Page 27 of When We Were Young
Clara’s smile had warmed Emily to the deepest part of her soul. Her sister believed every word. After that Clara didn’t bring it up again. They functioned the only way they knew how, and that meant they were together all the time.
Whenever they weren’t in school.
It was the third Tuesday that fall and for the first time Clara had gone home with a friend from school. Emily had talked to the girl’s mother and worked out the details. It felt strange after dance practice, being at the cafeteria without Clara. As she grabbed a salad and some grilled chicken, Emily took a table. She was thinking about calling and checking in on Clara.
But at that exact time a dark-haired guy wearing a football jersey and jeans walked up and joined her. Just sat right down across from her like they were old friends. “I’m Karl.” He held out his hand. “You’re the most beautiful girl on campus, so I thought I’d come say hello.”
The guy was good-looking, but his brash attitude and mannerisms made Emily want to choke on her lettuce. She shook the guy’s hand and stared at her dinner. How was she supposed to get him to leave?
“I’m on the football team. Karl Harvey. Tight end.” He raised his brow, like she must certainly know who he was. “Caught the winning touchdown last Saturday?”
Emily looked up. She shook her head. “I haven’t been to a game.” She smiled, but it felt weak even to her. Maybe the guy was in one of her classes. “Do I... know you?”
“That’s the thing.” Karl leaned over the table so his face was closer to hers. “Not yet. But you will. Very soon if I have it my way.” He sat back and grinned at her. “Which I usually do.”
Right at that minute, when Emily was about to bolt from the table and never come back to the cafeteria again, a tall blond guy with broad shoulders and kind blue eyes walked up. He didn’t look at Emily. Rather he gave Karl a light shove. “Move over.”
Karl looked up. His too-friendly face twisted into a scowl. “Hey... I’m busy here.”
“I see that.” The blond looked from Karl to Emily, then back again. “Looks like you’re bothering my girlfriend.” He turned to Emily. “Is that right, love? He bothering you?”
Emily felt dizzy. “Um... well, I... I was trying to eat. So, yeah.”
“See?” He gave Karl another shove. “Go sit with the rest of the team. This is my spot.”
Karl looked doubtful. “Come on, Carter. You don’t even know her.”
“Look.” The blond slid Karl off the bench little by little. “I might be your teammate, Harvey. But that doesn’t mean you know everything about me.” He pointed. “Now go! Get!”
Clearly disappointed, Karl stood and turned to Emily once more. “You don’t know what you’re missing, sweetheart.” He gave the blond guy what looked like a reluctant smile. “Quarterbacks always get the girl. I’m telling you.”
And with that he was off for the back of the cafeteria. The spot where the football players usually ate. The blond guy watched him go, then he looked at Emily. “Hey. I’m Noah Carter.”
“Mmmm.” Emily couldn’t help but smile. “Quarterback, I take it.”
“Not today.” He punctuated the air with his finger. “At this very moment I’m rescuer and chief distracter for...” He waved his hand toward her. “I don’t even know your name.”
Emily remembered thinking that whoever this Noah guy was, he had smooth down to a science. She held out her hand. “Emily Andrews.” She glanced to the spot where Karl had relocated. “I didn’t know what to say to him. So... yeah, thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He shook her hand and did a slight bow. “Just another day in the life. Rescuing fair maidens being hit on by my teammates.”
“Oh.” Emily heard her voice turn flirty. She couldn’t help herself. “So you do this often. Rescuing girls?”
“Well.” He leaned his forearms on the table and lowered his voice. “Truth be told, you’re the first one.” He grinned. “I couldn’t stand to see Karl hit on you.”
“When you could do a better job yourself?” She laughed, her eyebrows raised.
“Me?” Noah feigned a shocked sort of hurt. “Not at all.” He relaxed back into the bench. “Seriously. You just looked like you could use a little help.”
Emily liked that, and for some reason she believed him. Maybe because he was the cutest boy she’d ever seen, or because he made her laugh. Whatever it was, she didn’t want him to leave.
All her life she’d been too busy with Clara to think about boys. She’d attended just a handful of high school dances, and then only with groups of friends. But when Noah glanced at his watch and suggested the two of them get coffee across the street, Emily’s yes was out of her mouth before she could stop it.
From the beginning he had that effect on her.
Clara wouldn’t be home for another few hours, so what would it hurt? They walked to the café and took a booth at the back. She ordered coffee with cream and he got a decaf cappuccino. “Coach doesn’t like us having caffeine.”
She smiled. “You must be pretty good.”
