Page 142 of The Husband Game

They chatted for a while about Toronto architecture and Charlie spoke of his new job.

By the end, they both seemed quite open and friendly, and before Dustin excused himself, they invited the two of them to have dinner some evening. “If you come over, I’d love to show you the parts of the house off-limits to the public,” Margaret said warmly.

“Oh,” Charlie exclaimed, delighted. “I would love that. Thank you for the offer.”

They said their goodbyes and they’d just managed to snag Champagne from a strolling waiter before they were stopped again.

They ended up in conversation with some of the team’s minority owners and Dustin shot Charlie an apologetic glance as they probed him with questions about the upcoming season.

Charlie made conversation with several of them, but one of the owners, a woman named Jill McKenzie, seemed less pleased with Charlie than the rest.

She made a few pointed comments about upholding tradition and her expression turned chilly every time she glanced over at Charlie.

So Charlie gritted his teeth and turned the charm up to eleven as he chattered away.

Thankfully, he’d brushed up on his hockey knowledge since he and Dustin got married so he was able to hold his own when he spoke about the game.

“So, Jill, did Dustin tell you about the team events we have planned?” Charlie asked when there was a chance to slip that into conversation.

“No.” Her lips tightened.

“We’re planning to host both Canadian and American Thanksgivings. It might be a bit difficult to do Canadian Thanksgiving since the kitchen is torn up because of the remodel, but we’ll figure it out.”

He put his hand on Dustin’s arm. He’d been immersed in conversation with one of the board members but he glanced over at the touch, shooting Charlie a warm smile.

It hit Charlie then that this didn’t feel like they were pretending anymore.

Yes, he was doing everything he could to ingratiate himself to the people here, but it wasn’t like the first team party where every interaction between him and Dustin had been fake touches and showy kisses to prove that they were together.

Now, Charlie touched Dustin in small, subtle ways because he wanted to.

Charlie touched him because it was what anyone would do if they were at a work event with their husband. Charlie was making small talk with someone who clearly disliked him because that was what you did for the people you wanted to support.

The people you cared about.

And … and Charlie did care about Dustin. He cared about making him smile. He cared when he had a bad day.

Charlie wasn’t doing this for the money or the optics or even to “practice” what it was like being in a relationship. Not anymore.

He swallowed hard, looking at Dustin.

He’d turned back to face the people he was talking to and for a long moment, Charlie watched him, watched the way his face moved as he spoke animatedly about the upcoming season.

He heard the rise and fall of his voice, so familiar now.

He saw the quick grin of Dustin’s, the one that was so bright, so crooked and charming it lit up his whole face. The way his skin creased around his eyes and the fall of his dark hair over his brow he kept brushing away.

Charlie felt a wave of something come over him, an overwhelming fondness for Dustin.

“Charlie?” someone said and he turned back to face the people he’d been talking to.

“Sorry,” he said, a little embarrassed. He wondered what his face had looked like as he’d stared at Dustin. “I, uh, my husband is incredibly handsome. It can be quite distracting, you know.”

One of the women laughed, her grin knowing. “I imagine it can be.”

* * *

They never did make it to the terrace.

---