Page 52 of The Husband Game

“Sure. Whatever makes you happy, Charlie.” Dustin shrugged, smiling.

Charlie breathed a sigh of relief.

* * *

The next few days passed quickly.

They took care of paperwork at the law office and bank. Charlie finished unpacking.

Dustin worked his way through his list of interviews and went to the hospital to volunteer. He always came home after feeling a little low, because it was hard to see so many sick kids.

But this time, when he opened the door to his home, he smiled when he spotted Charlie perched on top of one of the counters, organizing a cupboard to hold their tea and coffee and the ridiculous number of mugs Dustin owned.

Charlie cooked dinner that night too and when Dustin asked if he wanted to watch a movie after, he looked surprised but said yes.

They were slowly learning how to navigate this new shared life. It was … nice.

Dustin had spent so many years putting the team first, weighing every decision he made against how it would impact the team dynamics.

But having Charlie in his life was a guilty pleasure. Something wholly for himself. He could tell himself he’d stayed married to Charlie to help out the league and get the code of conduct passed, but it didn’t feel that way when he heard Charlie laugh.

Later that week, Dustin tried not to preen as Charlie met some of the staff at the arena.

He was charming and pretty and Dustin felt proud showing him off.

Charlie was friendly to everyone from the security guard who waved them into the building to the people in the front office. None of the bigwigs were in today but Dustin had no doubt Charlie would charm them too.

Even the people who gave him sidelong glances—frowning at his heels—had softened by the time Charlie walked away.

Charlie looked like an exotic tropical bird flitting around the arena, entirely out of place. And yet, he walked like he belonged there. He was kind and polite but there was steel to his spine and he carried himself with an innate confidence that seemed unshakeable.

Dustin had met royalty once.

He’d been at the Olympics and after his gold medal win, he’d been introduced to the leader of the host country and his wife. He’d watched them interact with people, struck by the weight and gravity of their demeanors.

Charlie carried himself the same way.

He smiled a lot and laughed as he signed papers and asked interesting questions, and Dustin watched it all with a sense of awe because there was something so rare about Charlie. A genuine and warm charisma that left every person in his wake completely smitten by him and happier than when he arrived.

Dustin certainly wasn’t immune to it.

And while he showed Charlie around and introduced him to people, he guiltily enjoyed the opportunity to touch Charlie freely.

Dustin could gently guide him from room to room with a hand on his back or a soft touch to his shoulder. He could take Charlie’s hand as they walked or nuzzle his hair a little as they stood talking to people.

And Charlie leaned into it.

Sometimes he would tuck his arm through Dustin’s or smile at him and it was all Dustin could do to not walk into a wall.

From the amused glances a few people shot him, he wasn’t hiding it well, but that only sold their story better, right?

“This is going pretty well so far, I think,” Charlie murmured as Dustin escorted him down the hall toward the PR department.

“You’re amazing,” Dustin said earnestly, slowing to a stop.

Charlie stilled too, looking up at him through his lashes. “You mean that?”

“I’ve never meant anything more in my life.”

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