Running Forever

by Emily Camp

  Running Forever

  Also by Emily Camp

  Running Back

  Overcome

  Running on Empty

  Worth Fighting For

  Running Forever

  By Emily Camp

  ***

  This book is a work of Fiction. Any similarity between names, places and events are purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Copyright © 2017 Emily Camp

  All rights reserved.

  Cover photo and design by Emily Camp

  1.Fiction-Christian 2. Fiction-Contemporary 3. Fiction-Romance

  Kindle book ASIN: B071LMJXGT

  Recommended ages 14 and up.

  Chapter 1

  The closest thing to a family reunion Bree had been to before today was when her mother took her to that bar her uncle worked at and she met a of couple cousins.

  “You’re married to Garrett, right?” Garrett’s great-grandmother shouted, although Bree was sitting right beside her.

  “No Ma’am, we have Bailey together, but we’re not married.” Bree had already answered that question five times. Though Bree and Garrett stayed friends after they broke up two years ago, she lived with him and his parents only out of convenience.

  Across from her, Garrett’s sister-in-law, Miley, gave Bree a grin that looked like she was holding back a laugh.

  Great-Grandma looked at Miley, “You’re Declan’s girl?”

  “I’m Declan’s wife, yes.” Miley crossed her legs.

  Great-Grandma looked at the leaves on the shade tree. Garrett’s great-grandma was in her nineties and her short-term memory wasn’t the greatest, as Bree had discovered today.

  Just feet away sat a long table full of food and fold-up lawn chairs.

  Bree looked over her shoulder, hoping Garrett or somebody would come along. How many times would she have to tell his great-grandma she wasn’t his wife?

  “And we have the twins, yes.” Miley said after Great-Grandma’s next question.

  Miley smiled through gritted teeth and, just like Bree, looked over her shoulder. “Where did my husband go, anyway?”

  Bree didn’t have to be here. It wasn’t like she and Garrett were even together. She should have sent Bailey and had the day to herself, but the Lights insisted she come along. Bree wasn’t used to all this togetherness. With a father who thought she should be seen and not heard, who kicked her out of his home when she was fifteen and pregnant, and a mother who cared more about her boyfriends than she did her children, it wasn’t normal to her.

  Declan jogged up behind Miley, wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and kissed her on the side of the head. “There you are,” he said, as if he hadn’t just left her there with his great-grandma.

  “Have you seen the twins?” Miley returned the quick peck.

  “They’ll sleep good tonight.” Declan rubbed Miley’s bare shoulders. Witnessing the affection made Bree sad. It wasn’t that Miley and Declan were much older, but at least they were out of high school and married before the twins were born. Bree wondered what her life would be like if she and Garrett were older.

  “You have a beautiful girlfriend,” Great-Grandma shouted.

  “Yes, Great-Grandma, my girlfriend is beautiful, but my wife is prettier,” Declan smirked.

  Miley jabbed an elbow to his stomach, and he bucked with an “oomph,” then laughed.

  “You think we should be leaving soon?” Miley tucked her hair behind her ear, as Declan continued to caress her arms.

  “They’re fine, Mi.” Declan pulled a chair close to Miley.

  Bree felt the same about Bailey, who was two and a half and loving all the extra attention. When she agreed to come, she imagined a small pot-luck. Not a huge, carnival-like party, complete with games, hayrides, and four-wheelers. As if on cue, the loud rumble of a four-wheeler pulled up beside her. When Great-Grandma smiled, her squinty eyes made her wrinkles that much more prevalent. Bree turned to see Garrett with Bailey caged in by his triceps. A smile stretched across her tiny face, her ponytail sagged, and strands of hair dangled around her head like spider legs.

  The engine quieted and Great-Grandma shouted again, this time almost causing Bree to lose hearing. “You have a beautiful family.”

  “Thanks,” Garrett said.

  “Your wife is lovely, so sweet.” Great-Grandma then patted Bree’s bare knee, which made Bree jump.

  Garrett opened his mouth, but Bree shook her head and mouthed, ‘don’t bother.’

  “Does my lovely wife want to take a ride with me?” Garrett winked.

  Bree was sure he was enjoying this. Despite the fact they were currently not a couple, that didn’t mean Garrett hadn’t tried to get back together. With all the drama that proceeded their breakup, Bree felt it was best if they were just friends now. She had parents that hated one another, who put her in the middle of their petty fights while she was growing up. Bree didn’t want that for Bailey. As it was now, she got along with Garrett all right. They were raising Bailey while going to college and living at his parent’s house. It was what worked for everybody for now.

  “Mommy ride.” Bailey patted the little bit of seat in front of her like Bree would fit.

  Bree stood to reach for Bailey. The last thing she wanted to do was be on that death trap, let alone be that close to Garrett. It was fine they’d agreed to be friends and get along for Bailey. His parents even took her and Bailey in when they didn’t have a place to go. But it was another thing to be physically close to him.

  “Go on,” Great-Grandma slapped Bree on the bum, startling her. “Take a ride with your hubby while you’re still young.”

  Feeling a little violated, Bree turned to Garrett. His smile widened and she could tell by the squint in his eyes that he was holding back a laugh. He adjusted Bailey, scooching her forward and making room for Bree on the back. “C’mon.”

  Bree looked at Great-Grandma, then at Miley and Declan who were now in their own conversation. Bree wasn’t sure about this, but if her only other option was to sit here and have the same two-lined conversation with Great-Grandma, she was going to go with Garrett.

  She should have been at the lake with her best friend, Carly. That’s what she’d planned on. This morning, she’d already changed in her tankini, underneath her shirt and jean shorts, when Garrett and his mom tag-teamed her to convince her to come along. She was thankful when Garrett’s mom, Robin, offered to buy her a swimsuit, but a little disappointed she wouldn’t buy a bikini. After two summers, Bree’s stomach was finally back to being public presentable. Robin had told Bree wearing a bikini would cause the boys to lust. Bree hated to tell her that her dear son, Garrett, would lust for her if she dressed Amish.

  When she turned back to Garrett, he waited, watching her for an answer.

  “Don’t drive crazy,” Bree walked toward them.

  Garrett chuckled, holding onto Bailey around the waist. “You know I wouldn’t with Bailers.”

  “Ride.” Bailey craned her face up at Garrett.

  “Let’s wait on Mommy.”

  “Mommy ride.” Bailey pointed her tiny finger at Bree.

  “I’m coming.” Bree adjusted the hem of her shorts that had ridden up.

  Great-Grandma stared off with a smile, her bony hands in her lap.

  Bree lifted her leg over the warm seat. She looked from side to side for something to hold on to. It was bad enough she was straddling Garrett, she didn’t want to have to hug him, too.

  “Put your arms around my waist,” he said over his shoulder.

  Of course, there was nowhere else to put her hands. When she reached around him, it brought back memories. The good ones, when they were happy, before all the drama and stress of having a baby. She reached around him, but
grabbed ahold of Bailey’s waist, instead, both to hold her on and to keep from touching Garrett’s stomach. If she did, she was afraid of stirring up emotions she wasn’t sure she wanted stirred.

  “You two kids have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Great-Grandma winked as Garrett revved the engine.

  Garrett pushed on the gas and Bree jerked back before she could get her grip. She tried not to think about how she could feel him breathe and that it made her stomach flutter. She closed her eyes. Bree needed to focus on school and Bailey. She had plans. Just because they had a child together didn’t mean she had to arrange her entire future with him. Besides, men rarely stayed around anyway. Her dad abandoned her. All of her mom’s boyfriends eventually left. Why would she expect Garrett to always be there? The wind brushed past her face as Garrett sped up. Above the rumble of the engine, Bree heard faint giggles coming from Bailey.

  “Gare, be careful,” Bree shouted, resulting in his laughter. She was thankful he slowed, approaching the cluster of his family sitting in lawn chairs set in a semi-circle. Bree glanced back at the big shade tree. Miley and Declan were still in conversation with Great-Grandma.

  ****

  Garrett pulled up to the gaggle of his aunts and mother with Bailey in front of him and Bree behind. He hoped Bailey would be happy with the little ride putting up and down the rolling hills.

  His mom smiled their way mid-sentence, her mouth still moving as he pulled up.

  “Mom, can you take her?” He nodded toward Bailey. He felt Bree jerk, but she didn’t protest.

  His mom clasped her dainty hands and nodded, turning back to his aunt and saying something before making her way toward them.

  “You wanna go to gramma, don’t you Bailers?” Garrett said. He hoped she wouldn’t put up too much of a fuss so Bree wouldn’t have an excuse not to go on a longer drive with him.

  “What are you doing?” Bree placed her hands on his waist now that Bailey was gone. Garrett took that as a good sign. It’d been awhile, but he knew Bree was warming up to the idea of getting back together with him. They had a rough patch shortly after Bailey was born, and with their demands of school and his football, it was hard to put in time for a relationship. Though now he played college ball and, in a few weeks, that would be taking most of his time up, they were older now and so was Bailey. There was no longer that high school drama hanging over them.

  “Ride,” Bailey’s voice came out a whine.

  “Let mommy take a turn. I’ll come back for you.”

  “Turn?” Bailey said as his mom held out her arms for her.

  “Yeah, it’s mommy’s turn.”

  “Gare,” Bree said, but he ignored her.

  His mom looked at Bree as she lifted Bailey up. “She’ll be fine. You go have fun.”

  Garrett smiled at this, thankful for that.

  “Not too much, though,” she added with a lifted brow.

  Bailey looked at him, her hands clasped in front of her and her bottom lip poking out as she sat on his mom’s hip. The look was almost enough to change his mind, but he couldn’t remember the last time he was alone with Bree and he didn’t know the next time he would get this chance, with football coming up. He couldn’t look back at Bailey’s big teary eyes as he pulled away. It took everything he had not to go back to her. But he needed this time with Bree. From July to November, football took up most of his time, and though he loved the game, it gave him very few chances to spend with Bailey and Bree.

  “What are we doing?” Bree wiggled like she was uncomfortable, but he didn’t complain any. Her hands that were holding Bailey minutes before were now touching his stomach. He thought about flexing his abs, but knew it would tick her off if he did and he didn’t want to ruin his plan.

  Just a few minutes alone.

  That’s all he needed.

  The last few weeks, she’d been more receptive to him. She didn’t jerk away when his hand grazed hers when he passed Bailey over to her the other day. She didn’t move when he leaned over her to watch Bailey finger paint, and she didn’t ask him to leave when he loitered in her bedroom after putting Bailey to bed last night. It took some time, but he believed Bree was ready for them to be something again.

  “Garrett.” Bree thighs clamped against his. Her arms clenched tight around his middle. He removed a hand from the handle bars and placed his palm over hand.

  “It’s okay, relax.”

  She let out a small laugh, “Kind of hard to do when you’re pending death.”

  “I know what I’m doing,” he said.

  He knew exactly what he was doing.

  He rode over the hill and back up the next one, through the trees, and up the steeper incline. He knew this path, grew up riding these trails with his cousins.

  “Garrett, I don’t like this.” She pressed her face in between his shoulder blades. If he knew this would make her get this close, he would have brought her out here earlier.

  This morning, he was almost to the point of dropping to his knees when she walked out in her tank top and jean shorts, her blue polka dot bathing suit tied behind her neck. She couldn’t go to the lake with her best friend, Carly. He needed her to be here with him. His mom was the one who finally got her to change her mind about going.

  “You’re part of our family, too,” she’d said. “Call Maggie, we’d love to bring her along, as well.”

  He didn’t know if it was inviting her younger sister, or just his mom’s soft spoken demeanor that got her to finally say yes, but he was happy she did.

  Once he finally reached the top of the hill, he shut off the engine and Bree loosened her grip. It was much quieter than down by the house and, up here, you could see for miles.

  “Don’t ever do that again.” Bree slapped him on the back.

  He turned, lifting a leg over the seat. “What?”

  “You scared the crap out of me.” Her eyes were wide and she held a hand to her heart.

  “I know how to drive.”

  She took in a deep breath and shook her head, pausing when she saw the view. That’s right.

  “My gosh.” Her voice was soft in reverence. The breeze blew a few strands of hair out of her face. She used to wear her hair long, but when Bailey started yanking on it, she chopped it off. It surprised him how much he liked it.

  “It’s …” Bree climbed off the four-wheeler, using his shoulder as an anchor.

  “I thought you’d like it.” He followed her to the edge of the plateau.

  She stared out at the rolling hills, green, brown, and endless. Garrett loved the peaceful look on her face. It was something he didn’t get to see often. It seemed like Bree stressed about everything: Bailey, her grades, what people thought of her. He didn’t know why it mattered, but to her, it did. His mom told him that it was probably the abandonment she had from her childhood. Bree was taken away from her mother when she was small because of neglect. Her siblings all had different fathers, and they were separated. Her dad had custody of her, but paid little attention to her once he was married. His mom had observed that Bree’s want to be liked by everyone stemmed from her fear of being rejected again.

  “This is so ...,” she whispered as if she would disturb something if she didn’t.

  Garrett didn’t want to scare her off like a skittish animal, but he also knew this was the moment. He was slow at first, reaching his arms around her shoulders. She surprised him when she leaned into him. “Why didn’t you bring me here before?”

  He laughed and ran his hand up and down her arm. “It’s not like you’d take a trip to my grandma’s house with me anytime I asked.”

  “This is perfect.”

  “I know.”

  “It’s so peaceful and quiet.”

  “Grandma and Grandpa said they’ll let me have some land when I’m ready.” He waited for her to stiffen, but she didn’t.

  “That’s good.”

  “Only if I get to share it with you.”

  “Gare.” Bree’s voice was so
ft and she turned toward him, but didn’t move away.

  “You know we belong together.”

  She sighed, but her hands folded against his chest gave him hope. “I just don’t …”

  Before she could finish her sentence, he pressed his lips against hers. It might have been rash and jumping ahead of the game, but if he didn’t do it now, he wasn’t sure when.

  Bree slid her arms around his neck and he tugged her closer, her body warm against his.

  Finally.

  Then just as fast as it happened, the kiss was interrupted by another rumbling four-wheeler or a few. Garrett deflated when Bree pulled away from him. Her cheeks were flushed and she wouldn’t make eye contact. She turned away just before his cousins pulled up over the clearing. They parked their ATV’s beside Garrett’s.

  Chapter 2

  Bree’s heart sped.

  Garrett had a plan beyond randomly proposing to her and playing college football. Did that change things for her? Maybe. He’d never been shy about how much he wanted her back, but she didn’t know he had a vision of a home, here, with her. That was more than she could say. She was just trying to survive, raise a baby and go to college. That was as far as she thought about her future.

  When she kissed him it was like before. Before things got complicated with Bailey and school and drama. She could have lived in that moment forever, temporarily forgetting that she had to ride that thing back down the hill. When his cousins showed up on their own four-wheelers like a gang, she came crashing back to reality.

  “Lookie there, Marsh,” the cousin Bree thought Garrett introduced her to as River earlier, or rather, River introduced himself to her as the hot cousin, said as he shut off his engine. “You up here making your baby a sibling?”

  Garrett’s jaw jerked and his fists balled at his sides. Bree pulled her lips into her mouth. He wouldn’t. He wasn’t going to do this here, not after that kiss.

  “Shut up, River.”

  Marshall quirked a smile. “What’ll Aunt Robin say if she knows her Jesus Freak son was fornicating again?”