Page 5 of Fast Break

Five

Charlie

She showed up. PalmerYorkfuckingshowed up.

I have had a crush on this woman since I met her three years ago. I once pointed her out to my brother and he didn't understand."Kind of big boned, isn't she?"he'd said.

I punched him.

Not hard, just enough so he knew not to talk about her like that again.

As far as I'm concerned, she's gorgeous.

Tall, only a few inches shorter than me, with strong arms and muscled legs.

How many nights have I fantasized about having those legs squeezing the life out of me while I pumped inside her? Too many to count.

And now here she is, and we're gettingicecream.

It's not solely about her looks, though her unusual eyes—aquamarine with adeepgold ring around the center—were enough to stop a man in his tracks. She's smart, kind, funny as hell. But of course, the first woman to catch my eye in over ten years would have aboyfriend.

Crazy to be hung up on this one woman, right? I mean, I can have almost any woman I want, and I have. My rep is what it is because I don'tdate. Ifuck. I'm not interested in commitment or settling down. Tried it once before, and all I ended up with was a broken heart and a former best friend.

So no getting attached. No expecting anything more than a good time.

I screwed up withLibertyby allowing the lines to blur, and she's still mad at me.

Now I'm sure to beclear about the rules with every woman I've been with, and usually avoid anyone I work with.

A night, a weekend, once an entire week with a flight attendant on abreak—never more than that.

I can't explain what it is withPalmerthat makes me want to try again.

She's nothing like Angela.Mattcan't understand how I can be crazy about a woman I've never been out with, letalonetaken to bed.

"Once you get in her pants, man, she'llfallright off that pedestal you've got her on,"he told me one time when he'd caught me scrolling through her social media feed. "It's the fantasy of the unattainable."

He could be right, but I don't think so.

Because whenPalmeris around, I'm not thinking about what she'll look like splayed across my bed, what she'll taste like when she cums on mytongue, what sounds she'll make when I hit the right spot.

Okay, I'm not only thinking of those things.

I'm also imagining us cuddling on the couch on a rainy morning or exchanging funny reels throughout the day. Or going out foricecream, like now.

"So, uh, how are things going? Other than with thegame, I mean,"I ask, my hands tucked in my pockets so I'm not tempted totouchher and freak her out.

"Been better, I guess,"she says with a flat smile."Found out myboyfriend— ex boyfriend—is marrying my cousin."

"Wow."

"Yeah, sums it up."Her chortle is bitter. I want to kick hisassfor hurting her.

"Same guy you were living with, I take it?"

"Yeah. Except we broke up in January. New Year's, to be precise."

I raised my brows in surprise."I didn't know."

"It was the off-season."She shrugs."Iwasn'texactlybroadcasting it."

"Huh."She's been single for four months? I had four months to try to woo her and I wasted every one of those days. Stupid."You okay?"

She shrugs again."It's fine. I mean, it's not fine -fine. It will be fine. What really bothers me is not knowing ifRaniawas in the picture when we broke up. I feel kind of foolish."

I move in front of her, making her stop."He's the fool."

"Thanks,"she says, skepticism coloring her tone.

"I mean it."I wait for her to look up so I can bend my head to look her straight in the eye."You're afuckingprize,Palmer, and he's a fool for losing you."

She swallows and blinks her eyes a few times before saying quietly,"Thankyou."

Igrin."It's the truth."

I lead her across the street and down another block to Cal's, my favorite soft serve in the neighborhood.

The sweet scent of peaches as she squeezes by me puts all my senses on high alert and when she grazes mychest, it's all I can do to command mycocktostanddown so I don't embarass myself or her.

"Evenin', Marnie,"I greet the middle-aged woman behind the counter holding a large pail.

"Evenin', hon,"she replies."Let me put this one in the back, and I'll be right out."

"So many choices,"Palmersays, peering into the cooler.

"Do you prefer it hard or soft?"

She side-eyes me and raises an eyebrow. Ilaugh."Youricecream, although I think I like where your mind went."

She rolls her eyes, but the corners of her mouth turn up. Slow your roll, Salinas. Don't scare her away.

"I like soft serve, but these flavors are calling to me."She taps the window. Marnie returns and offersPalmera taste. She chooses the black raspberry-chocolate chip combo.

"Mmm,"she moans, dragging the flat woodenstickbetween her lips. I look away as my dick twitches."So good. Can I try the strawberry-pineapple-fudge swirl?"

Marniegivesher another flatstick. Again, thestickis licked clean and she's making another grunting noise. She's going tofuckingkill me if this keeps up.

"I can't decide."Hertonguedarts out to lick the corner of her lips while she contemplates the choices."Can I do a scoop of each in a cup?"

"Of course, hon,"Marnie says. She turns to me."Can I get you something?"

"Soft serve triple twist on a sugar cone, please. And we're together."Atouchof color blooms in Palmer's cheeks.

"Thanks, but you don't have to–"

"I want to,"I assure her, tapping my card against the reader.

We take our orders and go outside to claim an empty table.

It's warm out, but still a school night, so the place isn't too busy.

In a few more weeks, we'll be lucky to be in and out intwentyminutes, letalonefive.

We sit across from one another, which is for the best. I'm still trying to be on my best behavior.

Except I can't help staring as she scoops a spoonful oficecream and sucks it off the spoon."So good,"she repeats in between tiny whimpers of pleasure. She looks up from her cup and pauses, gesturing at me with her spoon.

"You're dripping."

My mouth dries."I'm what?"

"Dripping."She points at my cone."Youricecream is melting all over your hand."

Sure enough. While I was enraptured by her thorough tasting of theicecream, my cone melted over the edge of the cone and onto my hand."Fuck."

I sweep mytonguealong the rim of the cone, catching the melting treat before it makes more of a mess.

I lick up the sides and suck thetopof the cone.

Once I tame it into submission with mytongue, I steal a look atPalmer.

She's staring back at me, her bright Caribbean eyes darkening to adeepblue.

"Charlie,"she starts, setting the cup down."I have to ask you something, and I need you to let me get it out before you say anything, or I'll lose my nerve."

"Ohh—kay,"I say, dragging the word out. Curiosity mixes with concern."What's up?"

Shestaresdown at her cup oficecream, then rolls hershouldersback, takes adeepbreath, and meets mygaze.

“SeeingBrennanengaged has caused me to question my approach to love. I get too invested, too fast, and what I need—I think—is to try my hand at a no-strings-attached fling. What I'm asking is if you'd do it."

I shake my head, trying to understand if she's asking what I think she's asking."I'm sorry. Do what?"

"Me,Charlie."She leans across the table, giving me a sweet view of her swells."I'm asking you to do me."