Covering the Carolinas by Casey Peeler Read Free Book Online

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