Page 31 of Fast Break
I tap the screen and pocket my phone.
Eighteen
Charlie
I've sentPalmerthree texts with no response. Maybe she's pissed I left her at thebarand I wouldn't blame her. It was a chickenshitmove on my part. I'm the one who kept pushing the line, who kept touching and flirting in front of everyone, who nearly fucked her against the wall in public despite her desire to keep things between us private. Of course she doesn't want everyone to know her business. I know my reputation,shit, I lean into it. Why would she want to risk her reputation among theteamgetting involved with a horny asshole like me?
Shit. I fucked up. I left her there to face the consequences of us getting caught, byLibertyof all people. If it were one of herteammatesor anyone else in the office, there'd have been some snickers and teasing, I'm sure, and then everyone would have forgotten about it by next week. I don't trustLiberty, though. Especially after I've been denying anything going on betweenPalmerand me. Liberty will take thatshitpersonally.
Matt's staying with my parents for a few days to help Dad out on a custom job, so I have the apartment to myself. I take a hot shower, finishing with a blast of cold water, grab a Natty Boh from the fridge, and settle into my favorite corner of our leather sectional with the remote. I throw on theTopGear channel and try to lose myself in the inanity of the original Clarkson, Hammond, and May trio. But my mind keeps going back toPalmer. Not only am I going to have to make up fortonight, I'm going to need to step up mygame. It's hard during theseasontoplanaround practices and games. The few days the players have off aren't enough to do something big, like fly her down to Mexico tomeetmy Abue and Abu. But I can bring Mexico to her. I'm checking the calendar for a good time to make herdinnerwhen the doorbell rings.
I frown at the clock. No one comes over this late. I switch to the camera app and leap to my feet, rushing to the door.
"Hey,"I say when I open the door.
"Hi."Palmerstands on the stoop, her hands fisted around the strap of the purse she wears across herchest. She cranes her neck to see behind me."Is it okay if I come in?"
I find my voice and swing the door open."Yeah, of course. Come in, come in."
She steps inside and does a small circle while I shut and bolt the door. I glance around, looking at the apartment through her eyes. Our place takes up the ground floor of a two-level townhome. Like Palmer's, there's only a square of entryway before you're in the living room, and I'm gratefulMattand I haven't left a mess lying around. Except for my can ofbeerresting in the cupholder of the pull-down armrest and a few pairs of sneakers kicked into the corner by the door, everything is tidy.
"It's nice,"she remarks finally. Shemovesfurther into the room and notices the flatscreen taking up half a wall, the shelves underneath holding a videogameconsole and an assortment of cartridges and accessories. Her eyes widen, amusement dancing in her eyes."Definitely a bachelor pad."
"Oh, come on,"I scoff."I'm sure there are plenty of women with 100"plasma screens taking up most of their wall space."
"I'm sure there aren't,"she says with a giggle. Her eyes drift to my barechestand her throat works noticeably before she turns herattentionelsewhere.
"Is your brother home?"
"No, he's in Annapolis for the weekend working with my dad."I gesture to the couch."Have a seat. Can I get you adrink?"
Shesitson the other side of the armrest and lifts my can."National Bohemian? Really? You only everdrinkimport or craftbeerwhen we go out."
I shrug."Natty Boh's our comfortbeer, what can I say? Always reliable. Want one?"
She grimaces."I'm still feeling the cocktail from earlier. But water would be great."
I fetch her a glass with filteredicewater and take the seat next to her."How was the rest of your night?"
She drinks half the water in one gulp before answering with a tiny shrug."Fine."
"Did anyone give you a hard time?"I take a small sip ofbeer, watching her closely. There's a small flinch, but shegivesa half-smile.
"A little teasing."She sets the glass down and removes her purse, resting it on the table.
"Palmer, I'm sorry."I put mybeeron the table so I can raise the armrest andslidecloser to her."I shouldn't have put you in that position, and I really shouldn't have just left."
"It's okay."
"It's not,"I stress. I put my arm on the cushion behind her and lean in, searching her eyes."I should have respected your decision to keep things between us quiet."
"No, you're right,"she says, dragging her hand down mychestand scratching across my abs. My heart races and the lightweight gray sweats I'mwearingcan't hide what the hungry expression on her face is doing to mycock.
"Who cares if people know, right? We're consenting adults having somefun."She licks her lips andstaresup at me."Right?"
I swallow back the fierce protest. I want to tell her no, it's not just somefun. Not for me. I catch the way she glances at me sometimes, and I believe it's not only about having a good time for her, either. There's something here, something more than chemistry, more than a simple spark.
But she isn't ready to hear it yet. She has aplanand it's too soon to sway her to make some changes. So all I can do is agree."Right."
