Page 62 of Touchdowns and Temptations

“Yeah, what now?” he asks. “Do you want my advice or not?”

“No,” I say firmly. “I don't want it.”

Then I grab my coffee and go upstairs to pack my things for practice.

I love Alex, but he really doesn't need to give me relationship advice. I'm not heartbroken. At least I don't think I am. Heartache is something else.

18

Cara

I get out of the limo behind my parents and want to put my hand over my face. The NFL Sports Awards are a huge event and I hate being in the spotlight. These events are just meaningless. I'm aware that I'm pretty much the only person for miles around who sees it that way.

The man at the car gives me a friendly smile and I grab my dress and follow my parents. The dress is floor length and has a halter-neck. The neckline is cut wide, and my breasts are held in place with adhesive pads. The back is completely bare - from the neck to the tailbone. My father wears a simple black suit and my mother a dark blue dress that is much tighter than mine. It comes up to her knees and has an off-the-shoulder style. She looks beautiful as always and beams at my dad. It's strange that I want don’t want my life to look like hers, and yet at the same time I long for it. My parents have been married for twenty-five years, together for twenty-seven, and they are still so happy. I want to have a relationship like that and find the right man. But so far, he's not in sight. Although that's not quite true. He is in sight, but I don't want him. He's a football player by profession and that goes against all my principles. There is absolutely nothing official between Noah and me and yet I miss him like hell when he's not around. How would it be if we got together? It'll just get worse, won't it? I know he wants more. Noah expects a relationship from me, and maybe this event today would have been a clear statement. Not only to the public, but also to him.

My parents walk down the red carpet, and I stand behind them at a distance. My dad is being honored today for his life's work, and that's the only reason I'm here. I'm so proud of him for what he's accomplished. He's the greatest player of all time, and they're honoring that tonight. My mom waves me over, and they take me into their midst.

Dad looks at me with a smile and gratitude in his eyes. He knows I'm only doing this for him and that deep down I hate it.

“Thank you,” he whispers. I smile at the cameras and do my best. The reaction tells me that I did the right thing by being here for him today.

As soon as the pictures are taken, I sneak off toward the entrance. My mom follows me while my dad does a few more interviews.

“Ms. Corse, Mrs. Corse,” a man says to us at the entrance. “May I escort you to your seats?”

“Sure,” my mom says, joining me. “It means a lot to your dad that you're here today.”

“Why do you say that?” I sigh. “You're making me feel guilty for not enjoying it so much.”

“That's good,” she says, “then you'll realize the implications.”

I roll my eyes, which makes her laugh.

“Is Noah here?” she asks and I roll my eyes again.

“What do you think, Mom?”

Of course, she hasn't missed the fact that we're seeing each other. I'm sure she can guess that we don't just watch TV when we hang out. After all, she and my dad were young and dated once. Something I don't want to think about because they are my parents and Noah and I are not dating. We are friends with benefits.

“I think he's here. Didn't he want to come here with you?”

“Maybe,” I dodge her and sit down in our assigned seats.

“Maybe?” My mom doesn't let up and I roll my eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I told him I was coming with you,” I answer.

“Why?” she continues.

“Why not, Mom?” I reply, annoyed. “Noah isn't my boyfriend, and if we came here together, it would be weird, wouldn't it?”

“But you spend so much time together,” she says, “and to be honest, your dad and I thought you'd finally introduce us.”

“What does that mean?”

“He's your boyfriend, isn't he?”

“No,” I say indignantly and am glad when my dad catches up with us and sits down next to my mom.

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