Page 34 of Fast Break


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"Maybe. But what do you think? Should I go for it?"

He's quiet for a moment. Then he says in a serious voice,"Palmer, if you want to dye your hairpinkor get a tattoo, then do it. But only if you truly want it for yourself. Don't do it to get back at your mom or your ex or whoever. And don't do it to please anyone else. Okay?"

I choke down a bubble of emotion."I promise."

His breath begins to even out, but his fingers still move in my hair, lulling me into a sense of peace. I think about being the exception to his rule regarding sleepovers and I wonder ifLibertywas also an exception. But I can't ask. There is something, though, I have been curious about."Charlie. Can I ask you something?"

"Anything,"he murmurs.

"Have you ever been serious with anyone before? Or have you always been anti-commitment?"

His fingers stop moving, and when he doesn't say anything for a while, I assume he's not going to answer. But then he resumes his lazy caresses."Once. Her name was Angela and I was planning on proposing to her after college graduation."

"What happened?"

"During spring midterms, I decided to skip study group and head back to my dorm to take a nap."Hegivesa humorlesslaugh."Apparently, so did Angela. And my roommate, who was also my best friend. Only they weren't napping when I walked in."

I lift myself to look at him. He's in shadows, the moonlight only revealing a small portion of his face, but the heartbreak is hard tomiss."I'm so sorry,Charlie."

"Funny,"he says, taking his eyes off me to stare at the ceiling."That'sexactlywhat she said."

"Hey."I tug on his chin so he's looking at me."She's a total moron to have let you go and I hope—no, Iknow—she regrets losing you every day of her miserable life."

A small smile turns his mouth up."You think so?"

"Yup."Ikisshis jaw."Because if a guy like you were in love with me and I did something stupid enough to make him leave, I'd spend the rest of my life in abject misery."

His mouth opens, then closes, and he swallows. He adjusts our positions so we're on our sides facing each other. Worldessly, hekissesme so tenderly I can weep, and before I realize it, he's rolled protection on and is back inside of me. This time, he rocks me gently, quietly, until we're both too spent to do anything butfallasleep in each other's arms.

Twenty

Palmer

I've just finished back-to-backroad games, and we have a rare weekendbreakwhen my mother summons me to the estate. It's Father's Day, and I'm hard-pressed to come up with an excuse to skip out on a barbecue for my dad without looking like a brat.Charlieis spending the weekend in Annapolis with his own dad, anyway, so now is as good a time as any to face my parents. Traffic into Frederick is slow, and I find my thoughts drifting toCharlie.

It's been two weeks since the first night we hadsex, and since then, we've spent every night together except on road trips, where I shared a room withTishaifCharlieaccompanied us. I've been having the best games of my life and when I'm notplayingor atpractice, I'm withCharlie. Last week, he cooked me one of his Abue's recipes, and he introduced me to her over FaceTime when he had to call for some last-minute advice on seasoning. I also finally met his brother,Matt, who was just as handsome asCharlie. Unfortunately, I met him in the middle of the night when I went to the kitchen for a glass of water, wearingonly one ofCharlie'sdress shirts. He was a gentleman, pretending not to notice while I scampered back toCharlie'sroom for a pair of shorts. I'm still a little mortified.

Afterpracticethe other day,Tishaasked me if I was abandoning myplan."Meeting the family? Spending most of your time together? It'sstartingto sound like a commitment, not afunfling."

"It may seem like it, but it's not,"I assured her, retaping mystickon the sidelines."In fact, it's goingexactlytoplan. Sure, I met his grandma and his brother, and yes, we're sharing a bed more often than not. But do you see me on Pinterest looking for weddingpartyideas or bookmarking baby names? No, you do not. We're friends havingfuntogether, having a lot of greatsex. But no one's catching feelings."

"You sure about that?"she asked, scooping balls and dropping them in the bucket.

I recalled Liberty's warning to me and howCharliehad said, verbatim, the same thing to her he'd told me."Positive."

"Mm-hm."She nodded to the other side of thefieldwhereCharliestood with some of the other staff listening toCoachspeak. He was looking our way and waved."If you say so."

A text pings after I park the car along the side of the house. I smile as I read the message.

Charlie: My mother is sending me home with her Tres Leches Cake and instructions forMattand me not to eat it without you. I may lose a hand, but I'll keepMattaway.

He follows up the text with a picture of him with a pained expression holding a cake with one hand, his other one in his brother's mouth.

Charlie: Come over later? I don't know how long I canholdhim back.

Ilaughas I type out my reply.If I survive this day with my parents, I'll be home around seven.

Charlie: Debuting thepinkstreaks to the 'rents. Good luck. Remember, it's YOUR hair and it looks stunning on you.