Covering the Carolinas

by Casey Peeler

  “Whatcha need, GC?” she says shortly.

  “I just want to know why you guys are here and she’s not. Is she okay?”

  “Things changed this summer and she’s got new responsibilities in Gaffney now. She’s moved on, and you should, too.” Damn, that stings. I stand there without words. I glance over my shoulder to see Summer watching. “Oh, it looks like you already have,” she says bitterly.

  “Summer has been fun to hang out with but I still can’t get Marleigh out my head. There’s not a day that I don’t think about her and wish we were still a part of each others lives. I needed to know if she was okay and if I had a chance to be with her again but it sounds like I don’t. Summer doesn’t even compare to Marleigh but if she’s moved on then I guess I have to too. I hope she’s happy, and you guys don’t have to run each time you see me.” The way Tinleigh looks at me strangely, I don’t know what I’ve done but I wasn’t the one to call it quits. “Tinleigh, you don’t have to be this way. If you remember correctly, your sister broke my heart, not the other way around.”

  As I turn to walk away, Carleigh speaks. “Hey, GC. Just so you know. She did love you. Sometimes things happen in our lives that we can’t control, and this isn’t in her plans right now.”

  “Thanks, Carleigh.” I smile knowing she did love me. They’ve given me closure so I can move forward… with Summer.

  As I walk back toward Summer, I can see her eagerness to get an answer. She walks toward me and I smile through my hurting heart. It’s time to move on and that’s exactly what I’m doing. I take my arm and wrap it over her shoulder as we leave the gym.

  Chapter 9

  August 2014

  MARLEIGH

  I’ve spent the past three years trying my best to forget one week of my life. At the time, I thought meeting GC was the best thing that could ever happen to me, but I soon realized it was the total opposite. My life has changed, and honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but I’ve missed out on the things girls my age do on a day to day basis.

  I’ve worked hard for what I have and what I want to accomplish in life. While my sisters have been living our dream at Coastal Carolina University, I’ve stayed in Gaffney and attended Spartanburg Community College. After two years at the local community college, I know it is now time to live out my childhood dream and pursue a degree in Marine Science at Coastal as well.

  With the support of my parents and sisters, I’m able to face the fact that I’m leaving behind a piece of me in Gaffney, and I know my time at Coastal won’t be like a normal college student. I’ve scheduled all my classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday so I can take care of Gunner and my other responsibilities on the weekend. As we pack our cars and make our way toward the beach house, I begin to cry knowing what I am leaving behind, but I know my future, no our future, depends on this, and if I want to make something of myself this is the time to do it. It’s freeing, yet terrifying at the same time. The most terrifying thing isn’t my fear of passing my classes it’s the fear of running into GC. He’s now the starting point guard for the Chanticleers and I’m not sure I’m going to be able to handle seeing him face to face and pretending that I don’t still love him. I’m just thankful that we have different majors and that I won’t be there on the weekends. Instead, I’ll be in Gaffney taking care of the one person who matters the most in my life, my son.

  Pulling into our beach house driveway, I feel as if I’m at home. There are so many memories here, and I can’t wait to spend this time with my sisters. We’re as close as they come, and to know that we are finally living out our dream together makes me happy.

  As I stand and close my car door, I look over to Tinleigh and Carleigh. They must be reading my mind.

  “Mar, it hasn’t felt right without you here,” Carleigh says as we make our way up the flight of steps and into the house. I take my bags and drop them into my room. It’s kind of crazy to know that we have shared one room in this house for the past fifteen years, but now we each have our own room thanks to Daddy’s renovations, and this isn’t just a fun place to visit, it truly is a home away from home.

  GUNNISON

  Pulling into University Place, I can’t wait to get my truck unpacked and meet up with the team on our first night back since last semester. The past two years have been insane with the team and becoming starting point guard. In the two years I’ve been here my team has become my family. I rely on them and coach for everything. As a team we’ve beaten the schools most consecutive wins record and won the championship game both years. With those two accomplishments, my dream of going pro is possibly becoming a reality, but regardless, I’m here for a degree first and foremost.

  More importantly it’s been odd knowing two out of the three Anderson sisters are on the same campus. Since I’ve started college, I’ve tried multiple times to get close to her sisters, but I’ve only been able to confront them once. Regardless of whether we are on campus or at a party at Brett’s, they avoid me, and I can’t help but continue to feel a connection to her. Every opportunity I have to get a glimpse of them I take because seeing them brings Marleigh back to me. It reminds me of when a wave reaches the edge of the shore and just as it’s about to touch your feet it vanishes back into the ocean. Every day I pray she will come visit them, and give me the opportunity to rekindle what she so quickly extinguished. Knowing I haven’t seen Marleigh since that week at Garden City haunts me day and night. It was the best week of my life and I thought Marleigh felt the same way.

  Over the past two years, I’ve dated Summer, off and on, and met a few other girls, but no one compares to her. This year I’ve decided to quit acting like a girl about the Marleigh situation. My priorities are basketball, finishing my degree, and finding a girl who will make me forget the name Marleigh, and I’m hoping I won’t have to look far.

  Chapter 10

  MARLEIGH

  After unpacking and making a quick run to the local grocery store, I take a minute to relax, but not before Tinleigh and Carleigh enter my room and park their butts on my bed.

  “So we were thinking, since you won’t be here most weekends, let’s use these few days before classes start to do what we would typically do on the weekends. Whatcha think?” Tinleigh says.

  “Y’all, what if he’s there?” I ask.

  “Look, we’ve been here two years and have been able to avoid him like the plague. These next two years won’t be any different, but are you sure you want to keep avoiding him?” Tinleigh asks.

  “Yes, I want to act like I’ve never met him. Regardless of what has happened between us, I know this is what’s best for him. You can check any local paper and know he’s living his dream. Honestly, I can’t believe I was so stupid that week. I’m the perfect example of what happens when you react before you think.”

  “Sis, we know as well as anyone that it’s not like you sleep around, but you sure weren’t new to that rodeo. That time you just were falling hard and didn’t think about the consequences.”

  “I know. Thanks for always being there, and I have to say we truly have the best parents in the world. I mean, who lets their daughter go off to college while they babysit three days a week?”

  “You’re right. Our parents are awesome, but you’re pretty awesome yourself. I just want you to be sure that avoiding GC is what you truly want, and not what your brain is telling you.”

  “It’s what I have to do regardless of what we shared. I did what was best for the star basketball player. He’s living his dream, and now I’m living mine. I’m here for one reason only, and that’s to get a degree. I don’t even think I’ll have time to find him if I wanted to. I’ll only be here three days a week. The only way I’d even look in his direction is if he came looking for me.”

  “He’s had a few chances to ask us, but we’ve done everything to stay away from him. I just hope that if you run into each other that you tell him,” Carleigh says unsurely.

  “Car, he has his basketball scholarship and t
he papers say the pros might be sending scouts out to see him. Even if I do decide to tell him, it won’t be during a five minute conversation. I could just see it now. He’d run so fast, forget basketball, they’d give him a track scholarship instead.” We all start to laugh.

  Chapter 11

  GUNNISON

  Several guys from the team meet up at the Coastal Ale House. This place reminds me of the Taproom at home. After ordering a beer at the bar, I make my way to a high top to watch major league baseball.

  As several of the guys start to get a little rowdy, I notice a group of girls walk in… Summer. She spots me as soon as she walks in the door, and the look on her face says one thing. I’m hers. I flash a smile back and walk toward her.

  “Well if it isn’t GC Del Valle. I missed you this summer,” she says as she wraps her arms around me. As she looks up to me, I lean over and press my lips to hers briefly. “So are we picking up where we left off?” She winks, and I kiss her once more. I lace my fingers through hers and tell her friends to join us. “I believe we are, Summer.”

  As the afternoon ends, we pay our tabs and head back toward our apartment. Summer goes with the girls, but I know I’ll see her later. There’s a party at Garden City, and there’s no way we’re going to miss a party at the beach.

  MARLEIGH

  As we get ready to go out tonight, I go into my room and Facetime my parents, but it’s the perfect little face on the other side that makes my heart warm.

  “Hey, little man! What did you and Pap do today?”

  “We went to the creek fishin’! I got a big ‘un. He was dis big.” I act completely shocked as he shows me with his arms the size of the fish.

  “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.