Page 35 of Fast Break

Thirty-Five

Charlie

"Let's go, let's go, let's go!"Danteclaps his hands."Everyone's already at the club."

"I’m not going,"I say, staring up at the ceiling from where I lie on the hotel bed.

MattandBiancawent back to their room.

They're making a weekend of it, soDanteand I are sharing a room and will drive back togethertomorrow.

"I should work on content, so I don't have to spend all oftomorrowdoing it. "

"Dude, that's why we have interns."Danteplops down on the edge of the bed, the pants of his dark purple drainpipe pants riding up toshowhis bare ankles.

They don't look the least bit comfortable, but what do I know about fashion?

"Since you're going to beleavingus for the dark side, the least you can do is come out and celebrate with us. "

"It's the men'steam. I'll still be around. Just not inBaltimore."

"That's what I'm sayin',"Dantesays. He looks thoughtful."If it'sLiberty, I'llruninterference."

I roll my eyes."It's notLiberty. We’re in a truce right now, anyway."

"Great."He jumps."Then there's nothing stopping you from being the Goose to my Maverick."

“You know Goose died in that movie.”

“Yeah, but not before he helped Maverick get the girl.”

I swing my legs over the side of the bed and sigh."All right. But if youpicka girl up, you're going back to her place. I'm not giving up my bed."

"Aye, aye, cap'n."Dantesalutes."Let's move it on out."

We arrive at the club some time after everyone else has gotten there. The dance floor is packed, mostly with members of theBaltimoreBattle. We quickly find our little group at a table off in the corner.

I scan the area but don't seePalmer, which is probably a good thing.

I believe her when she says she isn't dating that guy, but it doesn't matter, does it?

I'm still not in her league, and I never will be.

I'm CharmingCharlie, always up for a good time.

Afundistraction.Dantegets us a couple of shots and Palomas tostartwith.

I down myshotin one go, wincing at the burn of the tequila down my throat.

"SoCharlie,"Meisays."When do you make the move to Annapolis?"

"Later this summer,"I reply, shouting to be heard over the music."It hasn't been finalized yet."

"We'llmissyou,"Emma says."I've learned so much under you."

"It was a pleasure working with you. I've already given my recommendations to JJ for you and Benji."

Her face lights up and she lifts her martini in a salute."You're the best."

Benji shows up, sweaty hair sticking to his head."Come on, Em. They'replayingour song."

She takes his hand and follows him out to the dance floor, where a dance mix of a OneRepublic hit blares from the speakers."I must be getting old because the thought of going out there to dance is enough to give me a headache."

"Don't worry, old man,"Dantesays."I'll find you a walker if your gout starts acting up."

"Fuckoff,"I laugh.

Jewel, who plays offense for the Battle, tapsDanteon the shoulder.

Pink glitter lashes highlight her deepbrown eyes, the bright magenta of her lips a mesmerizing contrast to her rich-brown skin.

I've never seen her without her hair tucked into an unobtrusive sleek bun or ponytail, buttonighther mane falls in shiny black curls down to hershoulders.

She's a knockout, a factDanteobviously notes.

"Hey,Dante. Wanna dance?"sheasks, the light glinting off the tiny diamond stud in her nose.

"Uh, yeah,"he stammers. He follows Jewel out to the floor, leaving me alone with Liberty and Mei.

"Where's Chessie tonight?" I ask Mei.

"Home. They had a performance this evening and a matinee tomorrow."

"How does she like the BSO?"

"So far, so good.Now theseasonis over, you have to come to one of their concerts."

I sip from the Paloma, enjoying the zing of Jarritos."Love to."

Meichecks herwatch."All right, kiddies. I'm heading back to the hotel. Chessie and I have a FaceTimedate."

She pats my arm on the way out. I'malonewith theLibertyfor the first time in weeks and look around for an exit.

"Hey."I side-eye her warily. She grimaces, tossing her red ponytail over her shoulder.

"Just wanted to say I'm going tomissyou, too.

Not in the way you think. You're a positive influence in the office.

You have a knack for bringing out the best in people and for making them feel good.

The Red Hawks mediateamis lucky to have you. "

I give a terse nod."Thanks. I appreciate it."

"You're notleavingbecause of me, are you?"sheasks, a desperate edge to her voice."Because I swear, I'm never going to bother you again. I was a total bitch and I really don't have an excuse. Stupid jealousy on my part."

"No,Liberty,"I assure her."Nothing to do with you."

She studies my face, maybe looking for any hint of a lie, but she won't find one. We go back to silently watching the crowd. IlaughatDantedoing some strange fish-like move that has the other women in stitches. Weird flex, but okay.

The smell of peaches wafts above the alcohol and sweat. I know it'sPalmerbefore she even speaks, and my heart leaps into my throat. I take adrinkto try to force it back into position.

"Hi,Liberty,"she says, resting her hands on the back of Dante’s vacated chair. She swings her eyes to me."I'm glad you decided to come out."

"I'mleavingsoon,"I say, not holding hergaze. I can't. I'll lose myself in those eyes and I can't keep torturing myself over something that won't work, not in the longrun.

Libertylooks between the two of us and gets up."I need a refill. Get anyone anything?"

Palmerand I decline, and she leaves usalone."Are you not having a good time?"Palmerasks.

"I only came forDanteand I think he's found someone prettier to hang with."I gesture to the dance floor, where he and Jewel are dancingcloseto one another.

Palmergrins."She's had a bit of a crush on him."

"Think the feeling's mutual,"I chuckle.

"So,"Palmersays."I was trying to tell some lacrosse jokes, but they wouldn'tstick. Thought I'd see if you'd scoop them up."

I bite back a groan."Those are terrible,Palmer."

She throws her head back and laughs."No worse than the one you told me the first night we met. Just returning the favor."

I stare into mydrinkuntil I muster the courage to look at her. She's as beautiful as ever. I swallow hard."I can't do this,Palmer."

"Do what?"shemovescloser.

"Play thisgamewith you anymore,"I say.

"It's not agame,Charlie,"shestaresat me in earnest."Not to me. Not anymore."

"See that's the thing,Palmer."My hand twitches totouchher, but I fold it into a fist because I know I'd never be able to let her go if I did.

And I have to let her go. She has the power to destroy me worse than Angela ever did, and if thehurtI have now is any indication, the pain it will cost me to lose her later on would be nuclear.

"It was never agamefor me,"I finish."Not really.

Everything I said, I meant. Everything I felt was real.

But when it came down to it, you couldn't believe in that.

You didn't believe in me. You said yourself your family would never buy we were a real couple because I'm not someone who would fit in with their lifestyle. "

"I was wrong,"she says, the strobe from the dance floor glinting off the sheen in her eyes.

There’s no humor in my laugh. “Except you weren’t. It was made plain to me that day.”

Irunmy hand through my hair."I let someone devastate me once before. I can't do it again. I'm sorry."

She pushes herself up from the chair she is leaning on.

Her expression hardens as she rolls hershouldersback and lifts her chin.

"You're afuckingcoward, Carlos Salinas.

It took everything in me to come over here and lay my heart out on the table to you.

I risked the pain because, as scared as I was to have you reject me, I was more scared to go through the rest of my life wondering if things might have been different if I told you I loved you.

And I love you,Charlie. But if you don't have the guts to take achanceon us, then I guess there really is nothing else to say. "

I inhale sharply, a scramble of words stuck in mychest, eating all of the oxygen in my lungs.Palmerwalks away from me, taking away her peaches, her eyes, her heart—her love.

Stop being a coward.

You're afuckingcoward, Carlos Salinas.

I twist my head and catchPalmerstop at the table whereTishaand her husband sit with Vera. She says something to them and leaves. Three sets of eyes look my way, at least two of them with murder in theirgaze. The third has more of a"You're an idiot"declaration in them.

What thefuckam I doing? I'm letting the woman I lovewalkout because I am a damn coward.

Palmermovesquickly through the crowd to the exit. Abandoning mydrink, I hurry off in that direction, trying to keep herpink-streaked hair in sight, pushing through groups of clubgoers with muttered apologies. I lose her when she goes through the door and hurry to catch up.

Outside, I look left and right, but I don't see her. Where could she have gone? Mychesttightens, my breaths coming out in short pants. I have to find her.

"Charlie?"

I spin and there she is leaning against the wall with her phone in her hand.

Myshoulderssag in relief. She walks toward me, head cocked.

Her tattoo is on full display, her smooth whiteshouldersaglow in the fluorescents of the building signs.

Her amazing, island-like eyes stare at me, shiny and bemused.

Her lips part on an inhale and I dive in.

I take her face in my hands and press my mouth against hers.

Mytonguenudges the seam of her lips and she opens for me with a hum.

Ikissher andkissher, like she is the air I need to survive.

Because she is. She is everything I need.

Everyone and everything around us fades away, and it's only her, in my arms, in my heart.

A few catcallsbreakthrough the bubble around us, and reluctantly, Ipullaway.

"Palmer. I love you. More than anything and anyone I have ever loved.

You're right–I’ve been a cowardly jackass and if you'll give me anotherchance, I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Please say you'll give me achance."

Her lips slowly curve into a sweet, tender smile."Okay."

My eyesclosein relief. Itouchmy forehead to hers."Okay? This is it, then. You and me. No more games. No more lessons."

"I kind of liked my lessons."She looks up at me with a wicked gleam in her eyes."I feel there's so much more you can teach me."

I grunt."There's much we can learn together, young grasshopper."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah,"I say."How about our next lesson involves how to live happily-ever-after together?"

"I'd like that,"she sighs."But first, why don't youshowme how tokissthe love of your life?"

"Now that's a lesson I'm happy to teach over and over."