slotting into the team, the veterans joined them.

It was exciting to start traveling again but Dustin quickly realized how much he hated being away from Charlie.

It was the strangest feeling for him. He’d always loved traveling with the team. Never minded being away from home.

Being with the boys, playing hockey, they were all he’d needed.

But now … the hotel beds felt lonely without Charlie curled up beside him and he missed the soft sounds of Charlie’s laughter. His game day suits looked wrong without the brighter colors and softer fabrics of Charlie’s clothing nearby.

They spoke on the phone of course, and one particularly hot video chat still made Dustin’s cock hard if he thought about it for more than a few seconds.

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