Jameson (Face-Off 4)

“For two kids from the projects, we clean up pretty good, huh? Who would’ve thought back then that I’d be a sports agent, marrying a professional hockey player, and you would be making video games? You had always liked playing them and were good on the computer, but this is all so surreal. Sometimes, I have to pinch myself because it doesn’t feel real, you know.”

I nod, holding the door open for her as we step inside the building. “Oh, I know. I still can’t believe we made it out of Chicago alive.”

“That’s because we had each other.”

“Don’t get all emotional,” I joke.

Charlie rolls her eyes at me. “It’s this wedding. My emotions are completely out of whack. When I was a little girl, I had dreamed of my father walking me down the aisle in this big, fluffy gown, with everyone admiring me. Then, everything went to shit. I’m trying to find some form of middle ground between the girl I was and the woman I am now, and it’s confusing as fuck. I have Kennedy and Sydney pulling me in ten different directions. But I have you. I always have you. I know you hate doing the girly stuff with us, and I promise I will make up for it, but I love you even more for suffering through all this with me.”

Feeling moved by Charlie’s speech, I reach out, lace my fingers between hers, and give her hand a squeeze. “I don’t mind. It’s really no trouble at all. We’re a team. I have your back. You have mine. That’s how it works.”

“I want you to be the one,” she says, choking out her words. “I’d like you to give me away at the wedding.”

“Really?” I’m not entirely shocked, even though I had prepared myself for the possibility of Mickey taking over the role of her father. “I would be honored.”

“Honored.” She laughs and wipes the corner of her eye with the back of her hand. “I guess that’s why you’re the man-of-honor. Thanks, Jamie, I have no idea what I would do without you.”

When we round the corner, we almost run into Murph…and Regan. She takes my breath away. Dressed in a gray skirt that stops right above her knee, a black blouse with a few buttons open that give me a glimpse of her cleavage spilling out from a black lacy bra, and heels that accentuate her toned legs, I am speechless.

Regan was sexy in a basketball jersey and mesh shorts. But she almost looks like a different person. Same as last time, she’s not wearing any makeup. With hair pulled up and into a tight ponytail on top of her head, I get a better look at her face.

“Coach,” Murph yells into her ear, as he pulls Charlie into a hug. He releases her, running a hand through his hair. “I can take you down to see Alex if you want.”

Murph has a crush on Charlie, or at least I suspect he does. It could also be his obsession with hockey players and the one she’s tethered herself to. But he’s been a fan of Charlie long before she started dating Alex.

“That would be great,” Charlie says.

“Actually, how about I take them, Murph?” Regan offers with a tiny smile in my direction.

I return her expression, thrilled to see her here. For the last week, I have thought of Regan and how I could see her again. But Charlie had warned me to stay away, and I had no other way to see her without asking Charlie for help. Plus, I have been so busy with work that fitting in a date, even if she had said yes, would have been impossible. It’s still impossible with my schedule. But I would make time for R

egan.

“I have to drop something off anyway,” Regan continues, now staring at Murph. “I’m sure my dad could use your help with something.”

“He would page or call me if it was urgent.”

“Yeah, but you know how he gets. Why don’t you see if he needs you?”

He narrows his eyes at her. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were trying to get rid of me.”

“You should come and hang out with us, Murph,” Charlie interjects.

“Nah, Regan is right. Boss man might need something. After I stop by his office, I’ll make an appearance.” Murph’s eyes light up in acknowledgment when he locks onto me. “Jamie. How are you? “ He steps away from Regan to stand next to me. “You know, I was telling Regan all about your video games the other day. What are you working on now?”

“Oh, really?” I’m surprised they were talking about me. “I wish I could tell you more, but it’s another first-person shooter.”

He flashes an impish grin. “Your last one blew Call of Duty out of the water. I can’t wait to play it.”

“If you want, I can see about adding you to the test team.”

His mouth opens wide in shock. “No way! You would do that for me?”

“Sure. Why not?” I shrug. “We can always use more testers. People from the outside tend to find more of the kinks than the programmers do. We’re so close to the game that sometimes we don’t see the flaws.”

“How about me?” Regan’s singsong voice cuts through the conversation. “Would I make a good candidate?”

Confused, I cock an eyebrow at her. “You want to test video games?”