Covering the Carolinas

by Casey Peeler

  “Summer wants me to come over.”

  “I bet she does. One more round before she’s not Del Valle’s girl. I’d watch out for her. She’s liable to get pregnant on purpose just to keep you.”

  “Shut up! That shit’s not funny.”

  I make my way into my apartment, grab a beer before showering, and get ready to go to Summer’s.

  Arriving at Summer’s, I make my way inside and find her waiting for me on the couch. It’s obvious what she has in mind, but I just don’t know if I can go through with it. As I approach her, she takes a step towards me.

  “Summer, we’ve got to talk.” She pouts her lip and it takes every ounce of courage for me tell her the truth about us. A much as I hate to hurt her, I’ve got to be honest.

  As we sit back down, I turn to her. “Summer, you’re a great girl and…”

  “Don’t say it, Del Valle. I already know. The moment you ran to her, I knew we were finished.”

  “Here’s the thing. I don’t know if I even stand a chance with her, but it’s not fair to you. You’ve been the perfect girl for me here, but you’re not Marleigh. As much as I want us to work, I just know I’m not over her.”

  She begins to laugh, and I’m not sure what’s so funny. “You think I didn’t know you weren’t over her? You talk about her in your sleep, but I didn’t care. I thought you’d come around. Just know the next time she leaves you, I can’t promise I’ll be here.”

  I stand as she does. She hugs me and kisses my cheek. “What do you say, Del Valle? One more time for old time’s sake?” She winks. Placing my forehead on hers, I close my eyes and debate what I should do. Opening them, I look in her eyes and they are begging for me. Placing my lips on hers, I control our movements. As she tries to move things further, I realize that I’m not this kind of guy.

  “Summer, we can’t,” I say as she tries to kiss me again. “Stop, I said! I won’t let you be that girl or me that guy. We’re better than this.” She takes a step back and I see her wipe her eyes discreetly.

  “You should go, Del Valle,” she says as she turns away from me.

  “I’m really sorry, Summer,” I say as I walk out the door and don’t look back.

  Chapter 20

  MARLEIGH

  After Brett is long gone and the tears have ceased, I stand there watching the tide begin to crash further and further up the beach just as my past has crashed back into my present. I think about my life, and if what Brett said is right. I thought I was doing the right thing, but the pleading look on GC’s face made me doubt my decision. He was completely shocked when he saw me before the game. He thought I didn’t notice, but I did. It doesn’t matter how long we’ve been apart, when he’s near me my world stops and begins to revolve around him just like it did they day I met him.

  I’m not sure how long I stand there, but at some point my sisters are at my side. As the moon rises higher in the clear sky, they guide me back to the house and my anxiety grows as I imagine a conversation with the boy who stole my heart and gave me the most precious gift without even knowing.

  “Come on, Mar. Let’s go home,” Carleigh says as we make our way back to the house.

  When I wake up I realize it’s already lunch time, which is crazy because usually Gunner calls me in the mornings waking me up. When I try to Facetime him, he doesn’t answer, then I realize they are probably eating lunch after church. The house is super quiet and it doesn’t take long for me to realize it’s empty. Weird. I make my way to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee when I notice a note from Tinleigh saying they were going grocery shopping, but would be back after while. Taking a few minutes to enjoy the quietness and relax, I take a sip of my coffee. Coffee! Shit! I’m meeting GC in two hours! Jumping up, I hurry to my room and take a shower. What the hell am I going to wear? What am I going to say? How will I tell him about Gunner? All my thoughts are jumbled as I prepare to see him.

  Deciding I don’t want to look too polished, I wear a pair of jeans and an embellished top. Taking a few extra minutes to apply my makeup and style my long dirty blonde hair, I stare at my reflection in the mirror as I finish. I wonder what he thought when he saw me? Did he think I was still as pretty as the last time he saw me? Trying my best not to get myself too worked up, I exit my room and leave my sisters a note that I’m at Coastal Java.

  GUNNISON

  Waiting for Marliegh at Coastal Java is like waiting on water to boil. Just as I think she’s not going to show, I hear the bell ring as the door opens. I’m speechless when she smiles as she walks toward me.

  I stand when she approaches. “Hey,” is all I can manage because she is absolutely stunning.

  “Hey,” she says sweetly.

  “Caramel Coffee?” I ask.

  A perfect smile escapes her lips when she realizes I remember one of her favorite flavors. Did she really think I could forget the ice cream shop? “Yes, that would be fabulous,” she says as she takes a seat. I make my way to the counter order two caramel coffees and realize my hands have become clammy.

  Once I’m seated, I can’t help but start with the questions. “Marleigh, I’m so surprised to see you. I don’t know where to start. How are you?”

  “Pretty good I guess. What about you?”

  “School and basketball have been just like I dreamed they’d be.”

  “That’s great! Are you still planning on going back to run the farm?”

  “Yeah, well unless the NBA comes calling,” I say with a laugh.

  “NBA really?”

  “Yeah, I mean, it’s highly unlikely that will happen, but with the coverage we’ve been getting, it does put eyes on us. I’m not banking on that though. That’s like a one in a million chance.”

  “Still, that’s awesome.”

  Unable to hold back the questions I want answers to I just blurt it out. “How long have you been here?”

  “I’ve been here since August, but I’m only on campus Tuesday through Thursday. I’m not around much other than that. I’ve been going home a lot.” Why would she go home?

  “I guess that’s why I haven’t seen you. When I’ve run into your sisters they usually avoid me and quite honestly I have no idea why. I mean, what happened? We had our plan and you just gave it up without notice or an explanation? Why would your sisters avoid me? I really don’t understand?

  “Yeah.” We don’t say anything for a few minutes. As we sip our coffee in silence the bell rings again and I glance over my shoulder to see Summer walk in. Our eyes meet and she gives me a smirk before heading to the counter. I quickly turn back to Marleigh to let her know we broke up.

  “Marleigh, we aren’t together anymore, and before you say anything, hear me out.” She nods. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I need you to know I’ve never gotten over you. I mean you just called us quits with no warning or explanation so I figured I had to try to move on. When I got to school and your sisters confirmed I needed to let you go, I decided to see if dating would help. Summer was here. She’s a great girl, but she’s not the girl for me. Last night when I saw you, I realized I had never gotten over you and I knew I couldn’t be with Summer anymore. But here’s the problem, I don’t understand. I thought we had a plan and I don’t know what changed it. I didn’t do anything to you, did I?”

  “No, I just… you just… you had such big dreams, and I didn’t want to hold you back,” she says as her eyes gloss over. What is she hiding?

  “How were you going to hold me back? We were both going to come to Coastal and be together? Your dream was to study Marine Biology? What changed?” Just as I think I’m finally going to get my answers, all the color drains from her as if she sees a ghost. All the sudden, a short little kid attacks her and yells, mommy. What the hell? Did he say mommy? She’s got a kid? I look at the little boy and it all becomes clear as I see a miniature version of myself sitting on her hip. Oh. My. God. That’s my little boy. I look between her and the little boy and I have no words to describe the rage I feel when I realize
Marleigh has kept this from me for three years.

  Chapter 21

  MARLEIGH

  Oh my god. Please tell me this isn’t happening. Not now. Looking at the door, I see my parents and it’s obvious they thought I was alone. Scanning the other side of the coffee shop, Summer comes into view with a smirk on her face and glances toward GC, who’s expression I can’t, for the life of me, read.

  “Hey, y’all. What are you doing here?” I ask my parents as chipper as possible.

  Mama chimes in and answers. “With Gunner’s birthday being on Wednesday, we thought we’d come spend the week with you since you had classes. We just saw your note and thought you were studying or something. He wanted to surprise you.” Then she mouths, “I’m so sorry.”

  Gunner is still attached to me and GC looks as if he’s trying to put the pieces together. “Um, sweet boy, will you give me just a sec?” I say as I kiss the top of his head. “Mama and Daddy, can you give me just a minute?” They take Gunner to the counter and I take a deep breath before telling GC the truth.

  “GC, um, how do I say this?”

  “You’ve got a kid? Is that why you called it quits?” he says as he stands and it’s obvious he is unsure of what is playing out in front of him.

  “I was planning on explaining all of this to you today. Can we go outside and talk?” I say pleading as attention builds toward us. Glancing at Gunner, I know I can’t do this in front of him. I take GC by the hand and pull him outside as he follows reluctantly. Once we are outside, he yanks his hand from mine.

  “Gunnison Cyrus, I think it’s time you knew that that little one in there is yours,” I say, pointing through the window at Gunner. “That little boy in there is named Gunner after his father, and his birthday is January 21, 2011, which is nine months after Spring Break. He’s yours. That’s our little boy in there,” I say as tears pour from my eyes.

  “It’s obvious that is my little boy in there. Just look at him, he looks just like me! More importantly, why would you keep him from me? You knew how much I loved you. Why on earth would you keep him from me? When we broke up, you left me to assume you had simply stopped loving me!” As angry as he is, I see hurt in his eyes, and I know that I made the worst mistake of my life. “Marleigh, I can’t believe you’d lie to me! For three years!” he says as his frustrations build and tears fill his eyes. He looks around as if he’s looking for something to hit.

  Taking a step toward him, I say his name softly. He tries to step backwards but runs into a trash can. “I did this because I love you. I knew what you wanted in life and if I would have told you… you wouldn’t have pursued your dream. I couldn’t hold you back. One of us needed to live life to the fullest.”

  “Don’t give me that as an excuse. You kept my child from me. Three years, Mar! There’s no excuse you can give me to make me forgive you.” He just stands there looking at me and then through the window at Gunner. I can’t talk to you right now.” he says as he places his hands on my shoulders and moves me out of the way, then he walks away and never looks back.

  A stream of tears fall down my face as I watch the only man I’ve truly loved walk away. Hearing footsteps approaching, I see my sisters through tear stained eyes. “Mar, we’re so sorry. We didn’t know they were coming today.” They engulf me in their arms and then we hear a laugh. Looking up, my eyes see the blonde bimbo, Summer, who’s enjoyed every bit of this show.

  “I sure didn’t plan on getting free entertainment when I walked in today. Looks like all your dreams just vanished in front of your eyes. The only thing better than that show would have been if I had found the dirt and told him myself. I guess I’ll go comfort him? What do you think, Mar?” Rage builds within me and I want to beat the shit out of her.

  Tinleigh pulls me away from her, reading me like only sisters can. “She’s not worth it.”

  “No, hunny, I’m totally worth it, and now that you’ve broken Del Valle into a million pieces, I’m going to help put him back together one little piece at a time.”

  “He doesn’t love you. He never will.”

  “Maybe, but at least I’m not a liar,” she says as she struts toward her car. Liar, yes that’s exactly what I am, and my daddy was right. I should have told him.

  “God, I hate her,” I say and my sisters agree. “What am I gonna do?” I plead.

  “You’re going to dry your pretty eyes, hold your head high, and go in there and act as if nothing is wrong. Gunner won’t understand. He might know you’re upset, but you don’t have to tell him more than that. Focus on him and not what just happened. We will help you get through it, with or without GC,” Carleigh says from the heart. I do as she says, and put on my best mommy face.

  Walking back into the coffee shop, all eyes are on me. My mama hugs me and whispers that it will be okay. I bend down to Gunner. “What you got there?” I ask with a smile.

  “A cake pop!” he says and I can’t help but smile at my little boy. “You want a bite?” he questions. “I’m good. Come on.” Taking his hand, we exit the coffee shop and Gunner rides with me back to the beach house. He helps me forget what just happened, but each time I glance at him in my rearview mirror, I see his daddy, and that’s when I decide that I’ve got to make this right somehow for the sake of my son.

  Gunner tells me about everything that he’s been doing with my parents, and as a commercial for the upcoming home game comes on the radio, he gets quiet. “Mommy, there’s ball here?”

  “Yes, at my school.”

  “I go, Mommy! My birfthday! Pease?” Hearing his sweet little voice, there’s no way I can deny him a birthday wish.

  “Let me see if there’s a home game once we get to the house.” Even though I already know the answer.

  Arriving at the house, Gunner and I make our way inside. When everyone else arrives, Daddy takes Gunner for a walk and leaves us with Mama.

  “Mar, we didn’t know. I’m so sorry! If we would have, we never would have showed up,” Mama assures.

  “I know. I’m just so confused and now I know that I was wrong. I shouldn’t have kept him from GC, but what am I going to do now?” I look to them for an answer.

  “You are going to make this right. Just give him some time,” she says.

  “Oh and guess what Gunner wants to do for his birthday?” They look at me with questioning eyes. “To go to a basketball game.”

  “Are you serious?” Tinleigh asks.

  “As a heart attack.” Looking at my phone, I pull up the schedule confirming what I already know. The only home game is Saturday, when I planned to have his party back home. “I guess I’m in the clear though, ‘cause the only home game is Saturday and we’ll be in Gaffney then.”

  “Um, we had planned on staying until Sunday and having a party here,” Mama says softly.

  “Well, I guess there’s no time like the present to make things right. We’ll go to the game, and hopefully I’ll talk to GC before then. Why was I so damn stupid?” I ask them.

  “Mar, you weren’t stupid. Stubborn, yes, and you did what you thought was best. Now, it’s time to make it right for the three of you. You know as well as I do that he’s not going to let Gunner out of his life now that he knows. He just needs time to process everything.”

  GUNNISON

  As soon as I’m in my car, I fall apart. I have a kid—a perfect little boy. I’ve got to get away for a little while, but when I look at the clock I know I’ve got to be at the gym in an hour, so instead I decide to go to the gym and shoot around.

  I’m not sure exactly how long I’ve been by myself, but then I hear another ball bouncing in the background and it’s Wade.

  “Dude, you okay? I’ve been here for like ten minutes and you didn’t notice. I take it things didn’t go well with the girl?”

  After taking another shot, I place my hands on my hips and take a deep breath. “Nothing like I planned. Not at all.”

  “Well, that sucks but at least now you can finally move on,” he says like it’
s no big deal as he passes the ball back to me.

  “It’s a little more complicated than that,” I say as I take a shot.

  “What, she got a kid or something?” he jokes while laughing as he passes the ball to me, but instead of catching it, I freeze and it hits me right in the chest. His laughter stops and he gets serious. “No way, dude, she’s got a kid? For real? Aw, that’s okay, it’s just a kid, people have kids all the time.”

  I swallow the lump in my throat. “He’s mine,” I say aloud and suddenly it becomes real.

  “Did you just say you have a kid?” Wade questions as he walks closer.

  “Yeah and I’m fuckin’ scared as hell.”

  “Just curious, and you can hit me for this if you want, but why are you just now finding out? I mean if she’s the girl, wouldn’t she have told you?”

  “I would have thought so, and Wade, that’s why I’m so messed up. She just kept saying she did it so I could live my life. How could I have been in love with someone who could keep this from me?”

  “I don’t know, what are you going to do?

  Not having an answer to his question, I decide I’m done with the conversation. I grab the ball and go back to shooting hoops in silence.

  After practice, Wade hangs around. I’m sure he’s just trying to be a good friend, but I just want to be alone. Where the hell am I going to go?

  “Want to go grab something to eat?” he asks.

  “Nah. I think I just need to figure this out on my own. Thanks though.”

  “No problem. Oh, and as stupid as this might sound, I’m sure at the time she thought she was doing the right thing. Think about it, she was scared and you were like, how many states away?”

  “Maybe, but I would have been there for her. Why didn’t she trust me?”

  “Maybe you need to ask her that and hear her out, when you’re not so pissed.”

  Once I’m in my car, I decide I might as well go home. It’s Sunday night and I have a feeling it’s going to be a long week with everything swimming around in my brain, not to mention an away game and classes. When I park my car, I notice a familiar car parked several spaces over. Seriously, I told her I wasn’t running back to her. Getting out, I walk toward Summer sitting in her vehicle. She looks like she’s been crying. Please tell me she hasn’t been crying for hours.