Page 55 of Fast Break


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"Don't,"I keen."I'm coming,Charlie."

I tighten my legs around hishipsand he pumps into me in three long, devastating strokes. He lets out a wail that blends with my own until I don't know whose echo I'm hearing in my head.

After several long moments, heholdsthe condom andpullsslowly out of me. Boneless, I lie staring at the ceiling, blinking away the fuzzy gray dots floating above me while he takescareof the cleanup.

"Charlie,"I say, but my voice is creaky. I want to tell him right now how I feel. I'm madly in love with him and I'm bursting to say it. I have to tell him, no matter what the consequences. I sit up and find my panties, slipping back into them.

Charliecomes backwearinga pair of low-slung shorts and an unreadable expression. He leans against the door jamb and cracks open another can ofbeer."Did you say something?"

I startle at the brusque way he speaks."Is everything okay?"

He takes a sip andstaresat me."Yeah. Everything's fine."

"You're acting weird."

"Am I?"

His voice is flat, cold even. I wrap my arms around my middle."What's wrong?"

"Nothing."He sighs and straightens."Is there something else you wanted to do? Something else I could teach you?"

My mouth hangs open. Istandon still-unsteady legs."Why are you acting like this?"

"Like what?"

"Like a dick, that's what."

He raises an eyebrow."How am I a dick?"

"How are you—"Irunmy hands through my hair."We just made love and you're acting like it was nothing."

"We didn't make love,Palmer. We fucked. Like we have been doing. Like you wanted me toshowyou how to do, remember?Sexwithout love, something you'd never done before. Well, sweetheart, it’s calledfucking."

My heart stutters and tears spring to my eyes. I rub the sore spot on my chest."I don't understand why you're acting like this."

He runs a hand down his face."We had a deal. I wouldshowyou what it's like to have a fling, as you call it. How todatesomeone,fuckthem, without getting attached. I think we're at the end of your lessons. You need to concentrate on the playoffs, and I need to?—"

"What?"I tilt my head and glare at him."You need to what?"

He looks away."I need to get back to my life."

My body sways. I'm physically ill right now. I can't believe I was about to admit I loved him. God. He just saved me from making the same mistake I've been making my whole life. Maybe he sensed it and this is his way of stopping me before I made a complete fool of myself.

"Right."I dig in the bag with the trifles and take out my wallet and keys.“Enjoy the mini trifles. You should put them in the fridge if you aren't going to eat them right away."

My sandals had come off around the time he pushed me down on the couch, and it took me a brief search to find where I'd kicked them under the table. I put them on andwalkto the door, careful not to go near him. My hand on the knob, I stop.

"Why the condom?"I asked.

His jaw tightens. "We said we'd skip them, but only as long as it was just you and me."

Iclosemy eyes against the pain rocketing through my chest, then fling the door open and rush outside before Ibreak. I barely make it to my car before the dam bursts and the tears begin flowing from my shattered heart.

Thirty-Three

Palmer

I'm having a shittypractice.And everyone knows it.