Page 50 of When We Were Young
Were they afraid of him? Did they know about his head injuries, from playing football and taking that second hit? Noah leaned back and tried to imagine what that would be like for his children, not knowing whether their father would remember the times they were having.
For the entire first half, Noah didn’t say a word. He went from watching Aiden to Olivia and finally to Emily. Every few minutes Aiden kicked a goal. So that answered that question. Yes, their son was a great athlete. Just like Noah.
But so what?
The guy sitting by Emily never left. Once when Noah looked their way, the man had his arm around her. This had to be part of his brain injury, collateral damage. The man probably wasn’t even real. But why would he imagine another man with his wife?
He and Emily were crazy about each other. She was the only girl he’d ever loved, the one he couldn’t wait to kiss and hold and dance with across the living room floor. Even now, with her sitting far away from him, he couldn’t wait to hold her.
Whenever all this got worked out.
Halftime came, and the players ran up the bleachers to be with their families. Again Aiden cast him a quick look, and this time a glimpse of a smile. But nothing more. He and Olivia stayed with Emily and the other man until the second half started.
Noah thought about walking over and telling the stranger to leave. Maybe a little more forcefully. Because enough already. He needed time with his wife. But he was sure once his head cleared the guy would be gone. Part of this crazy aberration.
Just then one of the women sitting a few feet away approached him and took the spot at his right side. She was a brunette, a little younger than Noah. Pretty green eyes.
“It’s hard, isn’t it?” She smiled at Noah. “It’s the same for me.”
Noah had no idea what she was talking about. He stared at the action on the field. Aiden was about to score another goal.
“I know.” The woman wouldn’t let up. She sighed. “Sometimes I don’t want to talk about it, either.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t get any easier. I know that.”
The situation was uncomfortable and getting worse. Noah turned to her and narrowed his eyes. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”
She laughed. “Late night?” Between her hands she held a paper cup of what looked like hot coffee. She held it up and laughed again. “I know all about late nights. I’m not here at Quinn’s soccer game without my coffee. Not after a Friday night.”
Noah stared at her for another few seconds, and then back to the game.
“I mean, don’t judge, right?” She took a sip of her drink. “If Mark’s going to play the field, I can, too. It’s the single life all over again.”
Okay, so the woman was divorced. That much was clear. Noah still didn’t know her, didn’t have a clue what she was talking about or why she’d moved over to sit next to him.
Now she held her gloved hand in his direction. “I’m Rebecca.” She laughed again, but it was quieter this time. “We met the first week of the season.”
Noah took the woman’s hand and gave it a light shake. Then he dropped it. Like it was poisonous. What was she doing? Didn’t she know he was married? He glanced at Emily. His beautiful, perfect Emily. Why was she still over there? More than the ache of his throbbing head, another reality consumed him: he missed her. Missed her more with every breath.
The woman was talking again. “Anyway, I was thinking... I mean, you’re that big former quarterback. Everyone knows you.” She lifted her coffee again, like she was toasting him. “Noah Carter. Everyone’s hero.”
What in the world was she talking about? If she knew Noah it must be because of @When_We_Were_Young. He was about to ask her when she brought it up.
“I used to follow you and Emily.” She shook her head. “Everyone thought you’d last forever. Both of you blond and beautiful. Aiden and Olivia little mirror images of the two of you.”
Noah’s heart started to pound and at the same time the pain in his head doubled. What did she mean, everyonethoughtthey’d last forever? He looked straight in the woman’s eyes. “Look, Rebecca. I’m in love with my wife.” He smiled. Kindness was always the best go to. “I’m not sure what you’ve heard, but we’re actually doing great. We really are going to last forever.”
Rebecca stared at him for half a minute. “Whatever you drank last night, don’t have it again. You sound a little wacky.” She took another sip of her coffee. “You and Emily have been divorced for six years. Everyone knows that.” She uttered a single laugh. “In case you forgot.”
The world around him began to spin. He grabbed the edge of the bleacher and steadied himself. “No!” Why was this happening? Who was this crazy woman? “Whatever you heard... it’s a lie.” He didn’t want to talk to this person, didn’t want this conversation. He might be sick and seeing things. His memory might be bad. But there was no way he and Emily were divorced. He loved her with all his heart. All he wanted was to walk over to Emily, grab her hand and take her home. Ask her about the fake little Christmas tree and pull the other boxes from the attic. Or wherever they were.
They would decorate the house while the kids played in their room, and then they would put on Adele and dance across the carpeted floor. And they would kiss, the way they had that first time, his freshman year. The way they had in the kitchen after the hit in his junior season.
Or the time on the sofa when she finally told him how she felt.
He’d had enough of Rebecca. “I’m sorry.” He stood and gave the woman a smile that felt as plastic as his Christmas tree. “I need to go.”
Whatever his mind was doing, whatever tricks his eyes were playing on him, Noah was over it. He and Emily needed to go home. He walked across the bleachers, ignoring his dizziness and the pain still exploding between his temples.
When he reached Emily, both she and Olivia looked at him. The guy gave him a smirk but then turned his attention to the field. “Go, Aiden, attaboy!” he yelled toward the action.
