Covering the Carolinas by Casey Peeler Read Free Book Online Page B

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