Running Forever

by Emily Camp

  Garrett was more than surprised to see Bree come in the room with his parents. The fact that she was wearing his football hoodie made his day. But he couldn’t help but notice how distracted she was, even when he tried to joke with her. He was thankful when he parents finally left and he could get some answers out of her. She slid off the bed and took the vacant seat his mother had left behind. He hated that she didn’t want to be near him. She stared at the window with her hands in the front pocket of the hoodie.

  “Are you okay?” Garrett reached his hand out to her without moving too much. His head still didn’t feel the greatest.

  Bree turned to him, her bottom lip in her mouth. “Yeah.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  She sighed and her shoulders slumped. “The doctor said you might not remember things that happened the last few days.”

  “Okay? What are you afraid I don’t remember?” Did something happen big happen he missed?

  “Do you remember …” She took in a deep breath before leaning forward and whispering. “That I’m pregnant?”

  He held back a smile. This could be funny, but it also might tick her off bad if he messed with her.

  “Gare,” she shoved her hands back in her pocket.

  “Yes, I remember that. And I’m going to leave here and I’ll be fine and we’re going to get married and we’ll live happily ever after with our two little kids.”

  He thought he saw a hint of a smile flash over her lips. “Gare.”

  He held his arms out. “Come here.”

  She looked over her shoulder like she was about to do something wrong and didn’t want to get caught.

  “You’re my fiancé. You’re allowed on the bed with me.”

  “I haven’t technically said yes.”

  “Why not?”

  She shook her head and looked down at her lap.

  “Bree, is something else bothering you?” He lowered his arms.

  She lifted her shoulders. “You mean besides the fact we messed up and everyone is going to find out about it now? And we don’t have room in your house for another baby. And you could be hurt.” She lifted a hand to her forehead. “I’m sorry. This isn’t the time to throw this on you.”

  “You’re not throwing it on me, we’re in this together.” He slid over, making room for her, and patted the white sheet. “And I told you, I’m going to be fine.”

  “I should … I should probably get back to Bailey. Who knows what’s going on with Maggie? She’s probably loading her up with sugar.”

  “Or running her around and wearing her out.”

  Bree smiled a fake smile and tilted her head at him. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  The chair squealed as she stood and headed out the door, her hands never leaving her pocket.

  Chapter 18

  By the time she’d made it home, Bree was surprised the letter wasn’t so wrinkled and worn out that she couldn’t read it. The entire ride in the back seat of Parker’s car, she rubbed it between her fingers, twisted it around, and imagined what the words said. Would they end the friendship she had with Spencer? Obviously, she had to talk to him after, give him a response. But the fact that he didn’t care she had a child with Garrett and another one on the way wasn’t enough to push Spencer away, made her wonder.

  She came home to a mess. Toys were scattered all over the place and Maggie and Bailey danced in the middle of the living room like some ancient toy ritual. Isaac sat on the floor in his plush video game chair, headphones in and oblivious to the chaos behind him.

  “Mommy,” Bailey’s spindly legs sprinted toward Bree, catching on the toys in her way, making her wobble, but she regained her balance and kept on going.

  Maggie laughed her loud cackle and tucked her curls behind her ear as she placed a hand on her hip and turned toward Bree. “How’s Garrett?”

  “Okay.” Bree knelt down and picked Bailey up, adjusting her on her hip.

  Bailey jabbered something she couldn’t understand.

  “Looks like you had fun with Aunt Maggie and Uncle Zeke.”

  “Zeke game.” Bailey pointed toward Isaac, still in his own video game universe.

  “Yes,” Maggie said, rolling her eyes and bending over to pick up toys, “Zeke was absolutely no help at all.”

  “All.” When Bailey nodded, her wispy brown bangs fell over her eyes. Bree slid them off her forehead.

  “Let’s pick up this mess before Gramma and Grampa get back.” Bree sat her back down and Bailey toddled toward Isaac.

  “Zeke,” she pushed on his chair, but he didn’t budge, only waved her off, “Zeke.”

  “Bailey, we don’t need to put Zeke away. Let’s pick up the toys.” When Bree bent over to help, her head spun and she braced herself on the edge of the sofa. Earlier, when she walked out of Garrett’s room, Carly and Parker waited with a bag of pretzels and a water. Though it was something, it wasn’t nearly enough.

  “Are you okay?” Maggie rushed to her side.

  “Tay?” Bailey patted her shoulder.

  Bree nodded, holding her head, “I’m fine. Just a little dizzy.”

  Maggie stared at her, her lips in a straight line and head tilted to the side.

  “I’m okay,” Bree said again, more for herself than for Maggie.

  “We made the mess, we can clean it,” Maggie said, still staring at Bree accusingly.

  “I said I was fine.” Bree picked up a toy and tossed it in the toy bin.

  “Fine.” Bailey did the same.

  Maggie smirked and Bree giggled as they watched Bailey toss another toy in the bin.

  Isaac shouted and threw his controller. “Stupid.”

  “No, Zeke.” Bailey pointed at him.

  This only made them laugh harder. Bailey was used to Isaac getting in trouble for throwing fits over his game.

  ****

  By the time Bree finally fell onto her bed, she’d almost forgotten the letter again. She pulled it from the pocket before tossing the hoodie aside. Bree’s hands shook as she unfolded the paper. If she read it or not, Spencer would still expect something, wouldn’t he? But when she looked down at the page, the tiny scrawled letters in blue ink, her heart sped up for an entire other reason.

  The letter wasn’t from Spencer.

  It was from Garrett.

  Bree,

  I’ve started this and quit so many times now. I don’t know where to begin. I’ve known since the first day you smiled at me that you were the one I wanted to be with. I’m sorry that I’ve messed up so much. All I want is for you to want to be with me as much as I want to be with you. I don’t want to be the reason you cry anymore. I want to be the reason you laugh, the reason your smile glows. When I’m watching you sit on the floor with Bailey, and your nose crinkles when you giggle at her, are some of my happiest moments. I probably sound like a great big ball of cheese right now, but I want you to know. I realize that sometimes I can be an idiot, but please know that I’m trying. I know you might not be ready to get married or even think about our future together, but please don’t write it off. When I think about myself years from now, you’re always there. Just like I didn’t know where to start or if this means anything to you, I don’t know where to leave this letter. So I’ll end it with a simple I love you.

  Love, Garrett

  Bree swiped the wetness from her cheeks then held the letter to her chest. How did she get so lucky? It was true Garrett sometimes was a goof, and she always tried to find his faults to push him away. She’d already made up her mind she wanted to marry him. If not, this would have been enough to change her mind. Then she wondered about Spencer. Why did he have the letter? Better yet, why did he give it to her?

  Maggie knocked lightly on the door the same time she eased it open. “Hey, Parker’s on his way back to ge- Are you okay?”

  “Uh, yeah,” Bree sat the letter on her bedside and stood up.

  “You’ve been acting really weird lately.”

  Bree looked at the dresser
drawer the pregnancy test was still hidden in. She pressed a hand to her stomach. Guilt set in; she should tell Maggie, as much as Bree preached to her about abstaining and staying away from boys. It was one thing that she did it before she knew better, but now it was different.

  “I’m fine, it’s just been a stressful day with Garrett and …”

  “He’s going to be okay.”

  “I know,” Bree bit her bottom lip. She wished she could tell Maggie, that she could be someone she could talk to about this.

  As soon as Maggie was out the door, Bree pulled out her cell phone and sent Spencer a text.

  Bree: I read the letter.

  Spencer replied with a thumbs up.

  Bree: Why did you give it to me?

  It felt like forever before the reply came in. Bree jumped when it did.

  Spencer: Don’t tell anybody, but it was the right thing to do.

  Bree: Thank you, you’re a great friend.

  Spencer: Now you’re exaggerating.

  When the phone buzzed again, she thought it might be Spencer with another witty reply, but instead it was Garrett.

  Get to come home.

  Bree: Great.

  She didn’t know what to say about the letter. He could have easily sent it in a text, email, or something more convenient than hand writing it. But why didn’t he actually give it to her?

  Another chime from her phone startled her from her thoughts.

  Garrett: Can you do me a favor and bring me some clothes?

  Bree: Sure

  Bree hurried toward Garrett’s room. Maggie peeked around the corner. Bree ignored her as Bailey jabbered from the living room and Isaac’s video game echoed through the house. Her hands shook as she pushed open his bedroom door. It smelled like a mixture of his spicy soap and baby powder. Bailey occasionally slept in here.

  Bree pulled open his dresser. It was weird looking through his underwear drawer. When she pulled out a pair of boxer briefs, a small red box tumbled to the floor.

  Bree knelt down and opened it. She gasped at the ring that sparkled inside. When he’d proposed several months ago, she didn’t even look at it. It was a round stone, small and simple, exactly how she liked things.

  She pulled it out of the box and slipped it on her finger, though she didn’t want to deny Garrett the pleasure of putting it on for her. She planned to say yes as soon as possible so he could. She held her hand out at arm’s length, admiring the ring before taking it back off. Just as she had it above the box, Garrett’s door squeaked open and Maggie said, “What are you doing?” in a tone like ‘got ya.’

  Bree jumped, the ring fell from her hand and tumbled to the ground. “Shoot, shoot, shoot.” She fell to her knees and began swiping the carpet with her hand.

  Maggie giggled.

  “It’s not funny,” Bree squealed, how could the ring disappear? She felt around some more, but nothing.

  “You should have seen …”

  “Maggie, shut up,” Bree continued to search.

  “Whatever.”

  Bree whipped her face toward her. “I just lost my ring and Garrett hasn’t even given to me yet.” Bree’s heart felt like it was going to fly out of her chest.

  “Are you engaged?”

  “Not yet and we aren’t going to be if I don’t find the ring.” Bree turned toward Maggie. She tucked her hair behind her ear when it dangled in front of her eyes. “Can you help me?”

  Maggie leaned down beside her. “You’re the one that lost it.”

  “I wouldn’t have if you didn’t think it was funny to scare me.”

  “It was just a joke, gosh.”

  “Garrett spent a lot of money on that ring. I know he doesn’t have it and I have to get his clothes to him so he can come home.”

  “It has to be somewhere. It couldn’t just disappear.” Maggie slid her hand around the carpet and dipped down to look under the bed.

  “It’s not here anywhere.” Bree put her hand to her head and sat back on her heals.

  Maggie crouched under Garrett’s desk. “It has to be.”

  Bree looked everywhere. It wasn’t. Wherever the ring ended up, it was gone. Right now, she needed to get back to Garrett and bring him home. She’d have to tell him about the ring, not something she was looking forward to.

  Chapter 19

  “Just so you know, I am going to make you rest when you get home.” Garrett’s mom crossed her legs, holding Garrett’s discharge papers in her hands.

  “I know. I know.” Garrett slid to the side of the bed, leaving the sheet over his lap. He’d arrived in in his football uniform and now he was in only his boxer briefs and fitted tank top that were under the uniform.

  “He’s not a baby, Robin.” His dad clamped his shoulder.

  “No matter how old he is, he’ll always be my baby.”

  “I’m bigger than you.”

  “You’re a parent. You should understand.”

  “A two-year-old little girl is a lot different than a twenty-year-old man,” Garrett said, though thinking of the new baby, he looked away from her. He wasn’t sure how she was going to take the news, but if he could convince Bree to get married right away, they could pretend that it happened after the wedding and nobody would know.

  “You’re still my child and I worry.” Robin sat up straight and ran her hand over her thighs, smoothing out her jeans.

  “Worrying is a sin,” Garrett’s dad teased.

  “I know, all right? But it’s difficult to for a mother to not do when it comes to her children and grandchildren.”

  At least she didn’t have to worry about the one she didn’t know about yet.

  There was a light knock on the door and the nurse peered in, “Are you feeling up for visitors? Some of your teammates are here.”

  Garrett sat up a little straighter, “Yeah.”

  The nurse disappeared.

  His mom said, “Isn’t that nice.”

  Garrett nodded, keeping his eyes on the door. He hated he couldn’t have been out there with them today. He already didn’t feel as connected to the team as he needed to be because of his other responsibilities.

  The door opened, and in came Hudson and Ezra were in jeans and their jerseys. Garrett wondered what happened to his jersey in all the commotion. It looked like changing their clothes was the only thing they took the time to do before coming here. It wasn’t lost on Garrett that his mom nonchalantly covered her nose.

  “Hey man,” Ezra held up a fist, then Hudson right after.

  “Hey,” Garrett said.

  “Robin, you want to go get some coffee or something?” His dad had said.

  His mom stood up faster than normal and looked at Hudson and Ezra, “Nice to see you boys again.”

  “You two Mrs. Light,” Ezra said and Hudson just nodded in reply.

  Hudson and Ezra leaned against the wall. Now that two large football players and his parents were in here, the room began to feel crowded. Garrett was glad his parents were leaving for a minute.

  “How you feeling?” Hudson sat down in the chair Robin just stood up from as Garrett’s parents filed out of the room.

  “A little sore,” Garrett shrugged. “Did we win?”

  Hudson shook his head. “But we’ll get them next year.”

  That was right, Garrett just needed to train harder. But then he thought about the baby, Bailey and Bree. All that time training would take away from them. He told Bree they would make it work, but how could he keep that promise if he wasn’t around to help her?

  “You scared us there for a second.” Ezra’s words pulled him out of his own mind for a minute.

  “I’m tough,” Garret laughed.

  The door swung open, bringing Garrett’s attention to it. Just as he hoped, it was Bree, Bailey perched on her hip.

  “Daddy,” Bailey squealed and shot her arms straight out. Bree nearly dropped her.

  Hudson grabbed the bag hanging from Bree’s side that slid off.

  “Thanks,” sh
e said.

  Garrett reached for Bailey and she lunged into his arms as soon as Bree was close enough. His head spun, but he ignored it. He was sure it was nothing. They wouldn’t be releasing him if it wasn’t. The doctor did say he needed to take a few weeks off football, which made him feel worse when he thought about it. When he started to protest, his mom butted in. He was just glad Bree wasn’t there taking his mom’s side at the time. Bailey wiggled on the bed beside him, making herself comfortable and tall. He kept his arm around her, knowing she wouldn’t fall, but was sure Bree would think so.

  “I brought you sweatpants and a tee shirt,” Bree said, glancing at the bag she brought that now sat on the floor beside Hudson hand. It only just dawned on him she hadn’t made eye contact since she stumbled in the room.

  “Okay.”

  “Shirt,” Bailey patted his stomach.

  “Daddy’s going to change his shirt.”

  The freckles on her nose disappeared when she giggled, “Daddy tink?”

  “Yes, daddy stinks.” He kissed the top of her head and everyone in the room laughed. He looked up at his teammates, “You guys don’t smell like roses either.”

  “Sum tink, too?” Bailey said, peering up at Garrett. The only reason Bailey knew Hudson was because he was Carly’s brother. She, however, didn’t know Ezra, but it didn’t seem to bother her that a strange guy was standing there.

  Hudson shook his head, but had a smirk as he stood up. “We won’t keep you. Just wanted to make sure you’re going to be okay.”

  “Thanks,” Garrett attempted a nod, but it only made his head feel worse.

  Bailey began to jabber when Hudson and Ezra started toward the door. Ezra attempted to fist-bump her but she buried her face against Garrett. He looked down at her when the bed shook.

  “Bree,” Hudson’s voice was quick with concern.

  Garrett’s heart dropped and he turned. Bree held the railing on the bed with one hand and her forehead with the other. “Are you okay?” He swooped Bailey up and attempted to stand, but he felt dizzy, too.