Marissa tossed the tank top into her bag. “If I even see him.”
The girls stayed up all night. Marissa was nervous when her grandparents picked her up the next morning, but soon exhaustion set in and she slept the entire trip.
~eight~
When she arrived at her aunt’s house, she walked in to the empty kitchen carrying her bags. There was a note on the refrigerator.
Lynn @ work. If you want to hang out you know where to find me.
-B
Marissa ran out to the truck to assure her grandparents that she would be fine. Once they left, she carried her bags into the small guest room she always stayed in. As she walked through the empty house, she considered staying there and unpacking. She lifted a bag on to her bed, and opened it, and noticed the shirt Melissa had thrown at her. Without another thought, she changed into the baby blue halter top and walked out the front door, through the cemetery, and to the park.
Brayden came running toward her as she climbed the fence.
“Wow! Through the cemetery by yourself!” He hugged his cousin.
Marissa couldn’t help but glance over his shoulder towards the guys playing football. Chad wasn’t there.
Brayden realized what she was doing and looked away. “Yea, he doesn’t play much anymore. He doesn’t really have the time.”
Marissa smiled her best fake smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m here to watch my cousin and enjoy the sun!”
“First the cemetery and now no writing? Who are you and what did you do to my little cousin?” Even though they always kept to themselves during the school year, Marissa and Brayden were always immediate friends as once they were together.
“Oh shut up and go play.” Brayden ran off and Marissa settled on her boulder. She grew bored and restless quickly, angry at herself for not bringing her notebook.
She had been sitting for about thirty minutes when he appeared, walking toward her, pushing a stroller.
“Hey, I was wondering when you would be back,” Chad said shyly.
She looked at him. His hair had grown out more since last time she saw him, and the blue was gone. He had obviously spent some time outside because he was nowhere near as pale as he was the previous summer. She wanted to jump down and throw her arms around him, but she froze.
The child in the stroller was obviously his. He had the same blonde hair, blue eyes, and dimples.
”So I take it she really was pregnant,” Marissa said softly.
“Yes, she was. This little guy is my three month old son, Anthony.” Chad reached up to take Marissa’s hand as she jumped from the giant rock.
“So are the two of you…”
“No,” Chad cut her off before Marissa could finish the question. “Tamara and I are definitely not together. She took off quite a while ago actually. He is all mine. My family is a huge help when I’m in school or wrestling, but other than that I am on my own. If I want to go somewhere, I either bring him with or find a sitter.”
Marissa bent down to say hi to the baby. “So I’m assuming this is why you never called?”
Chad knelt next to her and put his hand to her cheek so she would look at him. “I didn’t call because I knew I shouldn’t. I don’t deserve someone like you. And honestly, being friends with you would never work because I like you. Hearing your voice and pretending I could just be friends with you would have been too hard.”
Marissa blinked back tears. Chad was the closest she ever had to a boyfriend, and it was over before it started.
“Then don’t,” she finally managed to say.
“Don’t what? Don’t talk to you or don’t just be friends?”
Marissa honestly didn’t have an answer. She wasn’t sure which one she meant. She turned to walk away.
Chad grabbed her arm. “Don’t be mad. I’m just doing what is best for you.”
“Don’t I get any say in what is best for me?” Marissa snapped back.
“Yes, you should. But not about this. How would your family react if you told them you had a 17 year old boyfriend with a kid? Most parents would freak out!”
“Mine probably wouldn’t even notice,” Marissa muttered. “But you have made your point. I should have stayed home this summer. I should have realized that if you wanted me here, you would have called. It’s okay. I can stay at the campground.”
“Where would we be if I did call? And believe me, I wanted to. I almost did a hundred times! But it wouldn’t have changed anything. I would still have Anthony.”
“We could have talked about it and avoided this! You being a father don’t bother me. I would have gotten used to it if you would have told me months ago instead of just ambushing me with him. I waited by the phone for weeks! I thought that I was crazy for thinking you liked me.” Marissa’s eyes were filling with tears again.
“I didn’t even know about him until after he was born! Tamara called my older brother from a hospital in Minnesota, telling him she had just had his brother’s baby and if we wanted the baby to come get him or he was going up for adoption. She was gone by the time we got there. I hadn’t seen or heard from her since the day I met you, so I had assumed the pregnancy was a lie. I figured she would have at least wanted money or something.” Chad bent over to pick up his son. “The first time I held him, I did call you from the hospital. And I hung up as soon as I heard your voice. You sounded happy. Giggling with someone as you answered. I couldn’t tell you about him then. Not when I hadn’t called you once in the six months before. He is my life now. He doesn’t have to be yours.”
Marissa reached up to wipe the tears from Chad’s eyes. She remembered that call. She and Melissa had just gotten home from a basketball game. “And you think I would turn you away because of him?”
Chad shrugged. “Everyone else has. All of my friends. My brothers.”
“Even Brayden?” Marissa asked.
Chad nodded. “He was right there for me in the beginning. But I would go from school and wrestling practice straight home. I couldn’t hang out after school. Couldn’t stay over or he would be woke up in the middle of the night by a crying baby. Over the past month or so, we just fell out of touch. He tried to get me to call you, you know. He mentioned it every day for probably about a month. He started again after Anthony was born.”
“Can I hold him?”
Chad held the small child out to her so she could take him. “He’s so tiny. You said he was three months?”
“Born March 17th. My little good luck charm. But he will probably always be small for his age. The doctors said Tam didn’t take care of him or herself while she was pregnant. Never bothered to see a doctor until she went into labor. Who knows what she was on the whole time.”
“But he’s okay?” Marissa’s mom was a nurse in an neonatal intensive care unit back at home, and Marissa was always hearing horror stories about drug babies.
“So far. Doctors say he could develop issues later on from it, but all we have noticed so far is his size.”
“So why Anthony?’ Marissa was aware she was asking too many questions, but she was afraid he would walk away at any time. She had to keep him talking.
“It’s my middle name. And my father is Anthony Christopher. So we have Anthony Christopher, Chad Anthony, and Anthony Chad.”
“I told you that you should have called her.” Marissa didn’t notice that Brayden had walked up behind them. “She’s not a normal girl. She doesn’t get chased off easily, and she will always be there when you need someone.”
“How would this even work? It’s not like your family would approve. The age difference is bad enough, but once they find out I’m a father, they will probably send you back home immediately.”
Brayden smiled. “Lynn already knows about him and you are still welcome over any time. If you two want to try, I will help. Chad, she’s all you talked about since she left. Marissa, I’m sure you have been the same way.”
“And if it doesn’t work?” Chad asked.
> “Then you can’t say you didn’t try,” Brayden replied.
Chad looked at Marissa. She had been silent since Brayden approached them. He needed to know how she felt, but he suspected she wouldn’t truly open up in front of her cousin. “Let me buy you lunch,” he suggested. “We can talk.”
Marissa nodded, still not speaking.
“Come back here before you head back to the house,” Brayden told his cousin. “We don’t want to show up separately unless we want to answer questions.”
Again, Marissa nodded. Brayden walked away, back toward the never-ending football game.
Chad took the child from her arms and settled him back into his stroller. “Are you ready?” he asked, turning back toward the street.
“Can we just go for a walk instead? I’m not really hungry.” Marissa had finally found her voice.
“Whatever you want,” Chad told her. “But first, I want to swing by my house. Melanie is expecting to watch the little guy for a little bit.”
Marissa agreed. They silently walked the two blocks to Chad’s house and Marissa waited outside while he took the baby in.
~nine~
When Chad emerged from the house, Marissa started walking toward the road.
“So, do you really want to walk? Or we can go for a ride.” Chad gestured toward a midnight blue Firebird in the driveway.
Marissa had forgotten that Chad was old enough to drive. Realizing he had a license wasn’t as shocking as finding out he had such an amazing car. Marissa climbed in the passenger seat and buckled her seat belt. She noticed a pack of cigarettes sitting on the dash. “Mind if I have one?” she asked as Chad started the car.
“Your cousin would kill me if he found out I had you smoking.”
Marissa laughed. “Yea, because I had no friends to corrupt me back at home. My mom’s boyfriend even buys them for me. I’m not that young and innocent.” She lit a cigarette and rolled down her window.
The car was silent for a few minutes. Neither knew what to say. Finally Chad pulled the car over and turned to her.
“I need to know what you are thinking. Are the age, distance, and Anthony too much for you? Do you want to try a relationship? Do you even think of me like that? Are you...” Chas was cut off before he could finish his next question.
“No. Yes. Yes. Well, the distance is definitely a problem, but I’m here until August so we can worry about that later. But what will your friends think when they find out you are dating a junior high kid?”
“What friends? Most have already turned their backs on me. Brayden seems to support us though.”
Marissa nodded. “One more thing.” She took a deep breath and chose her next words very carefully. “One more thing. If you are expecting me to sleep with you any time soon, you are clearly out of your mind. It will not happen. And I absolutely will not tolerate being cheated on.” Marissa was afraid to look at him after all she had just said. It was probably a deal breaker for him. He had obviously already been in a sexual relationship, but Marissa wasn’t ready. Especially since he would be her first boyfriend.
Chad reached out for her face. His piercing blue eyes looked directly into hers before he replied. “Tamara was the first and only person I have ever slept with. I am fine with that. I was always so drunk or high I barely remember it. I wasn’t ready then, and I’m not sure if I’m even ready now. I sure wasn’t ready for the consequences, and I will not be repeating that for a very long time. Now, do you have any more conditions?”
“No,” Marissa whispered, mesmerized by his eyes.
“So, will you be my girlfriend?” he asked.
“Yes,”
Marissa started to turn away, thinking the conversation was over. Chad pulled her towards him and leaned in. Their lips met for only a moment, but Marissa knew it was a moment she would never forget. When they separated, he put his arm around her and pulled her close. She rested her head on his shoulder.
“It’s not going to be easy,” he told her. “Anthony takes a lot of my time. And I still have two weeks left of school. I probably won’t see you much before then. And I really should try to find a job this summer instead of depending on my parents for everything. But I want to spend as much time with you as I can this summer.” Chad looked at the clock on the dash of the car. It was 4:30. “I should probably get you back to Brayden. I don’t want you to get in trouble for being late.”
The ride back to the park was silent, but they held each other’s hand the entire way. When they parked and got out of the car, they walked into the park hand in hand.
~ten~
Chris was the first to notice the couple. He shook his head and walked off with a couple of other guys. Brayden was more excited to see them together.
“You should stay over tonight,” he told Chad.
“I can’t exactly leave Anthony at home.”
“So bring him with. We have a crib that Lynn had bought for when Marissa’s sister comes up. We can set it up in the basement and hang out like old times.” He looked at his cousin. “You can stay down there tonight too, as long as you two don’t get any crazy ideas.”
Chad laughed. “That’s not going to be a problem. But I have a lot of homework to catch up on if I plan on passing this year. That was kind of my plan for the night.”
“You are seriously spending a Saturday night of a three day weekend on school work?” Brayden asked.
Chad nodded. “I’m really behind, especially in Algebra and Physics, since I took that month off when Anthony was born.”
“I can help you,” Marissa spoke up. It was true; she had taken high school algebra the previous year. “I’m not the greatest in science, and I’ve never taken it, but isn’t physics basically math?”
“No offence, but isn’t that a little advanced for you?” Brayden asked.
“I take a lot of advanced classes. I was sent to the high school for algebra and English last year,” she explained.
“Are you seriously going to want to spend your summer vacation helping with homework?” Chad definitely would appreciate the help, but didn’t want her to feel like it was something she had to do.
“It gives us a reason to see each other,” she pointed out. “I really don’t mind.”
“And it gives you the perfect reason to stay over!” Brayden exclaimed.
“I will take all the help I can get. If the work isn’t done, I can’t take finals. And believe me, there is a lot. Jump in the car. I’ll run home and get Anthony and we’ll head over.”
The three climbed into the car. A few minutes later they were in Chad’s driveway. He pointed to a grey Camry parked next to him.
“You two can wait in that car while I get Anthony.” He got out of the car and disappeared through the front door.
“How many cars does he have?” Marissa asked as she moved to the other car.
Brayden shrugged. “He has a bike too, or at least he used to. He got the Camry when Anthony was born. I forgot you didn’t know just how loaded his family is.”
“Then why is he wanting to find a job?” she asked.
“He doesn’t get along with his dad very well.” Brayden buckled his seat belt. “He is actually planning on moving in with his older brother in a few weeks, but I think that’s a horrible idea. He has a trust fund that is more than enough to live on, but he just isn’t the type to take the easy way out. He never has.”
Chad walked out the front door carrying an infant seat, duffle bag, and a diaper bag. Marissa jumped out to help him, but he shook his head. “I got it.” Not listening, she walked around the car and opened the back door for him. Chad set both of the bags on the driveway and clicked the car seat into the base that was already strapped in to the back seat. He walked to the back of the car and put both bags in the truck and returned to the house. Moments later, he emerged carrying two more bags, which he put into the trunk with the others.
He was buckled in the driver seat with the car started before he said a word. He turned toward the bac
k seat. “Think Lynn would let me stay for a few days? I have nowhere to go until Eric gets back from his vacation next weekend. And I don’t need to worry about finals anymore, because I don’t have a sitter to even be able to go to school.”
“What happened? And who is Eric?” Marissa asked.
“Long story short, I got kicked out. Eric is my older brother. I was already planning on moving in with him in his apartment this summer. Of course that wasn’t for a couple of more weeks.” He put the car in reverse and headed to Brayden’s house.
“Can’t hurt to ask. Too bad she’s working days; otherwise I’m sure she would be able to help out with the baby. Your dad couldn’t have waited until school was out?”
“It wasn’t him,” Chad told him, turning on to Brayden’s street. “It was my mom, because of Chris. But I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“I can watch him while you are in school,” Marissa spoke up.
“Perfect! Why didn’t we think of that?” Brayden exclaimed.
Chad shook his head. “I can’t ask you to do that,” he told her.
“You’re not asking, I’m offering,” she pointed out.” And you can trust me; I have practically raised my sister. I’m even a certified babysitter. I was just going to sit around bored all day waiting for you guys to get out any way.”
Chad pulled into Brayden’s driveway. “Let’s take this one step at a time. We don’t even know if I can stay here.” He looked at his girlfriend. “I don’t want to hide the fact that we are together, but right now, it’s probably best.”
Marissa nodded and headed in to her aunt’s house, followed closely by the boys.
An hour later it was settled that Chad could stay until the end of the school year, on the condition that he went to school each day. Chad also agreed to let Marissa babysit.
Marissa was stretched out on the basement floor playing with Anthony, while Brayden and Chad set up the crib and carried in Chad’s bags from the car.
Summer Love (First Love Book 1) Page 3