Page 6 of Fast Break

Six

Charlie

The cone falls from my hand onto the sidewalk and is immediately claimed by a pair of pigeons. But I don'tcare.PalmerYork, the object of my crush for three years, the woman who'd friend-zoned me the moment we met, is asking me to date her?

No, notdateher. Do her. Sleep with her. Fuck her. I'm impossibly hard at the moment, but manage to refrain from picking her up and taking her against the brick wall of the shop. The side of the shop that isn't lit and is mainly covered by bushes.

"I'm sorry, can you–"I wave my hand in the air.

She turns her palms out, like she's holding me back. Probably a good idea."Let me explain. Because we're friends and I want to be able to stay friends, I need you to understand why I'm asking. I don't want you to think I just want to use you or that I'm a whore–"

"I'd never think that."I'm vehement in my protest, riled she'd ever think I would."Never."

She smiles."I appreciate it. But I still need you to know why I'm asking."

She draws in adeepbreath. "Brennanand I were together for three years. Things moved pretty fast for us, and we were living together in a matter of months after meeting. I thought we were moving forward.

"But the past year or so, it's been...different.

Hewasn'thappy for me to continueplaying.

Like my parents, he thought this was a whim.

I majored in business with the idea to work for my father's company eventually, but honestly, I love lacrosse.

I'm part of something bigger than myself, setting an example for little girls everywhere.

Blazing a path for future generations of athletes. "

"And you're damn good at it,"I interject. She lights up the night with her beaming smile and I promise myself to make her smile like that more often.

"It's my true love."She lifts one shoulder and lets itdrop.

"Anyway, my family doesn't support me, andBrennan, well, he's like they are.

I think he had the impression I'd be discouraged enough to quit if they kept me on the bench.

Maybe I would have, except for how great everyone was to me when I first arrived.

They've all become another family to me.

You know, you were a big reason why I didn't give up. "

I raise my eyebrows."Me?"

Palmerlaughs."Yeah, you. They had a welcomepartyfor all the new members of theteam.

I was melting into the wall, but you walked over and said, 'Did you know the stadium gets really hot once the game's over?

All the fans leave.' You made melaugh, and I was glad Iwasn'tthe only dork in the room. "

Alaughbursts out."Thanks."

She grins."Then, after I told you my position, you introduced me toTisha, who has become my mentor and my best friend, and it's all because of you I'm nowstartinggoalie."

I shake my head."I may have made the introduction, but it is all you,Palmer."

"Anyway,"she continues,"I keptplayingand our relationship died."

"That's on him,"I remind her.

Palmerlooked to the side with a frown."Maybe. But see, it's actually part of a larger problem I have. I tend to get serious with guys super fast. I'mquickto follow my heart and ignore all the red flags in the beginning, which leaves me blindsided and crushed in the end. I want to change that."

She pushed hericecream to the side and clasped her hands in front of her.

"I won't bore you with a rundown of my past, but suffice it to say, my love life has been a series of committed, monogamous relationships.

One after another. I've never gone out with a guy forfun.

Never had wild, recklesssex. Never picked up a guy in abarand took him home for a night. "

I furrow my brow."What are you asking,Palmer?"

She chews on her bottomlipandstaresat her short, polished nails for a long moment.

I stay quiet, giving her room to think and speak.

Finally, she lifts her head. Her features are pinched, but the gold in her eyes flashes like a Fourth of July sparkler.

She sets hershouldersback and lifts her chin.

"I believe I canbreakthis habit of jumping all in with my heart if I canpracticewhat it's like to take things easy and casual.

I need to experience a fling.Sexfor thefunof it.

Dates without expectations you'll call the next day.

A hookup not involving my heart. Everyone knows that's your domain, so I was hoping, as a friend, you could help me out here.

Because I really don't want to experiment with a stranger. I trust you."

I release the breath I've been holding, my mind spinning.

My dick is more than happy to focus on the fact shewantsto havesexwith me, and my brain is shouting"Fuckyeah!

"But the funny little organ in mychestcontracts at the thought of her only wanting my body and not me . Yes, I get the irony of that.

"Say something,"she pleads."Anything. Even if it's 'fuckoff.' Just. Say. Something."

"Palmer, I consider you a good friend."

Her eyescloseand her head drops. All my body parts war with one another to make the right decision.

But it's my brain and heart working together that finally cinches it for me.

She may only want to use me to experiment with her wild side, but nothing says I can't use this as an opportunity toshowher how much more there is to me.

Prove I'm not the flippant playboy I let everyone think I am.

"Because you're a good friend, I'll do it."

Her head snaps up, eyes popping wide, lips spread into a blinding smile."Really?"

I chuckle."Yeah, really. Did you think I would turn down a proposition like that from a beautiful woman? I may not have gone to an Ivy League like you, but I'm not dumb."

She jumps out of her chair and throws her arms around me."Thankyou,Charlie. You don't know how hard it was to ask you this. I was afraid you'dlaughat me, or worse,runaway and avoid me the rest of our lives."

Istandand wrap my arms around her waist. She clasps her hands behind my neck andstaresup at me through dark blonde lashes. Itouchher forehead withmine."You never have to worry about telling me or asking me anything. I'm not going torunaway."

"One more thing,"she says, pulling out of my arms."Can we keep this between us? I don't want anyone to know we're hooking up. I mean,Tishaknows because I ran this by her. But she's the only one."

My heart drops into mystomach. It's hard not to take the request personally. But I nod and shine a carefree smile at her."I understand. We work together."

"Right.Exactly."She sighs."Thanksfor understanding."

Ipullout my phone and check the rideshare app."You have agametomorrow. I have to be up early for work. How about I order you a Lyft?"

Her cute pout is disarming."You don't want to come back to my placetonight?"

"Nottonight. The first lesson Iplanon giving you is how it feels when someone takes his time to worship every inch of your body. We don't have the timetonight, not if we both want to be at thetopof ourgametomorrow. Where's home?"

"Roland Park."She crinkles her nose as I type in the address."What about you? Do you want to share?"

I jerk my thumb over my shoulder at the brownstone across the street."I canwalkhome."

"I didn't realize you were soclose. Will youshowme your place sometime?"

"When my brother isn't home."I nod at the lights streaming from the windows."You can tell he's home because there isn't a light he won't turn on. I think he secretly has stock in BG&E."

We clean up our mess and a few minutes later, a small sedanpullsto the curb.

I check the details on the app against the car and, satisfied it's the ride I ordered, open the door forPalmer.

Shekissesme on the cheek before sliding in and shutting the door.

Imotion for her to roll down the window.

"You're going to kill ittomorrow."

Her face lights up."Thankyou."

Iwatchthe car drive away until the taillights disappear around the corner before crossing the street.

Who knew getting intoPalmerYork's pants would be the easy part?

The challenge is getting into her heart.

I'm going to have to convince her I'm more than what everyone saw on the surface and I have nofuckingidea how I'm going to do it.