Page 28 of Second Down Darling

Coach finally faces me. “I’m giving you one more shot today. Don’t screw itup.”

“Yes,sir.”

Thankfully, I gain twenty on the next possession, but I’m disappointed shit’s still not clicking for me with my new team. Most of the guys have the advantage of playing together three years, but I can’t blame my fumble on their camaraderie. This is the fifth game of the season. Shouldn’t I have my act together bynow?

We win.Barely.

I’m the first one out of the locker room, on a mission to get home. Asher’s whole face lights up when I open the front door. “Daddy!”

I scoop him into my arms and kiss the top of his head. “You feeling better,buddy?”

Yvette steps out from behind the kitchen counter where she’s covered in jam. “We, uh, we had a little accident, but everything’sokay.”

After I help her clean up, pay her, and send her off, I grab my wallet and offer the kid my arm. Like a baby monkey, he instantly attaches himself to me, kicking up his feet so he dangles off the floor. “Wanna go grab some ice cream?” I think his tears this morning were from not wanting to stay with someone new rather than an illness, which is a relief. The last time he was sick, I walked around covered in puke for aweek.

His little face grins up at me. “Can I get WockyWoad?”

“Sure thing, bud. A scoop of Rocky Road sounds great. Let’s go.” I could use the pick-me-up after that atrocious game. It’s getting late, but I think the kid could use some time together, just the two ofus.

We’re on the way home after enjoying our ice cream when we near Charlotte’s place. I slow down when I spot flashing lights andsmoke.

What thefuck?

I park on the corner, unbuckle Asher, scoop him up, and run toward Charlotte’s apartment. Cops are on the scene and pushing people back, but the fire department hasn’t arrived yet. I scan the lawn, hoping to spot Charlie, but I don’t seeher.

Thick black smoke starts billowing from the unit beneathhers.

“Do you guys know Charlotte Darling?” I ask a group of girls huddled on the sidewalk as I bounce Asher in my arms. “Did she get out? She lives on the second floor.” I describe her, and my heart sinks when they say they haven’t seen anyone come outyet.

Is she up there? It’s hard to tell with thesmoke.

But underneath the chaos, I hear barking. Fuck, that’sDuke.

In the distance, sirens blare, but if Charlotte’s up there, will they get here in time to helpher?

I turn to the nearest girl, who looks familiar, like we had a class together at some point. “Can you watch my son for a minute? I need to see if my friend gotout.”

She nods and takes him. When the cop turns to talk to someone, I race up to the building. There’s a small overhanging porch on the second story. I don’t stop to think. There’s no time. Charlotte could be up there, choking todeath.

I leap up and grab a hold of the overhang and drag myself up. The barking gets louder. The apartment is dark, but that doesn’t mean anything. I try to pry open the sliding glass door, but it’slocked.

Duke frantically paws at the otherside.

“Hang in there,dude.”

Behind me, cops are yelling for me to get down, but fuck that. There’s no way I’m going to stand around if there’s a possibility Charlotte’s trapped in herapartment.

Holding my arm over my face, I kick in the glass. Or at least I try to. Duke has the smarts to move back once I start. It takes three attempts to finallyshatter.

I shove away the splintered glass and cover my mouth with my arm. “Is Charlie in here,boy?”

He whines and backs into the room, which is full of smoke. I take a deep breath of fresh air, cover my face again, and follow him into thedarkness.

On the bed, I spot a blonde head of hair. “Charlotte! Wake up! Don’t you fucking die!” I lift her into my arms and head down the hall. Coughing, I move toward the front door, but there’s black smoke coming in from the bottom that makes me think that’s a bad idea. Plus, the floor feels like litcoals.

Turning, I move back toward the shattered sliding door. I step through it, careful not to get Charlie snagged on any glass. Firemen are running toward the building. Across the way, they’re unloading theirgear.

“Drop her,” one of them yells. “We’ll catchher.”

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