Chapter 15
15
CHARLIE
H ow was it already Miranda’s last day with us? I adjusted the neck of my collared shirt and shrugged the tightness out of my shoulders. Austin had pitched the idea to throw Miranda a going away party in the locker room, and we’d all agreed. Now that I looked around the room, I cuffed my cheek to stop the groan of annoyance. Why here? Why not take everyone out to some fancy restaurant instead of stuffing Miranda in the locker room amid the smelly gym gear and old socks?
“Are you sure you can’t stay for our first game?” Murphy stood beside me, facing Miranda as he handed her a printed out copy of their schedule.
Lips flat and tight, she tucked the paper away. “Wish I could, but I’m needed in New York.” She’d said that a few times but never clarified who needed her or why.
Probably all a ploy to keep us from asking her to stay more than we had already.
“You realize you’re our favorite person now?” Scott shouldered his way into the huddle around Miranda. “No one else could’ve pulled off all that media stuff.”
“Yeah, well.” Miranda brightened, tossing her hair over her shoulder and smirking at all of us. “I am the best.”
“Damn straight.” I let the praise fall out without remorse. She deserved it. I’d kept my distance as promised, even though I died a little more each and every day. Of all the men here–Duncan, Patrick, hell, Austin included–I would miss her the most. I’d become so attuned to her presence that I sought her out in every room, most times without even meaning to. She drew me in with a profound sense of rightness. Being close to her was my only consolation, and soon she’d take even that away from me.
“To Miranda.” Murphy raised his glass of punch and saluted Miranda.
She tipped her head in his direction. “Make sure you remember what I taught you. I expect to read good things this whole season.” Gray eyes swept the room, holding each of us hostage. “Don’t let all your hard work go to waste. You know what to do, and I expect the best from each and every one of you.”
“I give my best in every aspect of my life.” Patrick tossed his head back, downing the punch. “We’ll make you proud.”
I wasn’t the only one to notice the change in Patrick. He’d stopped sleeping around, which was shocking enough on its own, but he’d also chilled way the fuck down. He barely even looked at other women, much less took them to bed. I stirred the jealousy to life, heightening my awareness of that one glorious night we’d spent with Miranda. Did she look at Patrick more than me? I tried to watch her without giving myself away, but she caught me staring and angled her head to the side in a questioning gesture that I shrugged away.
Austin banged his fist on the red lockers that lined two of the four walls. The resounding echo silenced the room. “It’s been great having you around.” We all cheered our agreement. “And we all wish you could stay to watch us play.” He glared at Murphy. “But we understand why you’re leaving.”
Duncan made a rude noise in my ear. He’d stood behind me throughout the entire party, his posture as tense as mine.
Austin’s phone rang, cutting off the rest of his speech.
“I hate this.” Duncan’s low voice grated on my nerves.
I locked my hands around the plastic cup and turned my head just enough to keep Miranda in sight and talk to Duncan without anyone overhearing. They were all too busy swooping in around Miranda for a last goodbye. She was the favorite person on the whole team, and they made sure she knew how much it meant to each of them that she’d made such an impact on their careers. Whatever I’d planned to say drifted away at the sight of Austin frowning and pacing behind Miranda.
He ended the call and tugged on Miranda’s arm, guiding her through the crowd and toward the door.
I darted away from Duncan and followed.
“Samanatha’s stuck on the side of the road. Her car broke down.” Austin tunneled a hand through his hair. “I don’t want to leave her out there alone.”
“Go.” Miranda pushed her brother toward the hallway. “I can get to the airport on my own. I’ll call for a ride. Go help Samantha.”
“Are you sure?” Uncertainty twisted across Austin’s face. “You shouldn’t ride with a stranger.”
Miranda scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Austin, I ride in cabs and take rideshares all the time in New York. I’ll be fine.”
“I wish you’d waited about dropping off your rental. You could’ve left it at the airport.” Typical Austin, always trying to find a solution through impossible measures.
“I’ll take her.” My voice rose over the din of noise coming from the rest of the team.
Relief crashed over Austin’s face, loosening his grip on his phone and dropping his arms back to his sides. “Great. Thanks, Charlie.”
I shrugged like it was no big deal, but my heart betrayed me with a series of rapid thumps, and I fought down a smile of victory. “No problem. Anything for Miranda.” It was as close as I let myself come to admitting my feelings, especially in front of Austin.
Frowning, Miranda checked the slim gold watch on her wrist. “We’d better head out. I’m supposed to arrive a few hours before my flight.”
“Not without saying goodbye.” Murphy muscled his way back to the front of the group and swept Miranda up into a crushing hug. “Come see us soon.”
“I will.” She made it sound like a promise and patted his shoulders when he dropped her back to solid ground. The damned woman hugged every single member of the team.
Duncan and Patrick waited until last, making sure Austin had already left the building before they stepped in and hugged Miranda with long, lingering embraces. Jealousy returned with enough heat to melt the floor beneath me and send me straight to hell.
“Ready?” Miranda touched my arm, and I almost jerked away before I recovered.
I held the door open for her to leave ahead of me. “Sure.” Her bags sat by her office door, and I grabbed them all before she had a chance and marched out the door and into the weak Washington sunlight. Miranda trailed along beside me, seemingly ignorant of my struggle to keep from blurting out every sordid feeling rattling around my insides. I bit so hard into my cheek that I tasted blood and threw her bags into the trunk of my black Camaro.
The ride ended up being miserable. I’d cranked up the music to try and drown out my thoughts, but it also eliminated any chance at conversation, and by the time I pulled up beneath the awning at the airport, the tense silence had grown into something volatile. Keep it light, man. “I don’t know how the team is going to survive without you.” Fuck. Way to follow directions, dickhead. “I mean, you know, since you won’t be there to coach them in interviews and stuff. A few knocks to the head and we’re all likely to forget everything you taught us.”
While that wasn’t much better, it at least didn’t ooze with desperation.
“I’ll come cheer you on at the games when I can.” A tight smile lifted one side of her mouth. “I might even offer a few reminders about being polite.”
A car pulled into the line I’d started. People jumped out, the riot of voices piercing. I drowned them out and concentrated on Miranda. She was all that mattered.
“I’d like that. Having you around makes all the difference to me.” I almost stopped there, but it still reeked of hope and personal attraction. “You know, for the team. We can always use another cheerleader. Especially one who makes us look good for the media. I didn’t mean it to sound like I’m romantically interested. Just that you’re good for the team. For morale and shit. I’d never make a move on Austin’s little sister.” I needed the reminder more than ever. Sitting in the car’s close confines turned me into a rambling idiot.
What had started as a smile turned sour. She yanked open the door. “I know, Charlie.”
I scrambled out and followed her around to the back of the car where I’d stowed her bags in the trunk. She beat me to the suitcase and dragged it out with a thump that bounced the hard case against her leg. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear I saw anger in her face when she leaned past me.
I moved at the same time, the two of us grabbing the handle on her smaller suitcase. Our hands connected, mine wrapping over the top of hers and squeezing tight. Let go. Let go. I told my hand to move, but the fucker acted like I’d lost all control of it as my thumb ran back and forth over hers. “Sorry.”
The straight line of her spine relaxed, and a whisper of breath parted her lips. “I don’t want things to be weird between us.”
“They won’t be.” I’d make sure of it.
We both straightened, and I removed the rest of her bags, stacking them up so they’d be easier for her to manage. “Want me to walk you inside?”
“No. I can manage.” She smiled, and the look took any remaining sting from her words. “Goodbye, Charlie.”
“So long.” I opened my arms for a hug. She’d hugged everyone else, and it would be weird not to hold her one more time before I lost her to the city. She stepped into my embrace and lifted her head.
My brain stopped working, and my heart took over. One second I was dead set on letting her go and the next I kissed her like I’d die if she walked away. Our lips molded together, fitting perfectly in a seamless kiss. If I had a choice, I’d never leave this moment. This was where I belonged, right here with Miranda safe and snug in my arms, her lips on mine, and the promise of a future tying us together.
If only Austin would allow it. The thought jumpstarted my short-circuited mind and yanked me back a step. I kept hold of Miranda until she regained her balance after my abrupt departure. “Have a safe flight.”
Hazy eyes lifted to mine.
I took another step back, putting the car between us. “I’ll watch until you’re inside.” It was the best I could do to protect her from possible harm, and from myself.
She looked over her shoulder almost like she’d forgotten where we stood and that she was leaving. With one last look at me, she gathered up her luggage and walked through the door.