Page 38 of Mr. Charming

“I say we suggest going to Peeper’s Alley. The last place I want to be tonight is a club with loud music and a bunch of girls trying to get into our VIP section because they want our men. I’m not in the mood.” Kyleigh looks really tired.

“Don’t mind her, she’s cranky. There’s a bride at work who’s giving her hell.” Eloise thumbs in Kyleigh’s direction.

“Oh, what do you do?” I ask.

“I’m a wedding dress designer.”

“She has her own shop and everything.” Eloise puts her arm around her friend’s shoulders, looking so proud.

God, I miss Saige so much.

“Oh, I’d love to see it. Not that I’m getting married.” I laugh, and they all smile but don’t say anything. Okay, tough room.

“You’re welcome to come anytime. I’ll give you the address.” Kyleigh gives me a warm smile.

We talk a little more about what the rest of them do. Eloise is a stylist, and it’s a new venture for her. Jade is a photographer. I suddenly feel like the least creative of the bunch. How do I fit in? Then again, I don’t have to. I’m not Tweetie’s girl, so it doesn’t matter. Maybe he’ll find himself a baker, and they can all live happily ever after.

Okay, I’m bitter. This isn’t good.

“Excuse me,” I say, heading over to Decker, who is standing against the wall with his phone in his hand. “Why are you here?” I whisper. “You were supposed to leave.”

He glances up. “They’re like a cult. They wouldn’t let me even go to the bathroom on my own. They were waiting for me when I finished. And then Bodhi talked to me the entire time about my baseball season, asking me about Easton Bailey and stuff. I couldn’t sneak off.”

“Then I guess we’re going out with them,” I growl and lean along the wall with him.

“I’m not sure I understand this charade you’re putting on. I mean, you two were at each other’s throats the other night at dinner. If you don’t like each other, don’t be around each other, then I can go live my own life.”

“Boo hoo, Decker. If you don’t know what that fight at the table was really about, then you’ve obviously never loved anyone. Just play along.”

“I’m done with this. You want to let out my secrets? Go ahead, I was a kid.” He pushes off the wall.

“Okay, how about the time you stole the good rum from my dad’s bar? The one he got in Mexico and couldn’t replace?”

He narrows his eyes at me.

“Right now he assumes it was Toby or Theo. But maybe I will enlighten him.” I shrug.

“Your dad wouldn’t care. I’ll get him a case and send it to him to make up for it.”

I hum and shake my head. “You could, but then my dad thinks you’re a thief. Your reputation will be forever tarnished.”

I almost feel bad because Decker is an all-around great guy, and he cares what people think about him. And now I’m using that against him. But I need him. I’m a desperate woman.

“This entire thing is demented.” He huffs next to me. “This is the last thing I’m doing.”

We stand in silence, and I bury my head in my phone, replaying the footage on slow speed to see what parts of it I can make work. I pause the video right as Tweetie came off the ice. There’s no anger, almost happiness to see me there, but it vanishes right away into a hard glare.

“I think he still wants you,” Decker whispers, knocking his shoulder to mine.

I look up at him. His whole face softens when he looks at me. “No, he doesn’t. Our time is over.”

“The other night at the restaurant, he asked me about your boyfriend before he knew I was him.”

“Of course he did.” I roll my eyes, but Decker’s face only shows sincerity.

“He asked me if you were happy.”

Warmth spreads through my body, and my heart picks up pace. I have no idea what to say, but I don’t have a chance because Tweetie and the guys burst through the doors, and everyone claps, congratulating them on the win.

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