Page 44 of When We Were Young
Landon thought about it. Then he smiled. “I like it. We can spend more time talking or playing board games.”
“Right. And less time on our phones, in general.” The more she thought about the idea the more she liked it. “We can live like the old days.” She grinned. “Like when we were young. When there were no cell phones and no Internet.”
“Yes.” Landon ran his hand along her back and searched her eyes. “We can make it fun. So everyone gets behind it.”
“Maybe even Cole’s friends.” She felt the heaviness again of the conversation earlier in the week. “They need a break from that garbage. So they can live again.”
The wind was picking up, the storm nearly on top of them. Landon smiled at her. “You have any idea how much I love you?”
“I think so.” She grinned. “But you know what they say.” She touched her lips to his. “Actions speak louder.”
And as the rain broke open above them, they made their way back into the house to celebrate life and love and all the very real things God had given them. Here and now. In the real world.
14
Noah must’ve needed the nap because he was dreaming again, his head still throbbing.
In the story that was his life with Emily, the next piece was coming into view. Noah was grateful. He still hated that Emily hadn’t gotten out of the car and come to him. The kids had seemed happy enough, Emily, too. But he wanted to hold her and kiss her. Tell her how thankful he was to be married to her. How grateful that she had chosen him, after all.
Even now Noah ached to feel her in his arms. But she’d been in too much of a hurry. He sighed and rolled onto his other side. At least he had his dreams. Until she came home again.
College seemed like a blur of football and finding his way back from injuries. His first concussion had happened his freshman year. He wouldn’t have made a full recovery if it wasn’t for Emily. Clara, too. She helped whatever way she could.
Bottom line, Emily and Clara became his family. His own parents visited from London that summer and tried to talk him out of playing football again. But Noah had made up his mind. Football meant a free ride through school. Besides, he still had dreams of the NFL and he wasn’t willing to give them up yet.
But then he got another concussion his junior year and it was the same thing all over again.
Noah moved into Emily and Clara’s house and Emily nursed him back to health a second time. He could see her in his dream, sitting on the edge of his bed putting a cold cloth on his head. Anything to keep the headaches at bay. This time he had a different doctor, and the man had prescribed oxycodone to battle the pain. But Emily didn’t like the idea.
After he’d taken four pills, she started to cut him off. One afternoon he took firm hold of her wrist. A little too firm, and his voice held a tone he didn’t recognize. “I need those pills, Emily. Get them for me.”
She shook her head. “I won’t.” She was on her feet, staring at him, glaring. “I will not be party to your death, Noah Carter. A concussion is awful. But those pills will kill you.”
Deep down Noah knew she was right. Days later, when the pain had subsided, he found her in the kitchen and took her hand. “I’m sorry.” He searched her eyes. “For how I treated you that day. I wanted those pills so bad.”
She touched the side of his face. “I did what I had to do.”
“Why?” He eased her closer, so their bodies were almost touching. “Why do you care so much?” His heart pounded being so close to her. “Look at me, Emily. I’m a wreck.”
“No, you’re not.” Her fingers were still on his cheek, velvet against his skin. Her expression grew more serious. Desperate, almost. “You’re the best guy I know and... and I almost lost you.”
For two years they had kept things platonic. If Emily wanted to be friends only, then Noah would make sure the relationship stayed that way. Not just because it was what she asked for, but because it was the only guarantee to keeping her around. To staying in her life.
But in that moment, in the quiet of the kitchen, it was Emily who didn’t follow the rules. She brushed his hair to the side and he got lost in her eyes.
Then before he knew what was happening, she leaned up and kissed him. “Noah...” Her voice dropped to a shaky whisper. “I’ve wanted to kiss you again ever since... since that time.”
“Me, too.” He took the lead now, kissing her until they both knew they had to step back or cross lines. “Emily...” He tried to steady himself. “I can’t... we can’t be like this and still be just friends.” He raked his fingers through his hair. Where was the cold cloth when he needed it?
“I’m sorry.” She leaned back against the kitchen counter. “I don’t know what to do, Noah. I don’t.”
“All I know is... we can’t kiss like that.” He paced into the living room and back to her. “One day I want to marry you, Emily, but if you plan to stay single forever... for Clara... then... then I just can’t.” Tears welled in his eyes as he finished. “I can’t do this.”
“I know.” She stared at the floor. He’d never seen her look so embarrassed. “I just... I want you. I want this. But...” She lifted her face to his again, her eyes dark. “You deserve someone who’s not tied down.”
“Not tied down?” He squinted at her. “Are you serious, Emily? You think I see Clara as a burden?” He mumbled something under his breath. “No, Emily. She is not a burden. Not at all.” He took a step back. “The burden is you... thinking you can’t love me. That you only have room in your heart to love Clara. Like if you find love and you’re happy, then somehow that means you care less for her.”
He paced again, and let out a single laugh. There was nothing funny about it. “You’re wrong, Emily. Completely wrong.”
