Page 4 of Fast Break

Four

Palmer

Thirty minutes later, my confidence wobbles and anxiety ratchets to its highest level.

I survey the scene inside Poe's, a smallbarin the Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore and a short Lyft ride from the apartment.

It's a favorite hangout of theteam, and I've been here before, but suddenly I’m overwhelmed.

I spotCharlieat thebartalking to an attractive brunette, another pixie.

She wears a short skirt that rides up to expose flawless thighs and a shimmery red haltertopthat pops against bronzed skin similar toCharlie's, only hers has the orangey undertone you get from badly applied spray tans.

She's talking, constantly reaching out totouchhim, while he appears to be listening intently. GuessCharliealready found his girl for the night. I debate turning around andleavingbefore anyone notices me, but I hesitate a second too long.

"Palmer!"Emma, the intern I met earlier, waves me over to a talltoptable where shesitswith Benji,Liberty,Dante,Mei, and a woman I don't recognize. They greet me with a cheer.Dantelifts hisbottleofbeerin a salute.

"Keep!"he shouts. I duck my head, imagining all the heads in thebarturning toward me.

"Keep?"asksthe puzzled woman standing next toMei."Keep what?"

Dantelaughs."It's her position. She's the goalkeeper. The 'Keep'."

"Don't worry, sweetie,"Meisays."Keep hanging with me, you'll catch on."

"Most people call mePalmer,"I say, scooting onto an empty stool betweenDanteandMei.

"This is my girlfriend, Francesca,"Meisays, draping an arm around the brunette'sshoulders."She just moved here from Indiana and she knows nothing about sports."

"And how much do you know aboutplayingmultiple voices in a single concerto?"Francesca counters, sticking hertongueout atMei.

"You got me there."Meisqueezes Francesca's shoulder and lets her armdrop. She explains,"Chessie's a concert pianist. She's auditioning for the BSO."

"Oh, I love the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra,"I exclaim."Good luck, er,breaka leg?"

"I'll take either,"Chessie laughs.

"What are you having?"Danteasks. He gestures to thebar."Let me get you the first round to congratulate you."

Mygazedrifts toCharlieagain. The woman is still talking and now leans into him, a hand on hischest. A flash of jealousy turns into dismay. This was a stupid idea. I should take his interest in this other woman as a sign.

"Um,"I look away before anyone can tell I'm staring atCharlieand point at thebottleDanteholds."How about whatever you're having. I can't stay long. Big day tomorrow."

"Be right back. Anyone else?"Dantetakes refill orders and goes to thebar.

"Anyone else from theteamcoming?"Libertysays, flipping her glossy red ponytail over her shoulder. She looks past me, her eyes narrowing. Is she glaring atDanteorCharlie, or someone else entirely? My money is onCharlie.

"Just metonight."I try to sound nonchalant."Didn't want to go clubbing but too wired to stay home, you know?"

We talk for a few minutes about our prospects for theseason, how the new offensive coordinator is doing, and whetherwe'd do better than our brother Red Hawks this year.

Liberty'sattentionkeeps straying toward thebar, and a pang of pity for her tweaks in mychestif it'sCharlieshe's so interested in.

I want to hop into bed with him, sure, but I know better than to expect anything more.

Which is whyCharlieis the perfect candidate for my little experiment.

A coldbottleappears in front of me. I look up tothankDanteand come face-to-face withCharlieinstead. He treats me to a two-dimple smile."You came."

"I did,"I reply, my heart leaping in mychest. Calm. Down.

Charliesqueezes in betweenDanteand me."I'm glad."

My cheeks must be turning brightpink, but I keep my response nonchalant."Me, too."

Dantedelivers the other drinks and the conversation resumes.

It's not long before I am so at ease, I haven't had time to think aboutBrennanor the real reason I came outtonight.

Charliewalks to thebaras the conversation turns into a spirited debate over whether TikTok challenges were lame or prime publicity opportunities.

He returns with two fresh beers and sets one down in front of me.

"Excited abouttomorrow?"heasks, leaning against the table to face me.

"Nervous is more like it,"I say, taking a sip of the hoppy brew."Practicewasn'tthe greatest today."

Charlieshrugs."You were just getting the yips out.Tomorrowwill be better."

He bends his head closer tomine."You'll be great, I know it."

His voice is liquid velvet, his breath hot on my neck. Desire sparks in me and the flame settles low in my belly. My lips part. His face iscloseenough, if I turn my head to the right, our lips would nearlytouch. I keep my head down andpickat the corner of the label."You think so?"

"I know so. You've got themoves, York."His voice is practically a purr in my ear. Every nerve in my body stands atattention. Myplanfor this evening is back on the table.

I'm jerked back to the present by the clatter of a glass being put down–hard–on the table.Charliestraightens, the sudden space between us doing little to cool my heated body.LibertystaresatCharliewith undisguised contempt.

"Where's your little fan from earlier,Charlie?"she sneers.

Charlie'slips flatten."If you mean the woman I was talking to, I imagine she joined up with her friends."

"Got her number in your pocket for later?"Liberty's words have a bite to them, evident to everyone considering their embarrassed glances at one another.

"Not your business, is it?"Charlieoffers a tight smile.

"Guess not,"Libertysays. She grabs her wristlet off the tablet."Well, it's beenfun, but even though showtime for the players isn't until noon,"shestarespointedly at me, and I take anotherdrinkto hide my discomfort,"I need to be in by nine. It's going to be a long day."

Meichecks her phone."I think Chessie and I are going to head out, too. She has rehearsal early in the morning. We'llwalkwith you."

"It was nice meeting you all,"Chessie says, taking Mei's hand.

Emma slides off her stool."I think I'm going to call it, too."

Shegivesme aquickhug and leaves with Benji,leavingDante,Charlie, and me.

"I thought things were better between you andLiberty,"Dantesays once everyone else has gone.

Charlieglances sideways at me before answering him. I sip mybeerand pretend disinterest, though I'm dying to know more.

"It goes in waves. Some days, I think we can be friends, and then there are times liketonight."Charlieshakes his head and finishes hisbeer.

Dantenods his chin at me."CharlieandLibertyhooked up when he first started here."

"Dante,"Charliewinces.

"What? Everyone else knows. Anyway,"Dantecontinues to explain to me."They hooked up. Didn't end well. Ever since, Liberty's made it her mission to be a bitch toCharlieeverychanceshe gets."

"Hey, don't call her that,"Charliesays curtly."Ihurther feelings. I deserve whatever she dishes out. I take full responsibility."

"She needs to get over it."

"Can wedropit?"Charliedarts another glance at me, thengivesDantea peeved look."Please?"

"Okay."Danteraises his hands, palms out."This old man needs to head home. Lucia is probably wondering where the hell I am."

"Lucia your girlfriend?"I ask, leaning into the topic change.

"My cat,"Danteannounces proudly. He opens his phone and taps the screen a few times, then turns it around toshowme the prettiest Calico."The only pussy that hasn't let me down."

I choked on my last swallow ofbeer.CharlieslapsDanteupside the head."There's a lady present, moron."

Dante's face flushes bright red."Sorry,Palmer. I think I had one too manytonight."

I bite back agrin."It's okay,Dante. See youtomorrow."

"Good luck out there,"he says in parting.

The woman in red is at thebaragain, casting annoyed glances our way.Charlienods at my half-drunkbeer."Another?"

I wave him off, my confidence draining. The woman in red is hot and obviously very interested. I'm not about to cockblock my friend."No. I should get home. Make sure I'm mentally prepared fortomorrow."

Charliechecks hiswatch."It's barely past nine. Want someicecream? There's a great little shop around the corner. Or do you want something to eat other than pub food?"He gestures to the empty baskets that had held an assortment of fried appetizers we'd all picked on.

I hesitate, but Tisha's voice rings in my head. I'm still not sure I can go through with theplan, but for now it's justicecream. I nod."Sure.Icecream sounds delicious."