Covering the Carolinas (6 page)

“
WOW! That big?” He nods his head yes. “I sure
do miss you!”

“
I miss you too, Mommy. Mimi says you home in
this many,” he says holding up five fingers.

“
You bet I am! Be good for Pap and Mimi. I’ll
talk to you in the mornin’.” He blows me a kiss and I return one
his way. As we disconnect, I can’t hold back the tears. This week
is going to be tough. I’m going to be gone from him two days more
than usual. I’m not sure how I’m going leave that perfect angel
three days a week, but I know it’s what’s best for both of
us.

My sisters walk into my room and pull me into their
arms. When I can’t cry anymore, I wipe my tears. “I’m sorry, y’all.
I didn’t think it would be this hard.” Neither says anything. “So
what do normal college girls do?”

“
That’s easy, the same stuff you use to do.
Only now you don’t have to worry about curfew,” Tinleigh
laughs.

“
Oh lord, here we go. Please tell me there
aren’t any extracurricular activities happening tonight,” Carleigh
says with an eye roll.

We all start to laugh. “We’re not makin’ any
promises,” Tinleigh says as she lifts her eyebrows.

“
What am I gonna do with y’all?” Carleigh
asks.

“
Guess you’ll just have to find out,” Tinleigh
says surely.

Standing I look at my sisters. “So I’ve only got two
extra days, what’s our plan tonight?” They look at each other.

“
There’s a party at the lacrosse house a few
houses down. It will be crazy for sure,” Tinleigh
announces.

I wonder if GC will be there, but quickly push that
thought to the side. There’s no way he’s coming to the beach
tonight. Not on his first night back. “Sounds great to me. So what
y’all wearin’?”

Over the years, we each have created our own style,
but if you didn’t know each of us you’d never be able to tell us
apart. We each settle for cut offs and tops that fit who we are as
individuals. I help Carleigh finish her eye makeup and Tinleigh
helps me straighten my hair. I know it’s kind of juvenile, but it’s
the little things like this that I’ve missed.

Once we’re ready, we make our way to the kitchen and
Tinleigh pulls a bucket of margaritas from the freezer. “Dang,
y’all’ve been holding out on me,” I laugh.

“
You know we can walk there so let’s have fun
tonight,” Carleigh says.
That’s a
first.

“
Car, are you serious?” I question.

“
Yup, you’re not going to be here all the time
and it’s time to let you experience Coastal like every other
college student. Oh and don’t ask how we got that either. We’ve
gotten very resourceful,” she says with confidence. I don’t ask and
we fill our plastic cups to the rim.

“
To living our dream!” Tinleigh cheers as we
tap our cups together. We take a large sip of the tart mixture and
I choke as I swallow.
Dang, that’s
strong.
“Sorry, I might have added a little extra
tequila,” she laughs. Tonight is going to be epic. I can feel
it.

After two cups of margaritas, we make our way to
Ocean Drive and walk toward the lacrosse house, as it’s called.
Within ten minutes, it comes into view and it’s absolutely
gorgeous; a two story newly built home on stilts. I love our little
house in Garden City but the new additions never cease to amaze
me.

The closer we get, the louder the music becomes, and
butterflies begin to build in my stomach. Entering the house, my
sisters introduce me to everyone. It’s absolutely nerve wracking.
Tinleigh must sense what’s going on with me and excuses us to go
directly to the keg. She pours each of us a beer and passes the
first one to me. “No worries, Mar,” she says. I nod in
agreement.

Our night is filled with dancing, laughing, making
new associations, and checking out a few hot lacrosse players.
Tinleigh wastes no time introducing me to Brett who has the most
exquisite emerald eyes I’ve ever seen. Before I know what’s going
on, my sisters are no longer by my side and I’m talking to a guy
for the first time since GC. It doesn’t take me long to get in the
groove and tease him just a little. When he whispers in my ear
about going somewhere a little more private, I try to put him off,
but my mind is a little hazy from the alcohol. Before I think about
the consequences, I just react and follow him to his room. Feeling
a little out of place, I start to pull away from him as he slides
his hand around my waist but then stops.

“
Mar, you are absolutely beautiful. How is it
I’ve never seen you before?”

“
Um, it’s my first semester,” I say
honestly.

“
Well, let’s see if I can show you a good
time. What do ya say?” he says as I look into his eyes.
Do I want to do this? How far do I want to
go?
He leans in and I do the same, and as his hands
guide up my back, mine move to his chest and our lips
collide.

As things heat up between us, I know I need to stop,
but honestly, I don’t want to. This isn’t why I’m here. Trying to
catch my breath to speak, I pull away from him. “Brett. I can’t.”
He pauses and you can see his ego is crushed. “I really like you,
but I just got here and… and this isn’t exactly what I had planned
tonight.”

Finally, he speaks and it’s not what I expected.
“Come here. I want to show you something.” He takes me by the hand
and leads me to the sliding glass doors that lead to a small
balcony. After sliding the door shut, he wraps his arms around me
from behind. He doesn’t speak, but instead we look out into the
ocean and listen to how peaceful it is.

“
This is amazing. We don’t have a view like
this from ours.” He kisses the side of my cheek and we just enjoy
the night together. We talk about lacrosse, his major as well as
mine, and what’s it like to be at Coastal. I feel comfortable with
him, and I think meeting Brett is part of my journey
here.

Chapter 12

GUNNISON

Loading up in Summer’s jeep, we make our way to the
lacrosse house. I’ve missed this place all summer. Don’t get me
wrong, I love home, working with the horses, and playing ball with
my high school teammates, but there’s something about this
place.

We arrive and it’s obvious the party is well
underway. Making our way up the stairs, we make our way straight to
the keg and then begin to play beer pong. I’m doing extremely well,
but Summer is totally not. She’s getting closer to being beyond
drunk with each tick of the clock. When I beat the last guy
standing there, I wander over to her on the make shift dance floor
and try to pull her off it. She’s not having it and before I know
it, she has me dancing with her.

MARLEIGH

Brett and I hang out on the balcony and then I
realize it’s getting really late. I tell him I have to find my
sisters. As we make our way down the hall, I swear I hear
his
voice. I freeze and Brett looks
at me. “Sorry, I thought I heard someone I knew, but I don’t know
anyone really.” Shaking it off, we find Tinleigh, who’s taking
shots and Carleigh, who is keeping an eye on her while talking to a
cutie. When Carleigh sees me, she makes her way over to Tin and I
meet her there.

“
Looks like you’ve had a good time tonight,”
Tinleigh says as she places the shot glass on the counter. I just
nod my head. “Guess y’all are ready,” she says as she places a
teasing kiss on the guy she’s with. “I’ll call you, Paul.” She
winks, and grazes her hand down his chest leaving him there
speechless.

We make our way to the road and begin to laugh as
they question me about Brett, and I replay Tinleigh’s flirtatious
moves. So far tonight has been one of the best nights of my life.
Who knew college could actually be this much fun?

GUNNISON

After several songs, I can tell Summer is
about to either get sick or pass out. Megan, her roommate, comes to
my rescue and says they are taking her home.
Thank goodness. I really didn’t want to hold her hair while
she puked all night.

As soon as their taillights are out of sight, I make
my way back in and decide to cut loose. I don’t have to worry about
making it back to campus, I know I can crash here and catch a ride
tomorrow.

Several guys are funneling beer on the deck
and I join them. After about four of them, I decide to slow my pace
a bit. The party continues into the early morning and I decide to
walk back out on the deck and enjoy the salty air. Heck, I think I
just might sleep out here. I notice the lights on at Sam’s Corner,
and think I’d love to have one of those hot dogs right now.
Deciding that sounds like a great idea, I turn to go back inside
when I hear laughter. Laughter that is too familiar. Glancing in
the opposite direction, I do a double take and there really
are
three
girls in cut
offs.
That can’t be
possible
.
You’re
drunk.
I stare as they walk further away, and realize
I’ve lost my damn mind. How could Marleigh have been in this house
and I not see her? How did I not ‘feel’ her? My heart hurts; I
thought our connection would never go away. I make my way to Sam’s
Corner for the best hot dog a drunk can buy.

Chapter 13

GUNNISON

Sunday morning comes with blinding sunshine while I
attempt to sleep on the lounge chair on the deck. It’s useless.
Standing, I recall last night and check my phone to see if Summer
has called or texted. She’s going to be pissed I didn’t check on
her but after having the hot dog, I got back to the house and
crashed and dreamt that Marleigh was here last night… wait, I
really did see them, didn’t I. Now I have to find Car and Tin to
find out if it was all real.

Walking into the house, I know if I thought Marleigh
Anderson was actually here, I had to be drunk. There’s no way.
Entering the kitchen, I run into Brett who’s pouring a cup of
coffee.

“
What’s up?” he asks.

“
Not much. You heading toward campus
soon?”

“
Nah. I plan on hitting the waves a little
while today. You’re more than welcome to hang out if you
want.”

“
I wish I could, but Coach has a meeting
scheduled with the team after lunch today. Oh, hey, Paul crashed
here last night too, when he wakes up, tell him I need a ride. I
think I’m going to go down to the beach while I wait.” Brett nods
and I make my way to the ocean. The salty air and warm wind remind
me of that summer. I know I say I’m moving on and all that other
bullshit, but there’s no way I’ll ever forget her. I take a seat on
the sand and watch the waves roll in. I wonder what is really
keeping her from being here because I know her dream wasn’t just to
attend Coastal, it was to earn a degree in Marine Science, and you
can’t get that degree just anywhere.

Continuing to watch the sun rise over the waves, I
think about how nice it would be to have her sitting here with me
and how different it would be if we had followed our plans. For
some reason, I just can’t shake the feeling that her sisters are
avoiding me.

MARLEIGH

I wake up to my phone ringing and as I sit up
to grab it, my head feels like it’s going to explode.
What the hell?
Then I remember
margaritas and keg beer. Those two together are never a good
combination. When I see “home” on the screen, I put on my mama face
and answer.

“
Hello?”

“
Good mornin’, Mommy!” Gunner says cheerfully
into the phone.

“
Mornin’, sweet boy! How are you?”

“
Great! Pap and I are going fishin’ right
after church!” Listening to him talk about being with my parents
makes me happy and makes this situation a lot easier.

“
I hope you catch one bigger than
yesterday!”

“
Watcha goin’ do, Mommy? You and Aunt Tin and
Car Car going to the beach?”

“
I’m not sure, but that does sound like fun.
Guess what?”

“
What?”

“
I’ll be home in four days!”

He begins to yell at my parents saying I’ll be home
in four days and it warms my heart. Then my mama picks up the
phone. She reassures me I’m doing the right thing and that Gunner
is doing great. That makes me sad because it’s almost like he
doesn’t miss me, but I know that he does. Once we hang up, I roll
back over in the bed and attempt to go to sleep but it’s no use. I
throw the covers off, change clothes, and make my way to my happy
place—the beach.

The beach is not as crowded this morning, with
vacationers switching over today. I walk towards the water and take
a seat on the sand where the tide barely brushes my feet. I sit and
wonder how the next two years will change our future, and if
keeping Gunner from his daddy is truly what’s best for him. I take
a moment and pray that what is meant to be will be, and we all find
our own happiness. As I watch the waves crash down, I think about
the memories of this place, and let the memories wash away with the
tide. It’s time to move forward.

Chapter 14

GUNNISON

Before I even get close to campus, Summer is
blowing up my phone. I already promised I’d stop by as soon as I
got back to campus, but honestly, I just want to go to the
gym.
What the hell is wrong with me? Hot
as hell girl wanting me and I want to go to the damn gym?
Paul laughs as he hears my phone erupt again.

“
You really don’t like her, do you?” he
asks.