by Emily Camp
“How can you be sure?”
“I’ll be careful.”
“I’m not sure careful and football go together,” she chewed on her bottom lip, which distracted him from the conversation. He wanted to be the one to nibble on that lip if he could get her to make up with him.
“I will be for you.” He moved inches closer to her. Garrett knew he won her back when he heard the sharp intake of breath. He pressed his lips to hers and she smiled against him, and didn’t pull away. A good sign. The only thing that he hated was that he couldn’t sleep here. Even though they were engaged and it wasn’t like he could get her pregnant again, his mom and dad still didn’t want him staying in here. At least they were allowed to be behind closed doors now, which just the thought of tempted him.
Bailey was sound asleep in the crib. His mom and dad weren’t home. Isaac was playing his game. They could get away with it. Garrett eased over her without disconnecting the kiss. Bree hooked her arms around his neck, inviting him to continue. So he did, moving Bree to her back, the laptop forgotten at the end of the bed.
“Gare,” she said, breathless between kisses. Her hands were in his hair.
“Hmmm,” he trailed a line of kisses to her collar bone.
“We should … shouldn’t be doing this.” Her hands slid over his shoulders.
“We’re practically married.”
By now her palms were flat against his chest and she pushed him away, “but we’re not.”
Garrett groaned in frustration and rolled off her.
“Sorry,” she whispered as she sat up and tugged on the hem of her shirt.
“It’s okay.” Garrett let his feet fall to the floor as he sat on the end of the bed. He put his head in his hands, “Are we good, though?”
Bree sat behind him. Her hands began to knead his shoulders. “Yes, but please don’t ever snap at me for wanting you safe.”
“I’m not ready to give up football.” Garrett turned toward her. She blinked. He would do anything for her and Bailey, but he shouldn’t have to stop playing football. He was prepared to be done after he graduated, not yet.
****
Garrett stared at the diagram of the brain on the wall. His tennis shoes dangled from the examination chair. “When can I play again?”
The doctor slipped the light that looked like a pen into his front pocket after shining it in Garrett’s eyes. “My professional opinion? I don’t think you should.”
Garrett flinched at those words. Two more years. That’s all he needed.
“What if I have to play? When would be the soonest?”
The doctor relaxed his arm by his side, an iPod gripped in his hand. “More injuries to your brain could cause mood swings, memory loss, and brain damage amongst other things.”
“I won’t get injured again.”
The doctor lifted an eyebrow, “It’s a rough sport.”
“I’ve been playing all my life,” Garrett cupped his hands between his knees.
“Whether you play or don’t play, is entirely your call at this point. I’d advise no, it’ll only take one more hit …”
“Thank you,” Garrett pushed off the table and the soles of his Nike’s clapped against the tiled floor. He was thankful neither Bree nor his mother were able to come to this appointment with him.
The doctor nodded, “I’ll get your paperwork ready.”
Garrett paced. His heart raced in his chest. There was no way he could quit football. Not now, with only two years left. He needed to keep playing to keep his scholarship. He needed his degree to take care of Bree and their two kids. Bree was stressed enough about how they were going to make it and about him playing again. This would only worry her more.
He jumped when his phone beeped; despite the ‘no cellphone zone’ sign on the wall he’d kept it on. He reached into his back pocket and pulled it out. As he suspected, it was Bree. How is everything? Wish I could be there XOXO.
Garrett stared at the text. He couldn’t tell her the doctor didn’t think it was a good idea for him to play again. It wasn’t like he wasn’t physically able to. Things could happen anytime, anywhere. His chances of getting hurt now weren’t any more than they were the last time he played. If his mom and Bree heard the doctor recommend he stop playing, they’d both worry too much.
Only a tinge of guilt twisted in his gut when he replied. Great, I can play again. After pressing send, he stared at the screen for a minute.
The door to the examination room opened and Garrett slid his phone back in his pocket.
Bree would overreact, just like the doctor was. He did the right thing. He knew he did.
Chapter 28
Garrett sat at the kitchen table, his text splayed open and his notes beside it. His mom and Bree sat on the opposite side, his mom with her calendar in hand. Despite the reading glasses perched on the tip of his mother’s nose, she squinted at the page.
“Garrett, you have a bye the last weekend of November. We can see if Pastor Jack’s available then.”
He looked up from his studies, “That’s still six weeks away.” Bree would definitely be showing.
Bailey jabbered as she climbed on Bree’s lap, grabbing the pen on the table. Bree scooted her notebook toward her before she could scribble on the table.
“Unless you want to miss a game …” His mom looked down at the calendar again.
“Does it have to be on a Saturday?” Garrett asked, looking toward Bree. Bailey talked to herself, as she drew on the page. If he had to, he would skip a game, but he’d already missed enough. “I mean. I think it should be as soon as possible, don’t you?”
Bree glanced down at Bailey, “We don’t have a place to live.”
“We can figure that out after the wedding, right mom?” he asked.
His mom nodded and removed her glasses, “We’ll get you married and your own place before the baby arrives.”
“Baby,” Bailey’s voice chimed, as she continued to scribble, the pen floppy in her hand.
Bree ran her hand over Bailey’s head and kissed it.
Bailey giggled and looked up, giving Garrett a toothy smile. “Bailey Mommy’s baby.”
“Should we call Pastor and see what he has available?” His mom lowered the calendar and peered at Garrett over her glasses.
“Bailey Gamma baby.” Bailey went back to her drawing.
“Yes, Bailey’s Grandma’s baby.” His mom pinched Bailey’s cheek. Bailey giggled and brought her shoulder to her ear.
“Yeah, do that. See if he’s available tomorrow.”
Bree sighed with a smile on her face and tilted her head as she looked up at Garrett. Her arms rested on either side of Bailey as if forming a cage around her. “Gare.”
He winked, “What? I’m ready.”
“Bailey Daddy baby.”
“Yes, you’re my baby,” he grinned at her. Bailey giggled in response.
“I’m not that ready,” Bree let out a nervous laugh.
Garrett’s mom removed her glasses and sat them on the table, just out of Bailey’s reach, before she left the room with her phone to her ear.
“What difference would it make if it was tomorrow or six weeks from now? What’s going to change? Besides it being obvious that you’re pregnant.” Garrett hated that he brought it up again, because it made her frown and look away from him, at the paper Bailey was doodling on.
“Sure, we might have gotten ahead of ourselves, but I don’t think this is entirely a bad thing.”
“You’re not the one people will judge for this.”
“You think way too much about what people think.”
She glared up at him.
“What?” he lifted his hands. “We love each other, we’re making it right. Besides, in our society it’s okay to have the baby before the wedding.”
“I was trying not to be like our society.”
“You aren’t.”
“Pastor Jack is available two Fridays from now.” His mom entered the room, cupping th
e receiver end of her phone with her hand as she held the top to her ear.
Garrett smiled and looked at Bree, wiggling his eyebrows.
Bree’s scowl faded and Garrett could see a hint of a grin trying to form. “Fine.”
****
Garrett tied his cleats. It felt good to be in his uniform again. The coach didn’t question him any when he said he was cleared to play. Technically, he was. The doctor never said he couldn’t play, just that he was taking a risk playing, which was the truth even before his injury. Garrett would focus more on the game and not let anything distract him.
At least, that’s what he’d planned on doing. However, when he jogged out on the field for practice, he pictured Bree alone with the kids. Garrett closed his eyes and shook his head. Everyone chanted numbers, as they did jumping jacks. Then ran in place. Garrett had this. Nothing was going to happen to him.
The team paired off and tossed the ball back and forth. Even though it’d been weeks, it came natural to Garrett as he ran sideways and caught the ball. He fell into the routine like he hadn’t even been gone. Bree had nothing to worry about. Not knowing about what the doctor said wouldn’t hurt her any. There weren’t many more games left this year and he only had next year to go. Garrett could keep from getting hurt that long.
After practice was over and everyone was in the locker room, Hudson pulled his shirt over his head. “How can you say no to a bachelor party?”
“Very easily.” Garrett didn’t know what the fuss was about. Hudson’s idea of a bachelor party was going to a strip club. It wasn’t like he ever wanted to look at other girls before Bree. Why would he want to look at them now?
“C’mon, it’ll be your last chance as a single man.”
“Sorry, I can’t.”
“I tried,” Hudson said, cupping Garrett’s shoulder.
“Is he coming?” Ezra shouted from across the room.
“Nope.”
“Lame.” Another guy shouted.
“Does that mean we aren’t going?” Another teammate yelled.
“Heck no, we’re still going.” Hudson responded over the chatter. The entire locker room whooped and shouted as some danced around like idiots.
“Whipped sucker.” Senior lineman, Charlie, slapped him on the shoulder.
“Have you seen who he’s marrying? Dude, I’d be whipped too if I got to go home to her.” Ezra said.
Garrett wasn’t sure if that comment made him jealous or not. “You all are coming to the wedding, right?” Even though there were things that made him feel disconnect with the team, at least he could do was invite them so they didn’t think he didn’t go just because he didn’t like them. That he really didn’t go because he had a girl and a kid to get home to.
Chapter 29
Garrett adjusted his tie as he stood in front of the mirror. The door closed with a click behind him. Behind his reflection, his dad walked in with Bailey on his hip.
“Daddy, Bailey pwincess.” Bailey patted her belly. Her dress sparkled and poofed out at the bottom.
“Yes, you are a princess, Bailers.” He turned toward them.
Bailey reached for Garrett and he placed her on his hip.
“It’s finally here.” His dad patted him on the shoulder.
“Any fatherly wisdom on marriage?”
Bailey jabbered as she played with the collar on Garrett’s shirt.
“Two most important things, are honesty and communication.”
Immediately, the guilt of playing ball and not telling Bree of the risks hit him. Most of the team was already here, waiting. Some of them asked where all the single girls were and Parker already had to steer a couple away from Maggie.
“As long as you have those two things, you can get through anything.” His grip on his shoulder tightened. “I believe in you. You’re a good dad and I know you’ll be good to Bree.”
“Papa,” Bailey held her arms out to Garrett’s dad and he took her.
There was that guilt again rising from his stomach. He forced himself to smile, though he didn’t think he had a right to now.
“I better go check on your mom, she’s running around here somewhere. Good thing Isaac won’t be doing this for a long while.”
Garrett let out a forced laugh, though all he could think was ‘communication and honesty.’ More than anything, Garrett wanted this to last. He hadn’t fought so hard for her to ruin it by keeping something from her.
****
Bree felt her heart beating in her ears. It was a miracle they found a dress in such a short amount of time. Somehow, Robin came up with a couple for her to try. It was the first one she put on that she fell in love with. A simple, long, white satin gown. She tried to offer to pay for it, though she didn’t know how, but Robin insisted it was a gift. If anything, she knew she was marrying into a great family. Why did she have to think of her own now, anyway? Sure she had her siblings, Maggie, Bryson, and Parker, who planned to give her away.
Bryson complained about the suit, tugging at his collar until Carly told him he looked handsome. Then he held his shoulders back and his head tall, the shirt suddenly no longer choking him. He strutted from the room where Bree and Carly sat in their dresses with their hair done, giggling. A knock on the door had Carly rushing toward it. “Who is it?” she pressed her curly hair to the door and winked at Bree.
“It’s Garrett.”
The sound of his voice should have made Bree happy, but for some reason she couldn’t figure out, he didn’t sound right. As far as she knew, he was more excited about today than she was.
“You’re not allowed in here,” Carly smirked.
“I need to talk to Bree.”
“Too bad.”
“It’s important.”
“Seeing her today is bad luck, you know that.”
“I don’t believe in luck.”
“Let him in.” Bree’s heart sank with each word.
“Are you sure?”
Bree nodded as she twisted the ring on her finger. Her heart should have soared at the sight of him. His hair was slicked back neatly and he wore a long sleeved white button up with a white tie. But when his blue eyes met hers she only saw fear and worry.
He turned to Carly. “Can we have a minute?”
Carly lifted her hand toward Bree. “Have at it.” She slipped out of the room and closed the door behind her.
“You’re beautiful,” he said. Words that should make her happy meant nothing as she wondered what he was doing here. She didn’t speak when he knelt in front of her, placing his hands on her knees. His warm, tan fingers splayed over her dress, “I love you.”
“I hope so,” she tried to laugh, tried to make light. She didn’t want to show how scared she was. Garrett looked down at his hands. His breathing and her heart pumping in her ears was all she could hear.
“I have to tell you something.” He still wouldn’t look at her and she wanted to cry.
“Okay?” She closed her eyes, praying he didn’t change his mind. As much as she fought the marriage in the beginning, she wanted it now. She couldn’t take the thought of him changing his mind.
He massaged her knee with his hand. “I … the doctor …”
She felt bile rise from her stomach. Having morning sickness didn’t help matters much in this, either.
“When I saw the doctor … before I started playing again, he told me …” Garrett winced as if the words pained him.
All Bree could think was brain tumor or something horrible.
“He said if I got another head injury … I could … go brain dead.”
It took thirty seconds for Bree to process what he said. The first fifteen, she was relieved he wasn’t dying. The next, hurt he’d put himself in that much danger.
“You went out on that field knowing this?” Her heart rose to her throat. What if something happened to him?
“I love you,” He said reaching for her waist. “The only reason I did was for you.”
“But what would hap
pen to us if you got hurt again?”
“This is why I didn’t tell you.”
“Why are you telling me now?” She stood up, putting distance between them. Most of his team was here waiting to watch them get married, she wasn’t sure she wanted to see any of them right now. She know it wasn’t their fault, that they probably didn’t know any more than she did that he wasn’t supposed to be playing.
“If I don’t play, I lose my scholarship. Then what kind of future do we have?”
“A better one than if you’re brain dead,” her voice squeaked when it came out.
This time, when he stepped toward her, she didn’t move away. “I know. I’m sorry. I just … I want the best for us.” He wrapped his arms around her and she let him, though she didn’t return the embrace.
“You being well is what’s best for us. I don’t care about football or whether you get a degree. You know how easy it would be for you to get hurt again?”
“I know,” he said. “And I’m sorry. I am so sorry. You have to believe me.”
Bree relaxed in his arms until she heard, “I am the mother of the bride, I have every right to be here,” along with clatter coming from just outside the room. The door swung open with a swoosh and clanged against the wall. Mindy stumbled in. Her hair stuck up in various places, her eyes blood shot and the blouse she had on only half way tucked into her skirt, which was askew, as well.
“There you are, Breanna.” Mindy strode with a wobble.
Parker and Carly burst in the room behind her.
She fell off the wagon. Hadn’t she been doing well? Bree thought she was the last time she visited with her.
Mindy looked at Garrett when she stopped, and swayed, “Didn’t anyone tell you you aren’t supposed to see the bride before the weddin?” She pushed on Garrett, making room between him and Bree.
“Look at you, ain’t you a beauty? Take after your mama.” Mindy placed her stale-cigarette- smelling hands on either side of her face. By now a couple of Garrett’s teammates were outside the door, looking in. Bree wanted to disappear.
Bree fought the tears that wanted to escape. This wasn’t supposed to be like this. The day should have been the best. She looked toward Carly.