Chapter 57
Fifty-Seven
Tedi
We flew home the next morning, which was nice since I got an entire night with Tweetie.
Here we are, back at the arena. Not that I’m complaining, but I’m biding my time until we can have a little reprieve to enjoy each other now that we’re together.
“So, tell us?” Eloise puts her elbow on the armrest and her chin in her palm.
Bodhi isn’t at the game tonight. He’s spending the night at a friend’s house, and it’s weird not to have him here. Even the players seem a little lost that he’s not here for them to high-five. But Jade actually has a drink in her hand, so maybe she needs a little break too.
“What do you mean?”
Kyleigh leans forward. Her dad isn’t here either, so it’s just the four of us and a few empty seats. “You tattooed his name?”
“Years ago. When we were in Florida.”
“That’s sweet.” Eloise gives me puppy dog eyes.
No surprise. I’ve seen Conor’s finger, and I’m not sure if her wrist tattoo has a meaning, but I’m assuming so.
“But you guys are, like, together now, right?” Jade asks before sipping her beer.
I glance around to make sure there aren’t any eyes on us. “Yeah.”
“I get there’s a lot of history, and that can be hard to work through. Speaking as another second-chance love match, you learn from your mistakes, and I just know you guys are going to do great. You learn to appreciate each other more.” Jade smiles at me.
“Eloise, you want to go sit by ourselves in the insta-love section and let these two second-chancers keep droning on?” Kyleigh jokes. She rests her back against the glass so she’s standing in front of us and can hear us easier.
“I didn’t mean any offense,” Jade says.
“In truth, Tweetie and I were an insta-love connection, but we lost our way.” I place my hand on Jade’s. “Thank you for your words of encouragement. I hope we’re as great at this as you and Henry.”
“You will be.”
“And we’re super happy he chose you. I can’t even imagine if we didn’t like the person Tweetie ended up with,” Kyleigh says, as though she was scared for a moment. “We have a pretty kickass girl squad going.”
I know I’m not nearly as close to them as they all seem to be, especially since Jade and Eloise were friends long before they met their men, but I do feel a friendship growing. Hopefully Tweetie gets signed with Chicago again and he can stay here. Although I need to figure out what I’m going to do. We can’t keep this a secret forever.
“You’re going to the gala, right?” Eloise asks. “Because we’re all going dress shopping.”
“Eloise dresses us,” Kyleigh says.
“I haven’t talked to Tweetie about it. I mean, I’m not sure we can go together.” I look around again. “But I’d love to go shopping with you. Even if I’m going solo.”
The gala is in two weeks, and it’s for a charity that the Falcons’ owners, the Gershwin family, supports. Florida is in town for the annual outdoor game, so the Fury bought two tables, and everyone is coming up. I haven’t seen Saige in a while, so I’m excited.
“Great!” Eloise gives me a big smile.
Someone clears their throat, and Kyleigh looks up behind us. “Hi, Mr. Caldron.”
“Call me Bud, Kyleigh,” he says, and my stomach sours.
She smiles, and he says hi to all the other women before sitting next to me. He doesn’t fully relax, and something in my gut tells me he sought me out.
The guys are off the ice now, waiting until the game starts to come back out.
“Hi, Bud,” I say. “I didn’t know you sat down here?”
“I don’t.” He looks around as though he’s disgusted. “I sit in the suite. So, what do you know about this post on Tweetie’s socials?”
I knew this was going to be a problem and told Tweetie he should take it down. But if you know him, that wasn’t going to happen. He’s been bombarded with questions about who the woman in the picture is and women saying they have broken hearts and blah, blah, blah.
“I don’t,” I lie. “I don’t manage his social media. Not his personal account anyway.”
“You used to though, right?”
His question throws me for a second, but I managed a lot of athletes’ accounts back in the day when I worked with Saige.
“Years ago.”
“You know, Tedi, I don’t care much for things happening on my watch that I don’t know about. Now, I am thankful that Nick Herington sent you down here, but I feel as if we’re constantly butting heads.”
How can he think that when I’ve done everything he’s asked? “The entire campaign is on Tweetie. I’ve showcased him as the player he is for you. I thought that’s what you wanted?”
His eyes never leave the ice, and his hands steeple in front of him. “I wanted you to show a man in his last year. I wanted to show the insecurity, the wins, and the grit it takes to be an older player in this league.”
I turn toward him, and I know Eloise is listening, but I don’t really care. “I’m sorry, Bud, but what does this have to do with the picture Tweetie put up on his socials?”
He sighs and looks up at the Jumbotron, then back down at me. “A taken player doesn’t get the same attention as a single one. No one wants to see the man they want in their bed loving on someone else. You should know that. And honestly, I feel like all you’ve done is highlight him so another team will want him.”
His thoughts are all over the place, but he’s not wrong. Still though, I did center my campaign around Tweetie as he asked.
“I did tell you that we should focus on the entire team. If you don’t sign Tweetie for another contract, you might just lose those fans as a result. I really wish you would’ve trusted me.”
He laughs, a condescending cackle that makes my fists clench. “I’ve been in this business a long time, and I’m gonna be honest, I think this is Tweetie’s last year.”
Eloise sucks in a breath and makes a mouse-like whimper beside me.
“I think you’re wrong,” I say.
“That’s your opinion.” He pauses, and I’m hoping he gets up and leaves. “I suggest you tell him to take down the picture of the tattooed girl and be back to the single Tweetie that everyone loves. The playboy sells, not the boring married man. If people aren’t going to care about him, why would I resign him at his age? Now, I’ve given you some leeway on this since Nick said you were the best, but we’re going to start doing what I want.”
“Which is what exactly?” I hear the snap in my voice, and I try to rear it back.
“I want to see his faults as well as his accolades. No one likes a perfect man, Tedi. Women want a man they have to fix. Men want someone they can relate to. Do you think those guys at the bar are enthralled with how great you’re making him look, as if he’s a superhero? It just makes them feel shitty about their beer-bellied, shitty-job selves. You should realize that, since once upon a time, you tried to fix a broken man.” He turns to me and cocks his eyebrow.
I open my mouth, but he puts up his hand. “Let me save you the excuses. I have eyes and ears all over this league. Again, Tedi, I like you, but you fight me too much. Start doing what I’m saying, or I’ll make another call up to your boss.”
He stands and walks away.
I slink down in my seat before I storm up the stairs, jump on his back, and throw him to the floor.
“I hate him,” Eloise says. “And you don’t think?—”
“Can we keep it to ourselves right now?” I’m going to tell Tweetie, but he’s not going to want anyone else to know about it.
“Of course.” She nods, giving me a concerned look.
The lights dim, and the announcer comes on. I sit up straight, excited to see Tweetie play, but the entire time, I will myself to believe that this will not make him spiral. Whatever happens, wherever he ends up, we’ll get through to the other side together this time.