Chapter 16
Sixteen
Tedi
I’m so pissed at Tweetie, but I won’t give him the pleasure of seeing me react to him throwing in my face how we met. He used to brag about how he was supposed to be a one-night stand, then made me fall in love with him.
Decker looks like a scared cat in a tree waiting for the firefighters to show up. He needs to loosen up and show me some affection if we’re going to pull this off.
The hostess, who has thoroughly enjoyed gawking at all of the guys, shows us to a room down a hallway from the main dining room. The table is a large round one, snuggled in between draped walls and a fireplace.
“Man, hockey players are some high rollers, huh?” Decker says next to me.
“Whatever, you guys have the highest salaries.” I let go of his arm and sit at the farthest side of the table with the hopes everyone else will fill in and Tweetie won’t be anywhere near me.
Everyone files in, taking the chairs to my right, Decker on my left.
Tweetie stops the hostess before she can leave the room, touching her elbow, and she turns around with hearts in her eyes. He releases his hold, running his hands through his hair. “Thanks. I know we filled up your waiting area for a while.”
She sighs and follows his hand as if she’s envisioning running her own hand through his hair.
I groan and place my napkin in my lap.
“You’re welcome. If you need anything, just grab me.” She sticks out her tits.
I pick up my water glass and look away.
“You’re so thirsty, babe.” Decker puts his hand on my wrist, giving me a look like you cannot throw that glass at her.
“Sure am, babe.”
Rowan side-eyes me from the seat next to me. I’m going to have to tone down using the pet name.
I should make an appointment at the dentist now because my teeth are going to be ground down to stubs before this night is over.
Tweetie keeps his back to us, watching the hostess leave. She does have an amazing ass, and no doubt he’s noticed. I hate the sick feeling that swirls in my stomach.
As Tweetie is about to finally join us, Bud Caldron walks in with a woman I’m fairly sure isn’t his wife. What the fuck?
“Ky,” Rowan says, his hand slipping under the table to grab her thigh. When he looks at her, she narrows her eyes at Bud and the youngest woman in the room on his arm. I get the feeling there’s something behind Kyleigh’s reaction, but I have no idea what, beyond the same amount of disgust I have over him so openly cheating on his wife.
“Tweetie,” Bud bellows, and a shiver runs up my spine at the sound of his voice.
“Bud.” Tweetie shakes his hand, then extends it to the woman. “Tweetie Sorenson.”
She puts her hand in his. I’ll give her credit, she doesn’t let her gaze shift from his eyes. Then again, Tweetie has great eyes. Big, blue, and dreamy. Bastard.
“Is that, like, your real name?” She laughs, and Bud joins in with her.
I grunt, and Rowan glances at me again.
“Your attention should be on the front of the class.” I circle my finger in the air.
Rowan snickers and turns to watch the scene playing out in front of him.
“No one knows Tweetie’s real name. He keeps it close to the vest,” Bud answers for him.
The night Tweetie told me his given name flickers in my memory, but I swallow it down, pushing it as far back as I can. Decker was right, my brain is like a catalog, and I wish it would lose all the entries with Tweetie in them. It would make my life a lot easier.
Bud walks his girlfriend, or date, or whatever she is, to the table, and Tweetie’s gaze pauses on me as if he’s remembering that I’m one of the only people who knows the truth of his name. Everyone stands and shakes hands with Bud and the girl who is named Mila. Decker and I are the last couple to be introduced to her, and Bud’s eyes widen when he sees Decker next to me. Maybe I should’ve found an average Joe to draw less attention.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Caldron.” Decker sticks out his hand.
Bud looks at me while shaking Decker’s hand. “Decker Davis? That’s your boyfriend?”
I slide closer and rest my cheek on his shoulder. “He is.”
Bud nods as if he’s impressed I can score such a catch. Asshole. He finally turns his attention back to Decker. “So happy you could join us, and sorry for how your season turned out this year. Tough one.”
Decker nods. “I think we’ll turn it around next year.” Their hands drop, and Decker shifts his gaze to Mila. “Nice to meet you, Mila.”
She nods frantically. Although I have no interest in Decker, I’d appreciate it if she didn’t look at my fake boyfriend as though she wants to fall to her knees and suck him off.
I tighten my grip on Decker’s upper arm and clear my throat.
“Let’s sit.” Bud interrupts our silent catfight.
Everyone goes back to their seats, but Tweetie takes the one right next to Decker, immediately engaging him in conversation. Decker doesn’t help with all his fawning over the Falcons and how exciting they are to watch.
“If you want tickets—” Tweetie says midway through appetizers.
“Oh yeah, Tedi said she could get me some.” Decker nods, leaning back in his chair as we wait for our main course.
“If you don’t mind sitting in the wives and girlfriends section, I can get you in there. Tedi will be on the bench with us, scoring pictures for social media.” Tweetie smiles at me.
I grip the stem of my wine glass harder. “God knows you don’t ever use your tickets in that section.”
Tweetie chuckles. “Keeping tabs on who I invite to games?”
“I just figured you find your entertainment after the game, and then they’re gone before the next one.” I shrug and sip my wine again.
“Man, that calamari was really good. What did you think, Tweetie?” Decker tries to change the subject.
Tweetie’s narrowed gaze doesn’t veer away from mine. “Like I said, keeping tabs on me?”
“I don’t have to. I hear the rumors. Your extracurricular activities are talked about more than your slap shot.”
Rowan chokes on his bread, and Kyleigh asks if he’s okay as he reaches for his water glass.
“Oh, that’s right, you believe everything you read, right?” Tweetie picks up his drink.
Decker puts his arm around my shoulder. “The weatherman said it was going to be freezing this week. I had to go to order a warmer jacket. I guess that’s why they call it the Windy City, huh?”
“Based on my experience, there’s always some truth in what gets reported.” I purposely lean in closer to Decker’s chest, and Tweetie glares at the movement.
He quickly turns his attention back to Decker, though. “Come to our home game next week, and afterward we can all go out.”
When I place my hand on Decker’s thigh, his leg flinches, then freezes. I give Tweetie a syrupy, sweet smile. “That sounds great. I’m sure you have some great club you can get us into. Those velvet ropes probably just open up when you arrive since you’re a regular and all.”
“Rowan, what is going on?” Kyleigh asks when he chokes again.
“Yeah, well, you know for yourself that I’m well versed in how to show people a good time.”
I sip my wine and try to school my features. “Can’t say that’s the rumor I’ve heard.”
Rowan chokes again, and now Kyleigh smacks him on the back.
“You’re really not supposed to do that,” Mila says from across the table.
She goes on to inform us that she was a lifeguard in high school and tells Kyleigh the best course of action if someone is choking. Tweetie’s gaze holds mine the entire time, challenging me, but I lean in closer to Decker, setting down my wine and putting my hand on his chest.
The problem comes when Decker acts like a fucking scarecrow and doesn’t reciprocate any of the affection I’m giving him. He’s going to need to sell this. It’s then I realize that I have to get Decker to agree to another performance after this week’s home game.