Covering the Carolinas (18 page)

“
GC, what Tinleigh is trying to say is that we
know you care about her, but you need a plan. Are you ready to be
the one to keep her grounded when she wants to react before
thinking?”

“
That’s what I love about her. I’m ready to be
the one to hold her feet on the ground when she wants to jump just
a little too early, but I also want to be the one to jump with her
when it’s right.”

Tinleigh takes a moment and looks like she’s wiping
away a tear as Carleigh speaks. “We’ve also taken note of how you
think things through over the past three years. We respect that,
and believe that’s why you and Mar are such a great fit for each
other.”

“
I’m glad you think we make a good fit. I want
to spend the rest of my life with her… and Gunner.”

They both sit back and contemplate their next
thought. “GC, both of you have school, she has to go back and forth
between school and home, and you’re going to move back to
Pennsylvania to work on the farm.”

“
I don’t have an exact plan for us yet, but
I’m working on it. Once basketball is over my schedule will have
more free time, and with Marliegh’s classes only three days a week,
we should be able to make this work. Yes, I know that it’s going to
be hard, but after this weekend, we hope that Gunner will visit
more often.”

“
But who’s he going to stay with? Will y’all
stay together? Y’all aren’t married, ya know?”

“
Uh, I know that, Carleigh, but I do plan on
changing that soon. This school year will be over soon and then
it’s just two semesters. Do you promise not to say
anything?”

Their eyes look at me curiously. “Sure.”

“
I want Marleigh and I to be married before we
graduate. I don’t know when it will happen. I know we just got back
together, and people will probably think we’re crazy, but I know
that she’s the girl who makes me a better person. She makes life
worth living, and I’m not willing to put our future on hold any
longer.” Looking at her sisters for answers, they both begin to
smile.

“
GC, thank you for loving her and letting her
back into your life. She did what she thought she needed to do,”
Carleigh says confidently before walking toward me and giving me a
hug. “Good luck at the game tomorrow, and have fun with
Gunner.”

They make their way from my apartment, and I don’t
know what to think about the conversation. However, I know that I
have a lot to think about now that I have more than just Marleigh
to worry about in my life.

Chapter 35

MARLEIGH

As the sun begins to shine through my window, I’m
awakened by the sound of my phone. Groggily, I pull it from the
night stand and look to see who it is. The unpleasant awakening
quickly disappears when I realize it’s Gunnison.

“
Mornin’, Mar,” he says with just a little
roughness in his voice and it’s a perfect wake up call.

“
Mornin’. You ready for the game?”

“
Game? Hell yeah, but I’m ready for what comes
after.”

“
Gunnison, I am too. When are y’all
leaving?”

“
Around lunch.”

“
It’s barely six?” I question.

“
I’m sorry. When I woke up this morning, you
were on my mind, and I couldn’t wait hear your voice.”

“
As much as I’d rather be sleeping right now,
hearing your voice makes me forget. Oh, and while I’m thinking
about it, we’re going out tonight—me and you.”

“
What about Gunner?”

“
Mama and Daddy want us to go out and have a
little fun on our own away from campus. I think it sounds like the
perfect day: game, Gunner, and a little us time.”

All of a sudden, my door opens and Gunner runs in.
As I tell him good morning, Gunnison gets quiet. Asking him to hold
on a minute, Gunner slides next to me in the bed and I turn the
speakerphone on and let him know Gunnison is on the phone. As he
talks to Gunnison, there’s a light in Gunner’s eyes and Gunnison’s
voice that let’s me know everything is going to be okay. After we
hang up, Gunner tosses the phone on my bed and snuggles in my arm
while we watch his favorite show.

GUNNISON

Talking to Gunner on the phone this morning started
my day off right. Today is going to be nothing short of amazing.
Not able to relax, I make my way for a morning run, breakfast with
Wade, and shoot around until it’s time to get ready to leave.

Stepping onto the team’s bus, I can’t help but smile
as I toss my gym bag stuffed with everything I might need for the
weekend. Taking my seat beside Wade, I place my headphones on and
pump up my pregame travel music. This time I have a harder time
focusing because my mind continues to drift to seeing both Marleigh
and Gunner today.

We are on the bus for what feels like forever. Dang,
I don’t know how Marleigh does this each week, but I realize it’s
not about wanting, it’s about doing what a mother does for a
child.

As the bus makes its way toward the North Carolina
line, I can’t help but wonder where they are right now. I’m so
close to both of them, but yet, they aren’t with me. Staring out
the window, I notice that there is nothing around here and, up
until this drive, I never realized how close I was to her each time
we played Gardner-Webb. Had I known, I might have found a way to
see her. Shaking that thought from my mind, I realize we’ve finally
made it to GW.

Coach gives us a pep talk before we step off the
bus, and as I pass him, he places a hand on my shoulder and gives
it a squeeze. I guess that’s his way of telling me he’s got my
back.

Chapter 36

MARLEIGH

A ride that typically feels like a few minutes feels
like an eternity. Once we cross the river, Gunner’s excitement
begins to grow and is contagious. I’m grinning as much as he is.
Turning left into campus, we park in the lower parking lot. Gunner
is so excited he tries to undo his car seat, but isn’t successful.
After I hurry around to assist him, he wastes no time moving from
the car to the pavement. He takes my hand, and I know that this is
the last time we will make this journey alone. Walking into Paul
Porter Arena is like climbing Mount Everest with all of those
stairs. I swear, who needs to work out if you could do this each
day? I scoop down to carry him, but he refuses so we take them a
little slower.

After making Gunner use the restroom, even though he
swears he doesn’t have to go and grabbing a snack at the concession
stand, we begin to locate our seats in the lower level, thanks to
Gunnison. It’s early, but I thought maybe we’d get to see the team
shoot around before the game. Gunner begins to pull on my shirt.
When I look to see why he’s so excited, I see Gunnison on the
court. I give him a minute to watch, then squeeze his hand as we
find our seats. I’m not sure how Gunnison did it, but these seats
are amazing.

Looking around, I notice the ocean of red and black
around me. It’s obvious we are visitors, but as game time
approaches a few others trickle in.

As the GWU cheerleaders take the court, Gunner
searches for Gunnison. When I spot him in the starting lineup, I
point in his direction. As I do, our eyes connect and he winks my
way.
I think that’s our thing while he’s
on the court.
It’s as if my heart skipped a beat, but
when he gives Gunner a “what’s up” head nod, I fall in love even
further. It’s the little gestures that make me love him more and
more. I’m sure that after this weekend, there’s no way my heart
will ever be the same.

Gunner and I enjoy the game, and when the
buzzer sounds for the end, Gunner is pulling me from the stands
toward the court.
What is he doing?
Then I see that the Coastal guys are hanging around, and I
guess this has to do with Gunnison.

As we stand at the edge of the bleachers, Gunnison
approaches me covered in sweat and it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever
seen, but when he half grins, I change my mind. A hot, sweaty and
half-grinning Gunnison approaching our son is the sexiest thing
I’ve ever seen in my life.

“
Gunner do you remember Gunnison?” I question
as he comes to a stop in front of him.

“
Yeah we same!” Gunner says and melts my
heart.

“
You guys enjoy the game?” Gunner begins to
nod his head yes and gets overly excited. “Come on, the guys want
to meet Gunner.”

“
Day meet me?” Gunner points to himself and it
takes him less than a second to let go of my hand and latch onto
Gunnison’s. I want to freeze this moment in time. I follow behind
them to watch their interactions.

The team and Coach give him high fives and knuckles,
and it’s the happiest I’ve ever seen Gunner. Gunnison motions for
me to join in the fun.

“
Coach, I want you to meet my girlfriend,
Marleigh Anderson,” he says as Coach extends his hand to
me.

“
Nice to meet you, Marleigh,” he says and
Gunner begins to look between us with confusion.

“
Nice to meet you too, Coach. Thank you for
letting Gunnison come with us this weekend.”

“
You’re very welcome. Now Gunner, we expect to
see you at the championship. I think you brought us good luck this
afternoon,” he says as he pats the top of his head. Gunner’s eyes
light up and I’m truly blessed to have both of my boys in my
life.

“
Gurlfriend?” He points to me. I nod yes and
I’m not sure if this is the moment so I pause briefly, but I can
see his wheels turning. “I her boyfriend, who you?” he says surely
toward Gunnison. Looking between the three of us, Gunnison bends
down to Gunner’s eye level.

“
You know how we have the same name?” Gunner
nods his head in understanding. “Want to know why?”

“
Uh-huh,” Gunner replies.

“
Because you’re named after your daddy.”
Gunner takes his index finger and scratches his head. Sitting on
pins and needles, I wait for what happens next. Gunner looks at
me.

“
Mommy, you have same name too?” I begin to
giggle, and Gunnison replies she will soon. My. Heart. Stops.
Gunnison glances up to me and winks. Just like that, our world
changed. Short, sweet, and simple, just like the mind of a three
year old. Never in a million years did I think my child would start
the conversation, but I knew that Gunnison would have the words to
finish it.

When Gunner begins to dance as if there are ants in
his pants, Gunnison excuses himself to go with the team. As Gunner
and I make our way to the restroom and then the lobby to wait on
Gunnison, I can tell that his mind is spinning. Picking him up, we
walk the length of the lobby, looking at the awards given for all
kinds of sports. Gunner asks questions and as I begin to look at my
watch, Gunnison catches my eye. He’s propped up against the wall
watching. I smirk toward him, “You sure do like to watch me.”

“
Maybe,” he says as he pushes off the wall,
and I want nothing more than to wrap my arms around him and kiss
the hell out of him. “You ready, little man?” he asks as Gunner
squirms out of my arms to walk like a big boy to the car. He walks
between us holding each of our hands. Being in this moment, I feel
contentment as our family is finally beginning.

Gunnison helps Gunner into his car seat and we make
our way to Gaffney, I glance at Gunner in the rearview mirror. As
his eyes get heavier and heavier, I smile knowing he’s happy.

GUNNISON

Looking at Marleigh watching Gunner in the rearview
mirror makes my heart swell. I take her hand and lace my fingers
through it. She glances my way, and I can’t do anything but grin.
Being with her and Gunner feels different than I thought it would.
I thought it would be a little awkward, but it’s the complete
opposite. I feel as if my world is now complete, and there’s only
one thing that will make it officially complete—for her to be my
wife, and that is my next plan of action.

With Gunner asleep, we begin to talk about the
normal things in life like class, the game, and then Marleigh
reminds me about our date tonight. I can’t wait to have her to
myself. As we make our way into Gaffney, we decide to take Gunner
to eat at Chick-fil-A. I know it’s not romantic in any way, but in
the eyes of a three year old the playground is like hitting the
lottery.

As Gunner wakes up, I glance over my shoulder at
him. “Did you sleep well?” He nods as he rubs his eyes. Noticing
he’s extremely quiet, I look toward Marleigh, unsure of what to
do.

“
Gunner, you okay, baby?” she asks.

“
Mommy you GC girlfriend?”

“
Yes,” she replies simply.

“
You my girlfriend.” He pouts. Smiling toward
Marleigh, I’m going to let her handle this one. When she looks like
she’s in disbelief, I toss up my hands and give a single laugh. I
know I might be in the doghouse on this one, but I can’t wait to
hear how she explains this one.

“
Gunner, baby. Mommy will always be your
number one girl. Don’t you ever forget that, but one day you will
find a girl who loves you like your daddy loves me.” Just like
that, I realize she’s laid everything on the table in front of our
son, and I wait for his reaction.

“
I glad Daddy love you, but I love you more.
Where Aunt Tin Tin? She be my girlfriend?” Looking at Marleigh, she
grins and confirms that Tinleigh would love to be his
girlfriend.

Chapter 37

MARLEIGH

Arriving at my home, my parents meet us outside and
my daddy gets Gunner from the car. He asks us about the game and I
can tell he wants to know if we’ve had a conversation with
Gunner.