Chapter 17
Seventeen
Tweetie
We’re in warm-ups before the game when Bodhi knocks on the glass, waving to us. Jade, Kyleigh, and Eloise are all standing by him, each in their man’s jersey. Even Bodhi has on a small version of his dad’s.
The entire team takes turns skating over and smacking his hand in a high-five against the glass. I head in that direction, smiling at the little man I consider myself an uncle to, until I spot Tedi walking down the staircase with Decker Davis right behind her.
She’s not wearing my jersey, of course she’s not, but for a moment, a memory flickers in my head of when she used to. Hell, she had my number all over her fucking body. A necklace, earrings, painted on her face. One time when I came home from an away game, she had my number painted between her breasts in chocolate and whipped cream. It got me going, and I always had better games when she was in attendance than when she wasn’t.
I give Bodhi a slap on the hand through the glass and skate away, ditching my stick and getting down on my knees. My buddies follow suit shortly after.
“You sure are stretching hard there,” Conor says next to me, going side to side in front of the goal.
“Trying to make someone jealous?” Rowan does his hip flexors next to me.
“She did always love my warm-ups.”
“Let’s remember who has the nickname Magic,” Rowan says.
Henry gets down with us. “I’m not sure you’re playing this whole thing the right way.”
Fucking Daddy and all his sage advice. I don’t want his deep fucking thoughts today.
“I agree,” Rowan says. “You guys at dinner the other night.” He shakes his head.
“Magic almost didn’t live to see today.” Conor chuckles, getting on all fours with us.
“I was just pissed off,” I admit.
I’ve been beating myself up about all the shit I’ve been saying and doing, allowing my self-control to slip like that punk-ass kid I was in my teens. I worked so hard to put that asshole in the grave, and now because she has a boyfriend, that version of me is being resurrected. I have no idea what the fuck to do.
“We know,” Henry says.
“And now you want us all to go to this club,” Rowan groans.
“Sorry to interrupt your Monopoly game with Kyleigh. Please tell me she at least has to take off a piece of clothing every time she ends up in jail?”
“Fuck you, Tweetie.” Conor goes back to his goalie warm-ups. “That’s my fucking sister.”
“Get over it. Are you gonna think it’s a miraculous conception when she’s pregnant with Rowan Junior?” I don’t have time for Conor’s brother drama. I’ve got real problems.
I glance to where Tedi and Decker are sitting with Kyleigh. Conor’s dad is talking to Decker while Tedi is throwing popcorn, and Bodhi’s trying to catch it with his mouth.
That’s one thing I always loved about Tedi—she fits in everywhere she goes. I never had to worry when I’d take her into a room full of people she didn’t know. Hell, there were times I wished she’d stayed at my side longer, and by the time the night was over, I missed her so damn much.
“You gotta stop this whole ‘I don’t care’ shit. It’s bullshit and annoying.” Henry gets up and grabs his stick, hitting the puck back and forth.
I follow suit, and so does Rowan.
Henry has no idea what he’s asking me to do. Admit that I still want Tedi and suffer the consequence of rejection? I’m not sure I can do it another time. Three years ago, she broke me. I played like shit, couldn’t get out of my head. I almost retired just so I could retreat to some piece of land off the grid and not have to deal with anything or anyone.
“He has a point,” Rowan says. “Do you think they’re the real deal?” He smiles and nods to Kyleigh when she blows him a kiss.
“I have no clue. I thought it was a joke because he’s her twin brothers’ best friend from childhood. But she’s always touching him.” I watch the two of them laughing and sitting next to one another. She feeds him a pretzel with cheese dripping off the end, and my heart feels as if it’s shrinking with every smile she gives him.
“Why did you invite them to the club then?” Henry asks.
I shrug. “I don’t know. To try to prove I don’t care? Maybe I have some sick disease where I want to torture myself.”
“There’s another reason.” Henry and Rowan chuckle to themselves, then Conor joins in as if I’m the one on the outside. I never like being the one not in on the joke.
“What?”
“You invite him, she comes with,” Henry says. “So you see it as torturing yourself, but in reality, you’re giving yourself what you want the most.”
“Time with her,” Rowan says.
“Even if you say stupid, insensitive shit.” Conor cracks his neck a few times.
“It’s like you’re the little kid being mean to the girl you like.” Henry rests his chin on his gloved hands on top of his stick, giving me a smug look.
“Fuck you.”
“Upset because we figured you out?” Henry raises his eyebrows.
“Just remember, it’s never too late to change it.” Rowan looks over his shoulder. Kyleigh’s crooking her finger at him. “I’ll be right back.”
Conor glances up at the Jumbotron, then looks at me. “Did you at least pay someone to make sure they don’t end up on the Kiss Cam?” He skates away toward the girls, laughing to himself.
“I get it, Tweetie. I do. Sure, Jade wasn’t attached to someone when she came back to town, but she had found someone while we were apart, and it killed me. I was pissed, but I realized something.” Henry waits for me to nod like he does with Bodhi.
I scowl at him. “I’m not your kid.”
He pats me on the shoulder. “I was mad at myself, not the guy, because he wouldn’t have had a shot had I not messed up. Now, I don’t know what happened with you two, but I’m sure fault doesn’t lay just on one side.” His gaze veers to Jade and Bodhi, a smile creasing his lips. Jade’s got Bodhi in her arms and they’re laughing. “It’s not too late. If you want her back… fight for her.”
Henry skates off. I watch my friends, remembering when I was that guy and Tedi was on the other side of the glass. Taking my chances, I look at her and find her looking at me while Decker is on his phone. I’m about to mouth to her that I’m sorry, but she turns her head, staring off at the stands before I’m able.
Does Henry have a point? I’m worried we drifted too far from each other to ever find our way back.