The Perfect Play by Cookie O’Gorman

CHAPTER 18: Chase

It was game day.

I used to think there was nothing better than the feeling you got when you were out on the field, playing the best game in the world, pushing your body to the limit as the sun beat down on your back.

But that was before I'd kissed Charlie.

Hours of kissing, our mouths dancing together, coming up for air only to go back in for more. It hadn't gone any farther. We'd kissed and spooned. And I couldn't stop thinking about it. Her. Her lips. The way her body felt next to mine. Her taste… Man, I could still feel her the next day, and I didn't know if that was normal or not.

But I wasn't complaining.

I wasn't distracted either.

This was my third game post-injury, and I was determined to kill it.

My body was ready. It had only been waiting on me to figure that out. My head was in the right place now, too. And I had an extra incentive to do well, knowing my girl was up there somewhere, watching me in the stands. Charlie hadn't spoken to me since that amazing night. But I knew I'd get to see her after the game.

My determination to win was only matched by my anticipation to talk to her.

"You ready?" Archer asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"Sorry again about all the pressure I put on you without knowing it."

I waved him off. "It's fine."

"No, Charlie was right," he said. "I didn't mean to—"

"Archer." I waited until he met my gaze. "I said it's all good. I'm ready to kick some butt today. Are you?"

He nodded. "You know it."

"Let's show these guys who we are."

"I'm down with that."

Archer and I bumped fists, and it was on.

The Wolves were first at bat since this was an away game. Our team put some runs on the board. Now, it was my turn to make sure the other team didn't get any. My pitching was strong. Putting those first three batters away was a piece of cake.

Charlie had called it. It did feel like they were underestimating me, swinging at pitches they had no chance of hitting. Maybe after two bad showings, these guys had written me off.

Well, I thought, they'd regret that.

I was going to make sure of it.

By the time the fourth inning rolled around, Southern U was up by five, and the other team had yet to get a single hit.

Bear stopped me as I was about to leave the dugout.

"How you feeling, kid?" he asked.

"Really good," I said.

"That arm about to give out, or do you have another inning in you?"

I gave him a smile. "Nah, Bear. Are you kidding? I've got at least six more in me."

He squinted at my face, checking for the lie. But it wasn't there. My arm felt freaking fantastic. I'd been pitching nothing but strikes. Couldn't wait to get back out there and throw some more.

"Was there anything else?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No, you keep giving these guys the good stuff, fast and straight down the middle. Don't you go easy on 'em."

"Don't worry," I said. "I won't."

It was a promise I knew I could keep.

And I did.

This wasn't the first no-hitter I'd pitched, but I couldn't remember one that felt better. Mom aka our coach left me in the whole game. Both she and Archer had asked if I wanted to rest the last few innings, but I'd declined. The ball and my arm were totally in sync today. It was like I couldn't go wrong. Again, for the rest of the game, there were no bad pitches. When I put away our opponents' last batter, my whole team met me on the mound and lifted me up.

Literally.

They carried me around for a good few minutes before setting me back on the ground.

Their happiness was contagious. It felt incredible knowing I'd had a hand in this win. One of the last games of the regular season, the third to last before we went to the conference tourney. This would give us momentum. And that was a hard thing to stop. The Wolves were a hard team to stop once we got going. We were definitely still in this.

I couldn't wait to celebrate with Charlie.

And as if God had heard me, there she was, waiting for me when I got to the changing rooms. Our rivals had a setup similar to the one back home. Charlie was waiting in the little medical room right beside the entrance.

She smiled when she saw me.

"Great game, O'Brien."

I barely heard the words as I jogged forward, picked her up and spun her around.

She giggled as I placed her back on her feet.

"So, you enjoyed it?" I asked.

"Of course, I did," she said. "You threw a ton of strikes, and the other team went from looking cocky to devastated. I loved it."

I leaned closer to speak into her ear. "You did say it was hot when I struck people out."

"Hmm, I don't recall that," she said.

"I do," I said. "It was the best night of my life. I remember everything and am very much looking forward to a repeat."

Charlie shook her head and patted the table.

"Hop up here, superstar," she said. "You worked hard. Now, let me do my job and get a look at that arm."

I did as she asked.

"Shirt off, please."

Again, I complied, pulling my shirt over my head and throwing it to the side.

"Now, you take yours off," I said.

Charlie rolled her eyes on a laugh. "Nice try."

She started the massage like she always did, first palpating then gradually moving into smooth, ever deepening strokes against my shoulder, arm and back.

It felt so good I groaned out loud.

"So, is it true what they say?" she asked after a minute. "Does victory really taste sweet?"

I turned to meet her eyes. "Not as sweet as you."

Charlie blushed a pretty pink as a I placed a kiss against her cheek.

"I can't stop thinking about you and that night," I murmured.

"It was wonderful, Chase," she said quietly. "But I already told you it can't happen again."

"I know, but I was hoping you might've changed your mind."

"Why? We had a good time. Let's not ruin it."

I shook my head. "But it wouldn't ruin anything."

"Yes, it would," she said. "You'd get tired of me—"

"That's not possible."

"—and you wouldn't like me as much if you really knew me."

I didn't even know how to respond to that.

She sighed and went back to focusing on the massage.

"So, see? It's better if we just stop it here," she finished.

"Charlie, I do know you," I said, waiting until she met my eyes. "But I want to know more. I want to know everything. I want more nights talking to you, kissing you, touching you."

Charlie tried to look away, but I wouldn't let her.

"If you don't like me, that's one thing. Just say the word, and I'll leave you alone."

As she narrowed her gaze, my breath caught in my chest.

"You…do like me, right?" I said quietly. "Because if you don't, this just got super embarrassing."

Charlie's lips twitched. "Of course, I like you, Chase. How could anyone not like you? You're practically perfect."

"Then what's the problem?"

"I'm not."

"You're not what?"

"Perfect," she said. "And that's what you need. It's what's you've been holding out for all this time. Your perfect soulmate."

"Charlie…" I ran a hand over my neck. "That's just not true."

"Which part?"

Taking her hand, I kissed her palm.

"I want you."

"You only think you do."

"I. Want. You." I brought my lips to hers and pressed a kiss there for every word. "Believe me."

Charlie's smile started to bloom, but before she could say anything, another voice intruded.

"Yo, Chase," someone called.

I looked up to see Randall Hanover at the door. He was a senior, played shortstop and center field. We'd only spoken a handful of words to each other over the years. Randall usually preferred to hang with Snider and his crew.

"Randall," I said. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if you're done with Charlie yet," he said. "I want to borrow her. Got a kink in my lower back that I think she could help with."

The way he said 'done with Charlie' grated on my nerves. But the knowing smile he threw at the woman next to me made my stomach churn.

"Sorry," I said not really meaning it. "We just got started. Plus, she's my personal physical therapist. Charlie only works on me."

"Ah come on. You can't hog her all to yourself."

"I don't like to share," I said.

The frown I gave him was a signal to back off, but he missed the message.

"Well, I've heard she likes variety"—Randall bounced his brows—"if you know what I mean."

Charlie scoffed at my side.

"Please," she said. "Don't act like you know me, douchebag. I've never even seen you before."

"What about Justin Humphreys? You seen him?"

Watching Charlie's face was like seeing a star fall. She went from bright and shining to dim in five seconds flat. She drew away from me then, and the move was both physical and mental.

Randall nodded. "Yeah, you know, Justin."

"I do." Charlie cleared her throat. "If I remember correctly, he's a total asshole. Seems like you two have that in common."

"Don't be like that, baby," he said. "Justin's my roommate, and he had a lot to say about you."

"I'm not your baby," she said.

"You could be." Randall grinned. "After you're done with Chase, why don't you give me a try? I'll make you feel good."

Charlie gave him a sweet smile, but her words were pure venom.

"I'd rather eat glass," she said.

Randall's mouth dropped into an ugly frown.

"Alright," he said, "no need to be a bitch about it."

I was off the table fast as a shot and in his face.

"Don't call her that," I said.

"Calm down." Randall held his hands up. "It's not like she's your girlfriend."

"No, she's more than that. She's my future."

He scoffed.

"Talk to her like that again and see what happens."

Charlie laid a hand on my back in an effort to calm me down.

"Chase, it's okay," she said. But it wasn't.

Baylor came out of the locker room, took in the situation, and walked to stand at my side.

"What's going on?" he said. "Did somebody die?"

"No," I said, "but they're about to if Randall doesn't back the hell off."

Randall just laughed.

"Your future?" he said, pointing back and forth between me and Charlie. "This girl? Baylor, man, talk to your brother. He can't be that stupid."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Bay said. "But I'd stop now, if I was you."

He didn't stop.

"Chase, I know you're a virgin." Randall gestured to Charlie. "Or maybe you're not anymore. But she is what we call a slut. Fun in the sheets, but not one you keep around. You feel me?"

He grinned from me to Baylor like we were in on the same joke. But it wasn't until he looked at Charlie that I hauled off and punched him. Right in his smug, smiling face. My knuckles were sore after, and Randall's nose was bleeding. Baylor swore, pushed me at Charlie and then pulled Randall, who was groaning, out the door.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Charlie said as she frantically moved around the room.

"He said—"

"Oh, I heard him. Baylor did, too. What I don't get is why you had to react."

I frowned as she came back to me with an icepack.

"You could've injured your arm again, you idiot."

Though her voice was angry, her hands were tender as they pushed the icepack against my knuckles, and she started examining my arm.

"I'm fine," I said.

She huffed, checking my forearm and elbow.

"I just couldn't sit back while he was saying all that stuff about you."

"Slut is a derogatory term meant to keep women in their place," she said. "Men get high-fives when they sleep with someone, but women aren't supposed to like sex or that makes them sluts. It's just a word. It means nothing. You have to learn to let things like that roll off your back."

"Did you have to learn that?" I asked.

Charlie shrugged.

"I'll never let someone talk down to you."

"Some of what he said was true," she said.

"No Charlie, he's full of it."

"I was with his roommate." She defiantly looked me in the eye. "We slept together, more than once. Justin's the reason I don't do repeats. He was a charming, arrogant piece of shit, but I didn't realize that until it was too late."

It looked like she was waiting for me to say something.

"I don't care who you've slept with," I said, but she scoffed.

"Chase, seriously, we've talked about this. You don't lie well, remember?"

I shook my head. "Okay, I do, but what matters to me is that this Justin guy hurt you. That's what I care about. You."

Charlie sighed as she studied my bruised knuckles.

"Have you ever actually punched someone?" she asked.

"No. Why?"

"You're supposed to leave your thumb outside when you make a fist. If you don't, you could break it. I saw it in a movie once."

I captured her hand in mine. "Thanks for the tip."

"Chase…about what you said—"

Dex came running to the door at that moment and poked his head in.

"Hey, I saw Randall's nose," he said. "Blood spewing everywhere. Did I miss a fight?"

"Just a small one," I said.

"Damn." Dex pointed at me. "Well, call me next time if you need backup."

I nodded.

"Oh, and by the way," he said, "Mom says she wants to see you in her office. She looked pissed."

"Thanks," I said on a sigh. Once he was gone, I turned back to Charlie. "What were you saying?"

She released my hand and placed it back in my lap.

"Chase, I don't want to hurt you," she said. "But there's no future between you and me."

"You're wrong. Charlie—"

She shook her head. "The sooner you accept that, the better. Your arm's okay. But I wouldn't go hitting any more of your teammates if I were you."

I'd been about to respond when Archer came in.

"Coach wants to see you," he said.

"I'll be there in a minute," I said.

"Now, Chase."

Charlie gave me a small smile. "Congrats again on the game," she said. "You were amazing."

I didn't know why, but for some reason, her words sounded like goodbye.