Page 41 of Touchdowns and Temptations

He takes the glasses and pours a glass for each of us. As he pushes the glass toward me over the kitchen island, he makes sure we don't touch. My refusal has offended him. Or so it seems. But we're friends, and friends don't give each other longing looks, do they?

“We were talking about Marina,” Noah picks up the conversation again. “How long have you been friends?”

“Ever since we sat next to each other in middle school,” I say. “She's basically been my best friend my whole life.”

“That's nice,” he replies. “Is she also... uh... rich?”

He looks away sheepishly, as if it's an inappropriate question, but it's not. My parents are rich. So, it's not out of the question that I have rich friends.

“No,” I say. “Her mother worked as a secretary at our school. So, Marina and her brothers could go to school for free.”

“Oh, wow,” Noah says. “Didn't she feel...uh, awkward among all the rich kids?”

“Sometimes,” I answer with a shrug. “She didn't really mind. In fact, it spurred Marina on because she wanted to make something of herself. How was school for you?”

“The richest student in our school was the mayor's son. And he was an idiot.”

“Did he play football?” I ask with a grin, batting my eyelashes.

“No!” Noah replies indignantly, sipping his wine. “He was on the swim team and always showed off his body.”

I can't help but laugh.

“He showed off his body?” I ask. “And what did you do?”

“This masterpiece...” He points to his body. I follow his hand and realize once again how unspeakably handsome he is. Oh yes, he is. The gray t-shirt he's wearing today hugs his chest perfectly. “It's hard work. That idiot didn't work hard enough.”

“Well,” I say, sipping my wine. “I think swimming is a hard sport. Maybe you could try it?”

“Are you kidding me?” he asks and I laugh.

“Maybe,” I reply with a grin. “Is Alex your best friend?” Somehow, I guess he is.

They've been together their whole lives and, if Alex is to be believed, they have this magical relationship.

“Kind of, yeah. My best friend Jamie still lives in Nashville. He took over his dad's company after college.”

“You went to school together?”

“Yes,” he says. “Our teachers separated Alex and me in high school, and I was put next to Jamie.”

“Right,” I say. “And how was that for you?”

“I think it was easier for me than it was for Alex. However, at that time he was seated next to Daisy. Shortly after that she was his first girlfriend.”

“Oh, how sweet,” I squeak.

“Of course you think it's cute,” he says. “Daisy and Alex were together for nearly three years.”

“Why did they break up?” I ask with interest, sipping at my wine.

It's nice to talk to him about his past and his friends from school. It helps us get to know each other better.

Noah is not someone who brags, I've noticed that by now. He doesn't need to brag about his dad's accomplishments or how many yachts his family owns. Probably none, from the sound of it. He's terribly normal. So is Marina, and that only makes her more interesting to me.

“Daisy didn't want to live the life of a football player's wife,” Noah says, twirling his glass in his hand. “Alex was devastated and useless for months. Meanwhile, we thought he wouldn't make it to college, drop his scholarship, and go back to her.”

“Oh God!” I clap my hand over my mouth. Still, I find it hard to believe that Alex was seriously heartbroken. On the contrary. He's a total player and philanderer. I bet he'd hit on me, too, if he had the chance. “I can’t quite picture Alex heartbroken. Sorry.”

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