Page 45 of Mr. Charming

He shrugs. “You can do a little on them, but make Tweetie the main focus. People will be either rooting for him to get signed or wanting him to go.”

“And are you signing him?”

He chuckles and points at me. “Trying to trick me, huh? I don’t tell people what I’m doing until I do it.” He turns his attention to the ice, staring at Tweetie. “Anyway, you should schedule a meeting with him, so he knows what way we’re going with this.” He stands.

“Me?” I squeak.

“What’s with the confusion, Tedi? You’re the social media person.” He shoves his hands in his pockets. “Oh, and good catch. Decker Davis. Look at you, surprising me at every turn.”

My mouth is too open to respond as he walks away, telling Fletcher to make sure he gets a lot of pictures of Tweetie today.

I stare into my lap.

“He’s such a prick,” Fletcher whispers when Bud stops by Coach Buford, saying something to him before he laughs and walks away.

“I’m not crazy, right? What is he thinking by gambling with Tweetie’s contract for next year?”

Fletcher shrugs, and we both look out at the ice.

They’re doing skating drills, and Tweetie is first every damn time. Even faster than Rowan.

“You’re definitely not crazy. He’s playing a game of chicken, and I’m pretty sure Tweetie is the type of guy who will call his bluff.”

Fletcher is right. Once you wrong Tweetie, there’s no getting back in his good graces. Just ask Jana and Kane Burrows.

Twenty-Three

Tweetie

I walk down the aisle of the plane to the usual seats I sit in with Conor, Rowan, and Henry, hoping to catch some sleep because I’ve slept like shit the last couple nights.

“Hey, Tedi. Welcome,” Coach Buford says.

There goes my nap.

“Thanks, Coach.” She walks by our row and sits two down by the window.

I fight my body’s reaction to ditch my friends and go sit next to her. Rowan sits across the aisle from me, eyeing me as though he’s waiting for me to do just that.

“Listen up,” Coach says, as everyone finds their seats. “Tedi’s joining us for this away game to get to know you guys better. So, if you got an email from her about meeting with you, you adhere to her schedule and be cooperative in the interviews. She’s doing this as a favor to you, so you don’t have to give up any personal time with your family when you’re at home.”

“Thanks, Tedi. Jade and Bodhi thank you too,” Henry says to her as he slides into the seat next to Rowan.

“Kiss-ass,” I murmur.

“I’m appreciative.” He buckles his seat belt and pulls out his phone, no doubt messaging Jade how much he loves her.

Conor is scrolling through his phone beside me, then unbuckles his belt and slides past me. “I’m first up. Sorry, Tweetie, you’ll have to find someone else’s hand to hold during takeoff.” He laughs and walks down the aisle, taking the seat next to Tedi. “How’s Decker doing?”

I slide over to the seat Conor was just in and shift to stare out the window.

“I’m sorry you didn’t get picked first,” Rowan says.

I flip him off.

“Seriously, don’t hurt Conor. We need him.” Henry pockets his phone as the flight attendants close the door, readying us to leave.

I didn’t get an email, so I guess she’s not going to get to know me. Then again, she knows everything there is to know. I haven’t changed in the three years we’ve had no contact.

---