“Mr. Carter it’s nice to meet you too.”
“Call me Richard,” my father replies happily. I watch in silence as Huntley is received by my parents. I can barely hear their talking above the sound of my rushing heartbeat.
We all take our seats and my nerves amplify when Huntley takes a seat next to me. Her warmth combined with her sweet scent is intoxicating and I can barely keep it together with her sitting so close. Coach Morgan says grace and we all start eating, quiet at first but then conversation soon flows amongst us.
My parents start asking Huntley all sorts of questions, starting off with the most obvious. I remain quiet, afraid that I will be incapable of stringing a single coherent sentence together. No need to make myself look like a mumbling idiot.
“So what is your major Huntley?” my father asks, genuinely interested by the look on his face. My father likes her. That much I can tell. It relaxes and terrifies me at the same time. She wipes her mouth before answering, “I’m starting off with a general Psychology degree but eventually hope to specialize in Child Psychology and Early Childhood Development.”
That’s the last thing I expected her to say, although I’ve come to the conclusion that this girl is going to surprise me at every turn.
“That’s very impressive,” my mother adds. “What would you like to do with that?”
Huntley shifts uncomfortably in her seat. “I’d like to counsel children who have been through traumas. I’d like to open my own practice someday, maybe work with orphanages as well.”
My parents are impressed and admittedly so I am too. I stare at her until our eyes meet. That familiar connection surges between us before I break it and look away.
“We’re so proud of her,” Mrs. Coach croons, patting Huntley on the hand the way a mother would. Huntley has never mentioned her parents and I haven’t cared to know about them until now.
“So Coach,” my father says, directing our conversation elsewhere. “How are we looking this season? Any chance we can get that championship title again this year?”
Now this is the type of conversation I like. Football.
“Well, if our boy over here keeps playing like he is, then there’s no way we won’t be in the finals this year.” Coach rubs his huge belly and smiles at his wife.
“We’ll make it,” I say, opening my mouth for the first time since we sat down. “Have you spoken to the sports department yet Coach?”
“I have indeed and they’re very interested in your proposal. They said as soon as you graduate then you’ll start off as my assistant coach while we work out the details of your proposal.”
I can’t hide the grin on my face. Most people assume I want to play pro football after college but I don’t. It’s not the direction I see my life going in and I would rather choose a career that will not only benefit me but other people too.
“What do you want to do?” Huntley asks next to me. I contemplate being vague but figure my parents will probably tell her anyway. I want her to know that I’m more than just the air-headed jock people think I am. It occurs to me that not only do I want to impress her, but I also want her to see the real me.
“I want to open a sports rehabilitation center in partnership with the university’s sports department,” I reply. The lump in my throat is the size of a golf ball.
Her eyebrows rise and she looks at me with those stormy blue eyes. “That’s impressive.”
“Thank you.” I turn to face my parents and see that they’re all watching us. The only two people oblivious to my seemingly innocent exchange with Huntley are Hannah and Finley.
“Who wants dessert?” Mrs. Coach pipes up, effectively ending the staring fest. I’m grateful for the subject change and visibly relax back into my seat.
“Me!” Hannah and Finley shout in unison.
Mrs. Coach looks at her daughters, “Girls, it’s time for your bath.” Their faces drop and they both sigh. Clearly not getting dessert is the end of their little worlds. I wish I was that age again, when everything was so uncomplicated and easy. And Emilie was still alive. My chest starts to ache at the thought of my twin sister. I miss her. Every day.
“I’ll take you,” Huntley offers. This makes the girls forget all about missing dessert and they bounce off towards the house. Huntley sways her hips as she walks and I swear she’s doing it because she can feel me watching her.
I help Mrs. Coach clear the table and take the dirty dishes inside. I’m about to step back out when the sound of laughter and splashing catches my attention. Hannah and Finley are laughing hysterically at something and I can only imagine what the three of them are getting up to up there.
My mother brushes past me and pats me on the shoulder. “She’s nice, I like her.” I blink. I was not expecting that. My mother leaves me standing at the bottom of the staircase completely dumbstruck.