“Emily, I’m involved now.”
Her eyes widened as he continued to hold her hand while he reversed out of his spot and drove out of their complex. Emery enjoyed the weight of his hand in hers; it felt like it was keeping her grounded somehow.
They got out of the SUV at a house with a black Toyota 4Runner sitting in the driveway. A guy came out of the house and he and Noah did a long, complicated handshake. “Roy, this is my…Emily,” Noah finished awkwardly.
“Hi, Noah’s Emily.” Roy chuckled as he stuck his hand out. As they shook, he said, “My boy says you may be interested in my truck?”
“I am.” She smiled and put her hand back by her side, unconsciously fingering the hem of her long-sleeved shirt.
“You guys want to take it for a spin?” Roy asked Noah.
“Yeah, let’s do that, Em.” Noah took the key out of Roy’s hand and threw it at Emily.
“Thanks, we’ll be right back,” she said as Roy eyed her curiously. Emery reversed out of the driveway and started driving slowly through the neighborhood.
“Well, what do you think?” Noah asked after a few minutes.
“I think it’s fine. Now I can finally get a job.” Maybe getting a job would help her feel more real, like she wasn’t stuck.
Emery started making her way back the way she came. Thoughts turned and tumbled against each other in her mind as she contemplated Noah holding her hand. It was comforting and she liked it, but she didn’t want to give him the wrong idea.
When she pulled in the driveway, Roy was sitting on the front steps sipping a beer. He got to his feet and walked over to Noah. “What’d you think?”
“She’s getting it,” Noah said.
“Cool. So we agreed on eight, right?”
“I have cash,” Emery said.
Roy’s eyes grew to the size of saucers. “Okay.” A grin spread across his chiseled features.
She started pulling out cash.
“Whoa!” Roy exclaimed, looking around nervously. “Don’t be pulling out cheddar like that in my front yard!”
“Oh, sorry.” Emery flushed with embarrassment.
“Come on, let’s go inside for a minute,” he said and waved them inside.
Noah took her hand as they walked in and she looked at their hands clasped together. It was a strange sensation to have his strong hand wrapped around her small one. He was protecting her, or showing her he would. When she looked up, they were in a den with the Vanderbilt banner hanging behind the leather couch. Another guy was sprawled out on the couch watching football on a big screen.
When he saw Noah, he stood up quickly and walked over, giving him the same weird handshake. “What’s up, boss?”
“Not much. Buying Roy’s 4Runner.”
“You are? You have a phat Jeep,” the guy said, stepping back and finally observing Emery.
“Not me, Emily.”
“This your girl?” the guy asked.
“Something like that.” Noah smiled and looked at her. Redness crept up her neck at Noah’s words.
“So eight, right?” Emily changed the subject and started stacking the money on the table.
“Damn, your girl’s got jack.” The guy fell down back on the couch. “Watching game film for next week? Gotta be prepared to bring it.”
“We’ll bring it,” Noah replied. “Roy, you give her all the papers?”
“Yeah, I got it.” Roy handed her a stack of documents she assumed related to the ownership of the truck.
“Thanks,” she said and put them in her purse.
“No. Thank you.” Roy picked up the money and started walking into another room. “See you Monday, Noah.”
“Yep, y’all be good.” Noah pulled Emery toward the door with a smile.
Noah dropped her hand when they got to the 4Runner. “Follow me and we’ll get lunch, okay?”
“Okay.”
Emery got in her new vehicle and changed the mirrors and looked around again at the immaculate SUV. She smiled as she followed Noah to the restaurant. She’d never bought anything like this herself. But then she realized she really didn’t buy it herself, Phil did. The thought took some of the wind out of her sails.
Emery took a bite of her sandwich and tried to come up with something to say to Noah. The afternoon was filled with weird silences, which weren’t common with them. “Thank you for that,” she said, barely meeting his eyes.
“Emily, I’d do anything for you. Please believe that.” He turned the baseball hat he was wearing backwards so she could see his eyes.
She straightened up; this was going too far. “Noah, what are you doing?”