Chapter 60
Sixty
Tweetie
I say hello to all my friends, but my gaze tracks Tedi. Saige pulled her away the minute we got in here.
“So, finally, huh?” Aiden punches me in the shoulder.
“I think it’s great. She was always your one.” Imogen’s hand runs down my arm as her husband, Warner, puts his hand out for me to shake.
“Is that how you’re still so fucking good on the ice?” Warner asks.
I look around the area, but no one from the Falcons is here, and I trust my old teammates to not say anything.
“It’s kind of under wraps,” I say.
“Hence the blonde and her showing up with Decker Davis?” Aiden asks, eyebrow raised.
I nod. I hate this, and I feel bad for leaving Lyric. She was nice enough to do this for us, and I’m definitely making the whole situation uncomfortable.
I meant what I said in the car—Tedi’s not going to lose her job because of my bullshit. So I’ll play the part she wants me to as long as I’m the one who takes her home and I’m the one who holds her tonight.
Saige squeals, and she and Tedi hug. I hope that means she’s on board with us, but there are a few things I need to straighten out while I’m here with the Fury. And the first one is with Saige.
“I’ll catch you guys in there?” I nod toward the ballroom.
Aiden nods, a smile playing at his lips because he probably knows what I’m about to do. “Her bark is worse than her bite.” He pats me on the shoulder.
I walk toward Tedi and Saige and clear my throat to get their attention because the two of them act as if they’re in a goddamn bubble all the time. As if no one else is in the vicinity. They turn toward me, and Tedi’s grin is enough for me to know she’s falling a little deeper in love with me right now, knowing I’m here to talk to her best friend.
“Hey, handsome. Are you here with anyone?” Tedi asks, pretending to flirt with me.
“Not the person I want to be with.”
She giggles and reaches her hand out but retracts it. That anger boils a little more inside me.
“Don’t worry, the one you want will be in your bed tonight,” she says.
“Do I have to stay here to pretend like we’re all in this conversation together? Because I have my own husband I need to flirt with since we have no kids with us this trip.” Saige thumbs in the direction I just came.
“Actually, I came over here to talk to you,” I say, turning to her.
“I’ll leave you guys to it.” Tedi walks by me, her finger discreetly running against my arm.
“And I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t go dancing with Davis or anything,” I say over my shoulder.
Tedi giggles, not telling me she won’t. Then Imogen giggles, and I see the two of them hugging.
Saige crosses her arms and stares at me as though she’s waiting for me to fall to my knees and beg her to accept us. I’m ready to do it, but then she laughs. “It’s about fucking time you got your head out of your ass.”
“You don’t need me to convince you?”
Her arms loosen, and she tilts her head. “Tweetie, I know the kind of guy you are. You’re the same guy who made my best friend fall in love with him all those years ago. Now, I don’t love everything that went down, but if she’s ready to move on, which she seems to be, then I’m good.”
“Seriously?” I arch an eyebrow.
“What did you expect? That I’d put up a fight? I’ve always loved you, Tweetie.”
I shrug. “I just thought I’d have to do more convincing.”
She laughs. “You’re too hard on yourself.” She touches my forearm. “But you are aware that if things go south and it’s your fault, I’m not going to be so nice.”
“I know, Saige.” I chuckle.
“But that’s not going to happen. I have a great feeling about you two this time around. She seems…” She looks over to where Tedi is talking with Kane and Jana. “I don’t know. Maybe she’s done all this growth these last few years, and I didn’t see it because I’m such a big part of her life, but…”
I don’t say anything because Saige is right. There’s something different with Tedi now. The old Tedi would have never orchestrated this night. She would have never been able to handle seeing another woman on my arm. It’s sexy as fuck that she’s so confident in us, in me. All this shit with Bud and my contract doesn’t mean anything. Maybe it’s time to hang up my skates and just be done with it all and focus all my attention on what means the most to me.
“Yeah. I know what you’re saying.”
“I can’t wait to see you two really together.” Saige gives me a big, cheesy grin, then squeezes my arm. “Now excuse me, I have to go seduce my husband.”
But Aiden’s already on his way toward us.
“I love her,” I say. “I know those are simple words, but the feeling that goes along with them isn’t. I have no way to convey how strongly I feel for her.”
She nods. “Those of us who know, know. You don’t have to explain.”
Then she walks away, and Aiden smiles at me over her shoulder. He whispers something in her ear, and she laughs.
Tedi is still talking to Imogen, head tossed back in a laugh. Fuck, we’ve been here, like, fifteen minutes, and I already want her in my arms.
But I’m a man on a mission, and I’m going to make this time count. We may not be able to act as though we’re a couple, but I can still solidify our future. So I head across the room to the next people I need to make amends with.
Jana stiffens and taps Kane’s arm when she clocks my approach.
“Tweetie.” Kane puts his hand out between us.
I shake it and move my attention to Jana. “How are you guys?” I ask, hating the awkwardness between us.
“We’re good,” Kane answers, and Jana’s silence doesn’t go unnoticed. “Busy with the kids.”
“I’m sure. Listen.” I look over my shoulder. “I just wanted to say, I’m sorry.”
Jana sucks in a breath.
“Tweetie, you don’t have to—” Kane begins, but I interrupt.
“I do. I acted like an asshole. It hurt, it did, but I understand that you had a business to run. At the time, I was pissed, and I was hurt, but mostly I felt betrayed by you guys because we were friends. When it all went down with Tedi, I think… no, I know I blamed you both. Thought you ruined my future—my career and with Tedi. And I’ve held that blame and resentment all these years. I just wanted to come over here and say I’m sorry.”
“It was such a hard decision for us. I don’t want you to think we went into it lightly,” Jana says.
“Honestly, looking back now, I’m not sure you would’ve soared with us like you have. Warner’s still there, and you aren’t the kind of guy who wants to play second line his entire career. You’re too good for that.” Kane runs his hands through his long hair. “Look at you now. You’re a force to reckon with. You, Aiden, and Warner are the final three left from that dynasty. Cory, but he’s still got age on his side. All that to say, I think you ended up right where you should have. The star on a team. An integral part of the team. Fucking Jagger Kale with his Trifecta.” He rolls his eyes.
“Jealous?” I grin.
“Fuck yeah, you guys are unbeatable this season,” Kane says.
Jana steps up to me. “I’m going to let you guys talk, and I’m going to find the other women.” She looks me in the eyes. “Thank you for the apology, and I want to say I’m sorry too. We’ve had a lot of regrets, and letting you go was at the top of our list. Which was why we tried to get you back.” She glances at her husband. “Unsuccessfully. But I heard a rumor, and I’m happy to see all the stars are aligning again. And when you’re on that bus with the Cup in your hand and your girl on your side, just remember… you have me and Kane to thank.” She laughs. “Just kidding. Good luck for the rest of the season, and this better mean you’re coming down to Florida to visit. Payton and Axton still talk about you at Ford’s retirement party and how you got the whole room to dance.” She hugs me.
“You can count on it. Thank you.”
She kisses Kane on the cheek. “Now I need some girl time. See you, boys.”
Aiden and Warner come over, and we talk hockey, life, and all of their stories involving kids and wives and trips make me excited for the adventures Tedi and I are going to have.
Finally, I feel as though I’m on track to have the life I’ve always wanted.