Mr. Charming (The Nest, #4)

by Piper Rayne

“You look good.” I clench my jaw, gather my confidence, and circle around. “You always were an ass man.” “When it came to you, I was an everything man.” His eyes dip to my chest. Why does he have to be better-looking than when I first fell for him? It’s so unfair how men become more handsome as they get older.

“That’s the problem, though. You’re the one thing that ruins my self-control. You’re the one person I can never stay away from.” He slides my hand off the doorknob.

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.

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.”

“He stopped smiling when he looked at the stands and you weren’t there.

“Message for you, sir.” Conor drops a piece of paper on my lap and fastens his seat belt. “What’s this?” He shrugs. “I don’t know. Sally asked me if you like-liked Tedi during study hall and said to give it to you.”

Are you changing your plan?” Conor asks. “What plan?” I frown. “Well, first you tried to hate her, then you decided to act like you were five years old on the playground, and now you’re being protective.”

I think about Tedi. Besides my mom and sister, she was the first woman to come into my life and love me for me—all the messed-up pieces included. I want her to find happiness, even if I’m not the guy. Even if it feels like a twisting knife in the gut. So, I answer truthfully. “I want her to be happy.”

I mean it, if she’s happy and I’m not, I can live with myself knowing she is.

“Have you ever been in love?” He sighs. “Once.” “Then maybe you get it. Tweetie and I are ‘all in’ people. We don’t do things halfway, so when we fell in love, we fell hard and fast. But we came down just as hard and fast when things ended. We know we should stay away from one another, but there’s this invisible string still tying us together that only we can feel. You’re like my buffer, forbidding him from getting too close. I know it doesn’t make sense⁠—”

Although that day isn’t anywhere near, because if anything good came from my childhood, it was figuring out that who you have kids with is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your life.

“It’s coming, Tedi. Pretty soon, he’s not going to be able to keep his distance.” I don’t look at him. “Because when a man loves a woman like he loves you, there eventually comes a point where he doesn’t give a fuck who or what’s in his way. He’s going to fight his demons and yours to win you back.”

I smile because this entire time I thought I had no shot, but maybe I was wrong. And I’d like to thank Decker for being a shitty fake boyfriend who didn’t pick her up from the airport, so now I know where she lives. There’s no hiding from me now, Tedi. We’re far from over.

I missed you over these years, and if you want to know why I never came after you, it’s because I wanted you to find someone better than me.”

“It was always you, Tedi. Always. And if I couldn’t have the real thing, I wasn’t going to pretend with someone else.”

“You were always the one for me.” I rub her back, squeezing her tightly. “The one who quieted the noise in my head.”

“I’m going to win you back. You know that, right?” I smile and put my hand on his cheek. “Maybe I’ll win you back.” “Babe, you never lost me.”

And he’s right. Because even with all the bad that’s happened with us, this is the Tweetie I fell in love with. The man who would do anything to make me happy.

“Because seeing you in the stands reminds me that the best thing in my life isn’t the game—it’s you.”

“Hey, what is your favorite part of my body? I’ll try to showcase it tomorrow for you,” she says. “That’ll be hard.” “Why?” “It’s your heart, Tedi. My favorite part of your body is your heart.”