by Emily Camp
“What are we going to do about her?”
Parker stared forward, squinting out at the night. Bree was thankful he’d showed up this summer after being away with his adoptive parents for twelve years. His biological dad was his adopted dad’s brother. They kept Mindy away from him with court orders and legal stuff. “I don’t know.”
Bree hoped he would’ve known, because someone needed to know. Maggie and Bryson couldn’t be taken back to that situation. Even if it wasn’t Lloyd it’d be some other creep.
“Well, thanks for the help.” Bree started to move. Parker stood, holding his hand out to her for leverage.
She had the best big brother. She hated that they had that 12 year gap in their relationship. Though, maybe if they would have grown up together, they’d fight like Carly did with her older brother.
“I probably ought to get home and sleep.”
“Nate and Lexi back yet?” Parker ran a hand over his hair and stared at the closed door.
“No, Sunday night.”
“You can stay here, if you don’t want to be alone. The apartment’s already packed, what’s one more?”
Bree considered it. Going back to the quiet home seemed both appealing and dreadful. She liked the thought of getting away from the chaos, if only for an evening, but, at the same time, she knew she’d be lonely there without anyone, especially Bailey. On the nights Garrett had her, Bree felt empty.
“Thanks, but I’m just going to be sleeping anyway.”
Parker looked down at his boots. “Be careful, okay?”
Careful? How careful should she be? It never seemed to make a difference. She didn’t have to do anything and trouble still found her.
Chapter Eight
“I think I have it figured out.” Bree shifted through the clutter in her locker.
“What do you have figured out?” The metal clanged as Carly shut her door and leaned against the locker by Bree, holding her books to her chest.
“I’m going to find a place for all of us, that way I know Bryson is being taken care of and no more creeps will be around.” Bree tossed crumbled papers to the bottom.
“That’s a horrible idea.”
The geometry book wasn’t there. It wasn’t under the pile of creased papers, behind the broken pencils and worn erasers, nor in the stack of her other text books. By now, she’d been through them three times to make sure she hadn’t overlooked it. “My geometry book is gone.”
“It can’t be gone.” Carly nudged Bree to the side, taking over the search as if Bree just didn’t see it.
“We’ll be late for class. I don’t need a tardy and a punishment for not having my book.”
“Maybe he won’t notice you don’t have it. You can use mine until yours shows up.”
“What if it doesn’t?” Defeated, Bree let out a long breath as she shut her locker. What was the point in even having it? It wasn’t like she could find, or ever remember anything in it.
“Cheer up. We have football tonight and two whole free days.” Carly strode with a bounce in her step beside her. “Two whole Parker-filled days.”
“You know how you don’t like it when Khloe talks about your brother?” Bree dodged a gangly freshman speeding toward class.
“Slow down, twerp,” Carly shouted in Bree’s ear. The little kid didn’t even respond, just kept speeding through like there was no one else in the hall. “Do you remember being jerks when we were freshman?”
“I barely remember last night.” Bree wished that wasn’t an exaggeration, that it was true. She’d give anything to forget last night and her mom’s drama. “I remember not being pregnant or tired.”
“Yes, the good old days, when we were sowing our wild oats.”
Bree laughed out loud at this. “Maybe you were.” When they were freshman, Bree still lived with her dad and bringing home bad grades wasn’t an option. He’d expected nothing but excellence from her. Little did she know, being a teen mom and trying just to get a passing grade would be harder.
“Baby Mama, Carly-get-laid, wait up!” Jake’s annoying voice bellowed above the rumbling hall.
“Get lost,” Carly shouted, flipping her curls over her shoulder.
Of course, Jake didn’t take the hint, nor give up. Seconds later, he pushed his way in between them, one arm over Bree’s shoulders, the other over Carly’s. He smelled like bacon and coffee and damp curls were smashed to his forehead. “Why so rude?”
“Because we don’t like you.” Carly wiggled out from under his arm, leaving the other and his full attention on Bree.
“Why’d you go and tattle to your boyfriend on me?”
Bree tensed.
“You know I’m only joking.” Jake walked sideways swinging his free hand out in front of him. “I thought we were friends and all.”
“What exactly gave you that idea?” Carly’s voice was loud over the chatter.
“I didn’t say I was your friend, Ley.”
Bree didn’t hear Carly’s retort, because all her mind could think was how she told Garrett not to get involved. But he did anyway.
***
“I can’t believe you talked me into coming.” Bree pulled her sweatshirt tighter around her.
After much pleading, Carly finally convinced her, along with the fact that Bryson wanted to come see Garrett play. As Bree walked up the risers, refusing to sit in the student section, she felt like everyone was staring at her, especially the parents.
“Where’s Garrett?” Bryson stood on the seat, craning his neck over the crowd.
The football team jogged out, the stands roared.
“Garrett’s number 20, see right there,” Parker shouted over the fans, his hat low over his face. He pointed out to the field, where Garrett broke apart from the group with Lewis, meeting in the middle of the field with the refs and captains from the opposing team.
Bree was thankful they were able to talk Bryson into taking a bath. Parker bribing him with the game and a hat helped. Maggie tagged along, but disappeared the minute they arrived.
“You know it feels good to be here.” Carly nudged Bree’s side.
It didn’t. The last time she was here, she was pregnant, but not showing. Nobody knew it but her and Garrett’s closest friends.
Bree held her hands fisted on her lap. She felt horrible for leaving Bailey with Robin. She was sure she’d rather be here.
The announcers chatted through the speakers. Bree barely caught Garrett’s name over the cheers.
“I can’t believe he’s allowed to play.” A woman’s voice crooned from somewhere behind her. Why she was able to hear that and not the announcer was beyond her. It only fed her insecurities.
“He’s good. There wouldn’t be a team without that Light boy. We already lost that Bailey kid.”
Bree’s heart sped up. It wasn’t enough that they were talking about Garrett, but they had to bring in Garrett’s best friend. Colten, the one who lost his life saving her and her daughter in the school shooting last year. They lost him? Like he got kicked off the team or he moved away. How heartless.
“What kind of example is he anyway? It’s not right. There are other boys on the team that don’t go sleeping around with girls.”
Bree swallowed the lump in her throat, and if that wasn’t bad enough, when she looked toward her older brother, his jaw was clenched.
Before Parker could react, Carly whipped around, her wild curls flying through the air. “He doesn’t sleep around. He slept with his girlfriend a couple of times. I think the fact that he’s stayed around to care for his baby and not abandon her makes him a good role model.”
Bree waited for her to say something about Colten. Carly was seeing him when he was shot. Though Parker had worked wonders in Carly’s healing, it still seemed she would be as upset as Bree.
Bree didn’t hear the response from the gossipers, but she heard the murmurs and Carly turned back around, shoulders straight and a satisfied smile on her face. She was glad Carly didn’t mind c
onfrontation, because Bree hated it, herself.
“Okay, took care of that problem.”
“My girl is awesome,” Parker laughed, hugging Carly next to him.
On the field below, the guys took formation. On the sidelines, Paige bounced in her cheer uniform.
Bree kept her eyes on the field, on Garrett, specifically. She didn’t know why she was nervous tonight. She watched all his games last year and was fine, but this year he meant more to her.
The stands roared around her as the ball flew straight to Garrett. He caught it and took off running, but as quickly as he caught it, a guy from the other team pulled him down.
Bree held her breath as she watched Garrett flattened. The ref blew his whistle and the boys stood up one by one. When Garrett rose, she could breathe again.
“I don’t think I can do this, Carly.”
“Bree, we’ve been watching these guys play forever.”
“He wasn’t the father of my child before.”
“Well, he kind of was last year.”
She didn’t hear what the announcer said about him again, but she heard ‘number 20, Garrett Light.’
“Go Garrett!” Bryson shouted with a bounce, his hat sliding over his eyes. He pushed the bill back up, his smile beaming as he watched the field. It warmed Bree’s heart that her little brother was proud of her boyfriend. Garrett was great with him. She hoped that Parker and Garrett made up for the fact his dad was barely around.
The play started again. This time, when Garrett caught the ball and ran, he was way ahead of anyone coming after him. The stands roared around her. He made it down half the field.
“Go Garrett!” Bree popped up to a stand and shouted along with the other fans. Her throat raw.
Until, finally, the other team caught up. The crowd cheered. In that play Garrett made a huge gain.
“That was awesome!” Bryson bounced, almost knocking into the people in front of him.
Parker reigned him in. “Whoa, watch what you’re doing there.”
Everyone sat down to watch the next play, which was just as good, with a touch down made that time.
With the defense back on the field, Bree took the opportunity to glance down at her phone, the guilt of leaving Bailey still bothered her.
“Bailey’s fine with her grandma.” Carly leaned to her.
Bree blinked up and noticed that the sky was already turning dark.
“Let it go. Be a teenager tonight.” Carly nudged her.
“But.”
“No buts here.” Carly tapped Bree’s knee. “We’re going to watch the game, watch your boyfriend, and we’re going not to think of babies, mothers, and bad grades.”
Bree let out a sigh, “Thanks for reminding me my grades suck this year.”
“Okay, just stop it right now.” Carly looped her arm through Bree’s. “Bryson is having a great time. The boys are playing awesome.”
More cheering interrupted Carly’s thought. The Raiders intercepted the ball and were headed back toward their end zone.
“Awesome steal!” Parker shouted.
The play was over. The other team took them down.
Offense back on the field. Garrett was up again, catching the ball and running. Everyone stood to their feet, cheering on as Garrett traveled the field. A boy took him down, but yards were gained. The players rose and parted back to their spots, but Garrett didn’t get up.
Bree’s heart fell to her stomach.
“What happened?” She stayed on her feet as others sat in front of her.
The refs talked to the coaches. A couple of the guys helped Garrett to his feet. He limped toward the sidelines. Though he was hurt, she was relieved they didn’t need that ambulance sitting behind the visitor’s stands.
“Looked like 43 stepped on Garrett’s leg,” Parker said.
Bree watched Garrett sit on the bench, the medical attendant knelt in front of him.
“Unnecessary roughness. 15 yard penalty on the Cherokees.”
“Should I text Robin?” Bree reached for her phone.
“It’s just his foot, maybe his ankle.” Parker’s face was trained on the bench where Garrett sat and not on the game.
The announcer called out Garrett’s replacement in the game. Bree wanted to cry. Was he out for the rest of the game? The medical attendant propped Garrett’s leg up. An ice bag draped over it.
***
After the game, Bree ran to the field. Garrett was able to play the last quarter, relieving some of her anxiety.
“What are you doing?” Bree smacked at his shoulder pads. He laughed at her, holding his helmet in his hand and wiping the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand.
“I’m okay.”
“You scared me.”
Garrett bent down to Bree’s height and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“That was awesome!” Bryson came running up behind them, standing proud in the midst of the team.
Garrett reached down and patted Bryson on his shoulder. “I’ll have to teach you sometime.”
“Really!?”
“Good game,” Parker nodded. Carly curled against him.
“Thanks, man.”
“How’s the foot?”
“All right, got it wrapped up now.” Garrett gave him thumbs up.
Bryson gaped up at the stands in awe. “Someday I want to play football here.”
“There might be a peewee league we can get you in,” Parker said.
Bree was distracted, trying to listen to Garrett’s conversation with his coach. Even though he was right beside her, she couldn’t hear what was said over the crowd around them.
He leaned back down to her, “I need to talk to the coach in the locker room. They want to look at my ankle again. You gonna wait on me?”
Bree looked at her brothers and Carly who were in conversation with another player. “Yeah, I’ll wait for you.” She might as well, she’d be going to his house to pick up Bailey anyway.
Chapter Nine
Bree stepped out of the car, her ears were bleeding from the ride. She’d hoped Bailey would be worn out enough to fall asleep on the way home.
Garrett talked soothingly over Bailey’s cries as he dipped into the backseat for her. The wails turned into a whimper once she was cradled in his arms.
Bree was surprised his parents let him drive her and Bailey home without a chaperone. They were no doubt tired from having Bailey so long.
The house was dark without Nate and Lexi. Bree was glad to have Garrett with her. He continued to talk to Bailey, soothing her as he walked behind Bree to the door.
Bree unlocked the knob and pushed it open, flicking on the kitchen light. She’d forgotten about the application for the rental home on the counter. She still hadn’t told Garrett about the move. She didn’t know how to bring it up. While he was occupied coddling Bailey, Bree slipped the paper under the placemat.
Bree turned when Garrett made his way to her, her hands flat on the counter behind her as if she’d been caught. But his face was tilted toward Bailey and she was sure he didn’t see.
“Want me to put her to sleep?” he asked as he bounced her.
“No, I’ll get her.” Bree reached out her hands. “If you don’t get home soon your parents …”
“They won’t care if I stay here and help you.”
Bailey wined when Garrett stopped swaying with her.
“No, I got her, Gare. You’ve had a long day.” Bree lifted her from Garrett and Bailey cried louder. Bree perched her over her shoulder, which settled her for a second.
“She wants me.”
“Really? You’re going to argue over this?” Bree patted Bailey’s back, one arm resting under her diaper.
“I’m not arguing. I’m trying to help,” he shrugged.
“Fine.” Bree handed her over, unable to be upset with him for being there, though it did make her feel inadequate when Bailey’s cries softened. “I don’t want you to get in trouble.” Bree stalked toward the f
ridge.
“It doesn’t take me long to put her to sleep and kiss you goodnight.”
Bree allowed herself to grin at this.
“See, I knew I could get you to smile.” His voice now a whisper as Bailey quieted and stilled in his arms, her fist curled up under her chin, and her lips moved like she was eating. “And get her to sleep.”
“You do have that going for you,” Bree laughed, pulling a water from the fridge. “Do you want anything?”
“You.” His voice was still a whisper and his lips were in a crooked smile when she turned around. Bailey sound asleep in his arms.
Bree shook her head. “I mean a drink.”
“Nah.” He looked down the hall, toward Bree’s room. “I’m going to put her in her crib.”
“Gare, you can’t put her down that fast.”
“I’ll get her to stay asleep.”
As he tiptoed toward her bedroom, Bree mentally went through it, hoping that she didn’t leave it a mess earlier.
She spot checked her hair in the reflection of the stainless steel fridge, sure Garrett was going to come back out with a crying Bailey in a few minutes anyway. Her heart pounded and she thought about going back to check on them, but didn’t want to stir Bailey if, by some miracle, Garrett did get her to stay down.
Bree sat on the barstool, folding her hands over the placemat where the paper lay. She needed to tell him eventually. How was he going to take it? It wasn’t like Bree had any other choice but to move in with her mother with Nate and Lexi moving away.
“All good.” Garrett’s voice behind her made her jump. How did she not hear him? She swiveled around.
“How’s your ankle?” She nodded toward his foot. With the rushing to get Bailey and the screaming in the car afterwards, she hadn’t had time to think, let alone ask.
He stepped closer to her, head tilted and a grin on his face. He planted his palms on her hips, positioning himself between her knees. “Still a little sore, I think I need a kiss.” His voice rumbled and made her stomach flutter.
“Gare,” she giggled, placing a hand in middle of his chest.