Page 66 of Touchdowns and Temptations

I pick up the paper with shaking hands. It's the Boston Sports Radar, the most important sports paper in the city. And on the front page is a picture of me, my parents and Noah!

I was expecting to see a picture of my parents and me. After all, my dad was being honored for his life's work. It's a photo from the red carpet, but where does Noah fit in? I quickly scan the headline: ‘Noah McCarter: Quarterback Ends Affair with Corse's Daughter!’

I quickly open the paper and look at the article. The pictures are all from last night. One with my parents and the rest with Noah and Alex - and the press is accusing me of having an affair with both McCarter twins. They're crazy!

“What is all this about?” my father asks, crossing his arms over his chest. “How can I read something like that about my daughter?”

My parents are not at all used to such lapses on my part, and I understand that they are angry. Mom comes up behind him, but unlike him, she doesn't look angry, she looks worried.

“This is... this... this was and I...” I shake my head. “I can't explain it. I'm sorry.”

“Cara Catherine Corse,” he says sternly. “It says he wants you, that you want him...”

My dad doesn't want to talk about my sex life in the paper, and that's a good thing. I don't want that kind of stuff coming out of his mouth.

“Noah and I had an affair,” I try to explain. “And I ended it yesterday. That's all.”

“And that's what all the fuss is about?” he asks.

“He started it!” I shout like a petulant child. “He dragged me out of the building, paraded me in front of everyone, and started this fight in the street - not me.”

“Don't blame Noah,” my father replies. “You did your part too. Everyone's talking about the story. What are you doing, Cara?”

“Leave her alone, Michael,” my mom interjects, giving him a dirty look. “She made a mistake. So what?”

“A mistake?” He gasps for air. “There are videos circulating on the Internet of our daughter giving the Boston Foxes quarterback...”

“None of this would have happened if he wasn't a quarterback!” I yell at my dad. “If you weren't a quarterback, I wouldn't be stuck in this shitty life!”

Suddenly my mood shifts from vindication to sadness and frustration. Tears stream down my cheeks, and I vehemently wipe them away. I don't even know why I'm crying. Because of my dad, because of the job, because of Noah or because I'm just stupid? I don't know.

“Honey!” My mom comes over and strokes my back. “What's wrong with you and what does this have to do with your dad?”

“I'd like to know that too,” he barks at me. “Didn't I make everything possible for you and your mother and ...”

“Did you go to one of my performances at school?” I ask. “No, because you were playing football! Did you go to my high school graduation? No. You were never there, Dad. That sport was always more important than me, than us, and I swore I didn't want to live like that. Not like Mom.”

“Cara!” My mother exhales. “You think I was unhappy?”

“I know,” I reply, standing up. “I need to work this out with Noah.”

“I wasn't unhappy,” my mother says. “Lonely sometimes, maybe, but never unhappy. I always had my greatest happiness with me.”

I open my mouth to speak when my mother sighs.

“Cara, you were all I needed. Your father and I, we never got bored in our relationship and always had something to talk about. I missed him, of course, I did, but I had you. I was never lonely. Before you were born, I often traveled with him. It was a great life, the best, and I have never regretted it.”

“Really?” I breathe and she shakes her head.

“No,” she says, “and it tears my heart apart that you think that and that's why you're throwing this wonderful man away.” Her eyebrows shoot up. “Is he that bad in bed?”

“Mom!” I scream, my face turning crimson.

My father groans in frustration.

“Dana!” he grumbles. “I don't want to know, and Cara, honey...”

He runs his fingers through his hair and I can clearly see that he is struggling to find the right words and composure.

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