by Emily Camp
“Did you give him his medicine today?” Bree bounced her knee, keeping Bailey happy. Parker’s grin was gone, too. He stood up straight and undid the first couple buttons of his shirt.
“What, just because you have a baby, you suddenly know more about parenting than I do?” Mindy sunk back into the sofa, propping her feet on the coffee table, her soles black with grime.
“Can we go now?” Bryson hopped in place from one foot to another. There was no doubt he didn’t get medicine.
“Yeah, let me change, put on your tennis shoes.” Parker started down the hall.
“I don’t have my shoes,” he pouted toward his mom.
“So we forgot your shoes. It’s not like we can’t buy you another pair,” Mindy said. But she couldn’t, she didn’t have any money.
From behind Mindy, Parker shook his head, making eye contact with Bree. “I’ll take you to get shoes.”
“Awe that’s so sweet of you,” Mindy rasped, then let out another cough. “I love seeing my boys getting along.” She looked at Maggie then Bree. “I wish I could say the same about my girls.”
Bree looked down at Bailey, who now grasped her pinkies. She never wanted Bailey to feel unwanted, like she did.
Chapter Five
Bree thought the quiet house would be a welcomed change, but instead, it only made her feel lonelier. Nate and Lexi left to visit their new home. They talked about taking Bree or even finding someone to stay with her. Bree insisted she could handle being alone for a couple nights. It wasn’t like she was a little kid. She was a mom; if she could take care of a helpless little baby, she could handle being home by herself.
Now, with Bailey taking her late-nap, the one right before she was up for the night, Bree found herself empty, waiting on the pizza she didn’t think to order until she was starving.
On the counter, in Lexi’s neat, bubbly handwriting, were numbers for the pastor, take-out, and the doctor, as if Bree didn’t know how to find these herself. Lexi also added a little note telling Bree she was strong and could do this, that she would miss her. Pep talking was Lexi’s thing. It was hard to believe she wasn’t ever a cheerleader.
Just as Bree began to nod off on the sofa, Bailey asleep in her arms, the doorbell rang. Her heart jumped along with her entire body. Thankfully, Bailey only flinched and turned her head. She’d love to sit her down, but that would risk waking her, and though she found the quiet a little creepy, it was better than the alternative, ear-piercing screams.
She held her breath as she rose from the sofa and tiptoed to the door, swiping the cash off the counter as she went by.
The cool air whooshed in when she opened the door, and to her surprise, it wasn’t the pizza delivery guy, but her gorgeous boyfriend, his smile wide and hair damp under his hoodie.
“Garrett,” she gasped then looked around like they were going to be caught. “You aren’t supposed to be here when no one’s home.”
He dipped down, his lips pressing against her forehead as he side-stepped around her into the house.
“I wanted to see my girls.” After pushing off his hood, he reached out for Bailey.
“Don’t wake her, Gare,” Bree whispered. The weight felt good leaving her aching arms. As happy as she was to see him, the thought of breaking the rules made her nervous. She respected Nate and Lexi, she respected Randy and Robin. No one had given her a chance like them and she didn’t want to prove them wrong.
Bailey stirred and he kissed her little pink cheek, grinning down at her. He shuffled further into the room. Bree stared back at the door. “Where do your parent’s think you are?”
“I went out for pizza,” he said, bending over the pack-n-play.
“Don’t …” Bree began, then realized Bailey was down and no one was holding her. He gave her bottom a little pat, then straightened up, watching her as he did. Bailey only stirred for a second then was sleeping sound.
His smile was wide when he turned toward Bree. “Now,” he whispered, making his way to her in a few long strides.
She opened her mouth to speak, but his finger pressed against her lips. He smelled like soap and Bree’s stomach tingled as he swooped her into his arms and pulled her out of the room, his smile never leaving his face, his eyes never leaving hers.
“Shhh.” Then he kissed her and she melted, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He pulled away. His forehead resting on hers. “What were you saying?”
What was she saying?
“We shouldn’t be here. Like this.” She felt her face flush at the thought. They’d been good about not taking it too far since the baby, but that was also with the help of the make-out police, his parents and her foster parents, making sure they were never in a situation for it to happen.
He dipped his face to her neck and hugged her tighter. “I never get to see you anymore.”
She felt the same.
When his lips trailed her neck, goosebumps rose on her skin. “Gare,” she whispered. She didn’t want him to stop, but knew it was wrong.
He kissed her cheek, the stubble around his mouth scratching her. “I miss holding you.”
“Garrett, stop.”
Leaving her breathless when he pulled away, his hands splayed on her waist and his head tilted. She remembered how easy it was to get caught up in it.
“We can’t …”
“I’m not ...” He let out a long breath, his eyes staring into hers. “Can’t we do other things? I mean I’m just … I’m tired of feeling like an old married couple without any, you know, marriage benefits.”
Bree swallowed the lump in her throat. She couldn’t deny the lack of romance lately with Bailey and school and his football, but when she thought of an old married couple she always thought of his parents. That wasn’t a bad thing, his dad still flirted with his mom and his mom still batted her eyelashes at his dad.
“You think we’re an old married couple?” She tried to keep her voice from cracking.
He groaned, looking up at the ceiling. “Ah, no that’s not …”
Placing her palms flat on his chest, she pushed away and headed back toward Bailey, who was due to wake back up soon.
Garrett’s hands didn’t leave her. He tugged her back before she could get away. “Bree,” his voice was a raspy whisper this time, and he turned her to face him. His head tilted to the side and his knees bent just enough to be eye level with her.
Bree pursed her lips and crossed her arms in front of her chest, daring him to speak again.
“It’s just …” He puffed out his cheeks before letting the air hiss out. “I’ve got a lot going on this year.”
“And I don’t?” Her hand flew to her chest. She couldn’t believe the audacity of him.
Garrett’s eyebrows scrunched together, the corners of his lips tipping down. “No, I didn’t mean …”
Bree tried to wretch away from him, but he kept a firm hold of her, his fingers digging into her sides.
“Listen to me, would you?”
She stopped fidgeting, but refused to look at him, gazing down at the shiny hardwood floor.
“I … I just …” His broad shoulders rose and fell and he closed his eyes for a second. “My friends have all been talking and … look, I know it’s wrong to do it before we’re married.”
She didn’t miss his use of “we’re” there. He wanted to marry her last year when she found out she was pregnant. At least, he thought he did, but she knew it was crazy. Though she did love him, and couldn’t imagine not having him in her life, she wasn’t sure if they’d be together forever.
“But … why is the other stuff wrong? As long as we don’t go all the way again.”
Her gut twisted. What he was saying sounded all right, but it didn’t feel that way. “You know how difficult it is to stop.”
He shook his head. “I can. I have self-control.”
That almost made her laugh. “Just you being here right now is wrong.”
“We’re not doing anything.”<
br />
Bree opened her mouth to speak and the doorbell rang again, this time she wasn’t as lucky as before. Bailey began to cry from the other room.
Garrett and Bree locked eyes. “I’ll get Bailers. You get the pizza.”
Bree’s body was jittery as she opened the door for the pizza guy. It was as if she’d been caught. When she lived with her dad and didn’t follow the rules, she didn’t think much of it other than getting grounded. Disappointing Nate and Lexi and Robin and Randy would be worse than any amount of time grounded in her father’s house.
The pizza guy counted out change, and she glanced behind her to check for Garrett. Bailey’s cries had stopped, telling her he’d saved the day, once again.
She carried the pizza into the living room, where Garrett cradled Bailey. He smiled down at her, singing softly, off key. But Bailey didn’t mind, she made little noises up at him.
“Hungry?” Bree held the pizza up. At least with the food between them, she wouldn’t have to decide whether to give in or not.
“Yeah,” He lifted his face toward her. That smile and his gentleness with Bailey sent the butterflies in her stomach again, helping her forget the new pressures he’d just put on her.
Pushing the mess of her homework to the side, she made room for the pizza. It wasn’t like studying was even possible anymore. The pizza steamed when she opened the box and sank into the sofa beside Garret. Her stomach grumbled.
Placing a hand over her belly she said, “Sorry.”
“You need to eat more.” He reached an arm around her waist, still holding Bailey with the other.
“I’m not trying to starve.” She reached into the box. The pizza dangled from her hand, the cheese oozing over the edge. She hurried to catch it with a napkin. “I just don’t have time to eat.” She brought the food to her mouth.
“I understand that one.” He removed his arm from her and reached for his own slice. Bailey balanced on his leg, cooing and giggling at his thumb which she had in her hands.
This is what it should be like. If they were just a little older, this is what it could be: the three of them spending lazy nights together as a family, no chaperone, not having to prove anything.
Chapter Six
Bree dodged the sea of people in the hall, not letting their rude gestures or comments bother her today. Showing up at Garrett’s locker might make her late for Mr. Aiken’s class, but she’d deal with that later. It wasn’t like he wouldn’t find another reason to send her to the office.
The back of Garrett’s favorite football tee shirt faced her, his last name across the top and his number, 20, in the middle.
“Hey, hottie.”
Garrett’s head barely missed the shelf as he emerged from his locker. “Hey.”
Her heart skipped when he turned toward her with his smile, rubbing the back of his head.
She grinned back, especially when Paige slammed her locker shut and clicked past in her heels, glaring at Bree.
Garrett’s hand slipped over Bree’s hip, and he pressed a kiss to her forehead. Despite everything else going crazy in her life, Garrett made it better this morning.
“I missed you,” his voice raspy in her ear.
“You just saw me last night.”
“Too long.” He leaned his face down and kissed her cheek.
“Get a room.” A voice jeered in the midst of the rumbles in the hallway. Bree felt her face flush, she began to back away.
“Ignore the idiot,” Garrett whispered, his grip tightening on her, keeping her pressed against him.
“Working on baby two?” A different voice.
Maybe this was a bad idea.
“I’m going to be late for class,” she said, finally wiggling out of his arms.
“I’m serious. Don’t listen to them.” Garrett tugged on her.
“It’s hard not to.” Bree glanced down at the chipped tile beneath her fraying canvas shoes while freeing herself from his grip.
“Bree, c’mon. They’re just being jerks.”
“Them and everyone else.”
“Who’s everyone else?”
“Just forget it.” She turned from him, letting his hand slide down her arm until she was too far for him to be touching her.
It wasn’t just the kids at school who looked at her like she was dirt. It was the cashier at the drug store when she was buying diapers with Bailey cradled in her infant carrier on the cart. It was the nurse at Bailey’s checkups. The lady at the park who looked at her in horror when she asked her how old her little sister was and Bree replied, “She’s not my sister. I’m her mom”. All reminding her she was 16 and shouldn’t have a baby. A baby she loved more than she could imagine.
She hurried to her class, now running late, bumping and weaving through her peers, nearly dropping her books.
Hearing remarks such as, watch it, or her favorite, slow down Seabiscuit. That’s what she wanted to be compared to with her post baby-body, though smaller than it was after giving birth, still not back to its original form.
When she finally made it to class, she was late again, stepping in just as the bell buzzed. Her temporary insanity, not caring if she got in trouble, was gone. Now she realized she didn’t want to be reprimanded.
Mr. Aiken didn’t remark this time, only gave her that disapproving stare like everyone else.
***
Bree stretched her arms above her head, trying to keep herself awake. Her belly was full and Bailey asleep in the crib in the corner of Garrett’s room. She was allowed in here because of Bailey and only if they left the door open. Robin made a huge dinner. Bree tried not to feel guilty about not spending the evening with her siblings.
“You okay? Need a break?” Garrett splayed his hand on her back.
Smelling like him and Bailey, a mixture of cologne and baby powder, the room couldn’t be more relaxing. She brought her eyes from her homework to his.
“No, I need to get this done while she’s asleep.” She motioned to the book sprawled open in front of her. Garrett had his own text and notebook beside her.
“I know how that is, but…” he stood up and she hated the cool feeling left on her back. He stretched, as well, moaning as he reached to the ceiling, flashing a bit of his abs as his shirt rode up. “I need to stretch out and get some air or something. Get some oxygen to my brain.”
“Do you kids want desert?” his mom called from the kitchen.
Garrett’s lips turned up in a crooked smile. “Or maybe some sugar.”
Bree looked down at her book again, only one more history question to answer, but she hadn’t even started on her geometry. She hoped Garrett would be able to help her with it. She put a hand across her still squishy stomach. “I don’t have room for anything else.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” She wondered what Robin had made this time, if it was that cherry cheesecake she loved or the layered pudding cake which was her second favorite. Even if she was hungry, she couldn’t eat it. She’d stuffed herself full at dinner. It’d been almost five months since she had Bailey and the baby weight was coming off slow.
“I’ll be right back.” Garrett leaned over her before leaving his room, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
When she was alone, she let out a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling. The tiny suckling noise coming from Bailey’s crib made her smile. She couldn’t see past the bumper, Ohio State, to match the rest of Garrett’s décor. Stretching her feet out in front of her, she resisted the urge to get up and look at her baby, knowing any small movement could wake her. The small window of her evening nap was when Bree needed to focus on homework.
Garrett had the same picture she did on his bed side, the three of them right after Bailey’s birth. They looked like any other happy family, except they didn’t look old enough to be the parents. They weren’t, but yet it still happened.
“Sure you don’t want some?” Garrett shuffled his white socks across the carpet, the tiny round plate flat on his palm.
He dipped his fork into the cheesecake. The smell made her mouth water.
“No,” She looked down at her homework. The mattress dipped beside her.
“Mmmm,” the fork scraped across the plate then Garrett leaned toward her. “Here, at least take one bite.”
She looked up to see the fork in her face, a hunk of cheesecake balanced on the tip. Crossing her eyes to focus on it, a giggle erupted from her.
The low chuckle that came out of Garrett made her stomach warm.
His jean-clad leg folded between them. “For me?” He tilted his head, sticking out his pale lower lip.
Times like this, she could almost forget what they were, that they were more than just boyfriend and girlfriend now, that they shared a child, a heavy responsibility that got in the way of moments like this.
“Fine, you big baby.” She opened her mouth and closed her eyes. He slipped the food into her mouth and her lips closed around it. He pulled the clean fork out. That one bite was just as good as she remembered it always being. “Mmmm.”
Garrett groaned. Bree swatted at him, opening her eyes, to see him ducking away. “You know you like it.”
“Quit distracting me.” She turned back to that last question, once again trying to focus on answering.
That’s when he started smacking his lips in her ear.
“Gare, stop.” She jabbed her elbow in his stomach.
“Hrmmf.” The fork clanged against the dish before tumbling to the mattress. “Now look what you made me do.”
“I didn’t do it.” She tilted her head, pressing her lips together between her teeth, holding in her laughter, careful not to wake the baby.