Page 31 of Fast Break

Thirty-One

Charlie

When I roll out of bed Sunday morning, Matt and Biancaare in the kitchen making breakfast. Well,Biancais flipping pancakes while Matt's hands roam all over her.

"Why are you guys here?"I grumble, opening the fridge for the orange juice. It's not where I last saw it, and when I check the recycle bin, I find the empty carton."Christ,Matt. Buy your ownfuckingjuice."

"Hey,"Mattsnaps, letting go ofBianca, whose face is somewhere between fuchsia and red."What's your problem?"

"Sorry,Charlie,"Biancasays, turning the pancakes over."I had the last of it this morning. I'llpickup another carton."

Idropinto a chair andrunmy hands over my face."No, I'm sorry, B. You can help yourself anytime you want."

"We've got coffee,"she says, pointing to the machine."And extra pancakes."

"Not hungry,thanks. But I'll take you up on your offer of coffee."

"What thefuckis wrong with you?"Mattasks, taking a mug out of the cabinet and filling it with coffee. He plants it down in front of me, some of the hot liquid splashing over the sides."You look likeshit."

"Thanks."I take a longdrinkof the black coffee and wince. It needs a splash of cream, but I don'tcareto get up."Seriously, though. Why are you here?"I thought I'd get the day to mope and figure out what to do aboutPalmer.

"We're spending the day at Rocky Point,"Biancasays."We came back topickup the beach chairs and pack a lunch."

"We'll be out of your hair soon."Mattholdsout a plate soBiancacan flip the finished pancakes onto it."Why, is your girl coming over?"

"She's not my girl,"I mumble into my mug.

I don'tmissthe subtle glance between my brother and his fiancée."You want to talk about it?"heasks.

Biancaturns off the griddle."I can leave you twoaloneto talk. I'll just take my pancake out to the back porch."

"No, no. It's fine."I wave her down in a chair."We had a disagreement last night, and some things were said. I guess whatever I've been doing over the past couple of months hasn't meant anything to her."

"Did she say that?"Biancaasks, dousing her pancakes in the specialty maple syrup she gets from Homegoods, then pushing thebottleof Mrs. Butterworth toward my brother.

"Sort of."I wave my hand in the air."It's a little hazy. I got drunk after she left."

"What did she say?"Mattadds a pat of butter to his stack, then reaches over and drops one ontopof Bianca's. So in sync with one another, it kills me.

"She has a family thing,"I explain."A fucked up family thing. Her ex is marrying her cousin, and there's an engagementpartytoday her mother is hosting. Palmer's been bullied into attending."

Biancahuffs."That's insane. What kind of mother does that to their daughter? If she's hosting anything, it should be a barbeque to flambe that guy's nuts."

"So what are you gonna do about it?"Mattasks.

"I offered to go with her. She told me no."

"Why?"Mattmumbles around a bite of pancake.

"Chew, swallow, talk, babe,"Biancasays. I smirk behind thelipof my mug.

"She dates guys that wear Armani and get $200 haircuts.

"Iruna hand through my hair."Mom's friend Rosie cuts my hair and the closest I get towearingdesigner is what's on sale at Men's Wearhouse.

She said everyone would know Iwasn'ther realboyfriendand that'd make her look more desperate than if she wentalone. "

Mattwinces. He takes adrinkof his coffee."Yikes."

"I'm sure she didn't mean it the way it sounded,"Biancasays, though her voice is uncertain.

I grunt."Not much to interpret there. If she can't see me as a potential mate by now, how much hope is there?

We agreed to do this for theseason, which is over in a week if the Battle bomb out of the playoffs or three weeks if they make it all the way.

It doesn't help thatfuckingLibertygot in her head. "

"Who'sLiberty?"Biancaasks.

"A girlCharlieworks with. He hooked up with her when he first started and it didn't end well. Think bunny boiling."

"She's not crazy,"I insist."But she's still pissed. She convincedPalmereverything I've ever said to her is part of a script I use to charm women into bed."

"Looks like you got your work cut out for you,"Mattsays.

"Why bother?"I snort."It's done. I failed."

"Damn,Charlie,"Biancasays, pointing her fork at me."I didn't realize you were such a quitter."

"I'm a realist,"I grouse.

"You know what you need?"Biancaasks.

"A lobotomy."

"No, a grand gesture."Biancalooks betweenMattand me as we stare at her with blank faces.

"You know? The big moment in a rom-com when one of the main characters expresses their undying love, either through some big speech or a grand romantic gesture.

Like when Hugh Grant saves the Community Center for Sandra Bullock in Two Weeks Notice ? "

My brother and I exchange aquicklook."Yeah, babe,"Mattsays."I don't think we've seen it."

Biancagrunts in frustration."It's our next movie night. Fine. I'll spell it out. GO. GET. THE. GIRL. Ride up on a white horse and rescue her. Be her Knight in Shining Armor. Bring her flowers.Holda boombox outside her window. Do something."

"You think I should go to her parents' house and crash theparty?"My mind isstartingto turn with possibilities.

"Yup."

"What if I get there and she turns me away?"

"Would you be any worse off than you are now?

"Mattsitsback with his arm hooked over the back of the chair.

" Carlito , at this point, you're either going to be crushed or get everything you wanted.

You're well past the point of no return withPalmer.

So either fish or cut bait. Stopfuckingaround. "

I hate it when my brother's right. Thegameisn't over yet. There's still time on the clock for me to make a move. Speaking of clocks... shit ."Thepartystarts in less than an hour."

"Then you better hurry,"Biancasays, shooing me out of the kitchen.

I race out of the kitchen, then stop and swing back to plant a loud smacker on Bianca's lips."Thanks, future sis."

I cackle as Irunto my room before my brother can kick myass. I have to clean myself upquick. There's apartyI gotta crash. Right after I make aquickstop at the florist.

Finding a florist open on Sunday is impossible, so I settle for a bouquet of daisies and sunflowers from the grocery store and haulassto Frederick.

There's a speed camera along the way, so I expect a ticket in the mail, but she's worth it.

I follow the GPS up a mountain road surrounded by forest, almost sure I've gotten lost, when a huge estate spreads out before me.

I turn into the long driveway and spot the young men in valet uniforms watching over rows of luxury vehicles parked in a roped-off area along the side. My Honda Civic is fully loaded, but it's no Lexus. Ipullover before I reach the top of the drive and hike the rest of the way.

I'm not sure where to go. Music and voices are coming from the back of the house, but should I ring the bell?

Or justwalkin. I've never crashed apartybefore, so I don't know the appropriate protocol.

I approach a guy in black pants, white button-down, and tie, carrying a foil tray from a catering van.

"Excuse me,"I call out."You wouldn't happen to know where I could findPalmerYork, would you?"

"Is she one of the waitresses? Probably making rounds of drinks.Hey, grab one of the bags ofice, will you?"

"I'm not staff,"I say, glancing down at my charcoal trousers. With my white button-down and red and black tie, I could pass for catering staff. Great.

"Oh, sorry."Hands full, he nods toward the back of the house."Everyone is just getting seated, so I assume back there. They'll be announcing the couple soon, so you might want to hurry and find your seat."

"Thanks."Flowers in hand, I head in the direction he pointed, stopping toholdopen the gate for him and slipping in behind. As I look around the small crowd, an older woman in a sweater set complete with pearls approaches.

"Oh no,"she says, pointing at the flowers."We didn't order daisies. You can take this away."

"I don't—"I stammer. What the hell is she talking about?

"I'm sorry, I don't speak Mexican."She taps the bouquet and makes a shooing motion."No flores."Only she pronounces it"flor-izz."

The eyes are a dead giveaway this is Palmer's mother.

Before I can try to tell her again I'm not staff, and I can speak English, she walks off.

I spotPalmer. She's hard tomissin that short, form-fitting dress she'swearing; she's not only a standout but a knockout.

My heart starts pumping in earnest while Iwatchher.

She's with that joker from thegame, the rich guy with the dumb name.

Bone or something? I clench the flowers in my hand, the plastic wrap crinkling beneath my fingers.

He hands her something. I can't make out what it is, but the smile on her face could make the sun jealous. Shegiveshim akissand heholdsher hand. Mystomachbottoms out as they head into the tent. Hepullsout a chair for her and thensitsnext to her. I swallow hard.

That's why she didn't want me to come. She already had adatefor this, and unlike me, this guy wouldn't be mistaken for the hired help. Iwalkout the way I came in, passing the same guy as before.

"You find her?"

"Lost her, actually."I toss the flowers onto the lawn and keep striding past him, past the valets, and back to my car. It's done now.