Covering the Carolinas (16 page)

“
Mar, I want you, but tonight I want to talk
about this weekend.” She looks at me and then starts to move from
my lap. I place my hands around her waist and keep her in place.
“We can talk like this.” I smirk. She grins, slowly kisses my lips
and pulls away.
She’s trying to kill
me.
“Or maybe not.” I laugh. She gets a serious look
on her face, but doesn’t move.

She places her hand on my cheek, “Talk to me,
Gunnison. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Not being able to resist, I reply. “Which one?” She
swats my shoulder and I pull her to me. “Mar, do you know what you
do to me?”

“
Oh I’m pretty sure I do,” she says as she
wiggles on my lap.

“
Yeah, it’s pretty obvious, but I want to talk
about this weekend. You’re leaving Thursday and I want to talk
about how we think it might go. I mean when we are going to talk to
him? Speaking of him, did you talk to Gunner tonight?”

“
Of course I did. That’s something I don’t
forget. I talked to him while you were in the shower and this
morning.” Then I notice she’s debating on telling me
something.

“
Mar, what is it?”

“
I talked to my daddy.” I feel my heart stop
at the thought of what she talked to Mr. Anderson about. “After I
talked to my sisters and they went to class, I talked to my parents
and told them everything about this weekend. When I hung up and was
alone, I just needed to talk to someone who has understood me since
I was born. That’s my daddy. I told him I was worried about when
the right time to talk to Gunner would be. He assured me that he
was using a little extra Pap time to get him ready.”

“
What do you mean?”

“
He’s always had a way with words. It’s like
he always knows what to say and exactly the right way to say it
without saying too much. He mentioned that he doesn’t think Gunner
thinks about not having a dad because he has a him in his life.”
Those words go straight to my heart and they kill me. As my eyes
pull away from Marleigh, she guides them back to hers. “Don’t take
that the wrong way. Just think about it like this, most single
parents don’t have help like I do. It’s all he’s ever known. I’ve
always known at some point I’d have to tell him about you. I’m
terrified as much as you are. Daddy said that he thinks the perfect
opportunity will happen for us. I have to believe that. He talks
about you all the time, and Daddy said he doesn’t want to take your
jersey off.” This warms my heart, and even though it hurts to know
he might not think about a daddy, I’m glad that he’s had such a
positive male influence in his life.

“
Mar, I’m not going to lie. That hurt hearing
those words. To think he doesn’t even think about a dad, how is
that possible?”

“
He knows a family makeup, but he’s young.
He’s only ever mentioned a daddy to me one time when I read him a
book about a family. I answered it simply enough for him and tried
not to dwell on it.”

“
Does he ever ask about other
families?”

“
Not really. Please don’t stress out about
this, but I do think we should have several options. Do you have
any ideas?”

“
I don’t think it needs to be the first
conversation I have with him, that’s for sure. What if we take him
to do something on Sunday, just us?”

“
I like that idea.”

“
Me, too. I’ve also been thinking about how
I’m going to explain who you are after the game. I mean I haven’t
dated much, so that’s not something he’s used to.”

“
Marleigh, as much as I hate to admit it, I
love the fact that you’ve barely dated around my son. Maybe that
will be enough for him to know I’m different. I mean, if it’s not
normal for you to introduce someone as your boyfriend, he might
think I’m a special person to you.”

“
That’s a good thought because you definitely
are,” she says as she then places her arms around my neck. “Now,
Gunnison Cyrus, is that enough talking?” she asks as she kisses my
lips.

“
Ummmm. I’ve got more I want to know,” I say
as she kisses me again. “It can wait though,” I say and I roll her
down on the couch and hover over her. “I love you,
Marleigh.”

“
I love you, my baby daddy,” she replies and
as my mouth drops, she starts to laugh. “Sorry, I just had to say
that out loud one time. “I love you, Gunnison Cyrus.”

Chapter 32

MARLEIGH

Waking up in Gunnison’s arms is the perfect
start to a new day. I’m only missing my perfect little boy. I toss
the covers to the side and begin to get ready for class as my phone
rings with a Facetime call.
Gunner.
Taking my phone, I walk to the living room.

“
Mommy! I miss you!” he shouts.

“
I miss you too, baby. I’ll be home
tomorrow.”

“
We go see GC play ball!”

“
Yes, we will.”

“
Mommy, where Tin Tin. I talk to
her?”

“
She’s not here.”
Oh
crap. Please don’t ask anything else.
About that time,
the door opens to Gunnison’s room and I pray he didn’t see him over
my shoulder.

“
Mommy, that GC!”

Frozen… completely frozen. Gunnison takes control.
“Hey, buddy. How are you?”

“
Good. I see you at game.”

“
I can’t wait. I think I just might come hang
out with you again. Is that okay?”

Gunner turns away from phone, “Pap, GC coming to our
house!” he says excitedly. I smile toward Gunnison. As my daddy
appears in the phone, I pray he doesn’t ask too many questions.

“
Mar, no worries here. We had a little Pap
talk yesterday, and we talked about GC and the game. He’s
excited.”

“
Thanks, Daddy. Where did he go?”

“
To tell Mimi you’re with GC. Be smart, Mar.”
I feel the heat rise in my cheeks. “I’ll talk to y’all later. Love
you.” He tells me he loves me and then disconnects the
phone.

Tossing my phone on the couch, Gunnison places his
arms around me. “Looks like your daddy’s doing a good job. This
weekend is going to be just fine. You think they’ll let us share a
room?” he says nonchalantly.

“
You must have lost your damn mind,” I say and
he starts to laugh.

“
Mar, I’d never do that at your parents’. I
mean unless we were married. I’m amazed your daddy didn’t strangle
me through the phone this morning.”

“
You are true, but it kinda worked out to our
favor.”

“
Yeah, it did.”

GUNNISON

After we get ready, we have breakfast together and
then go our separate ways for class. I won’t get to see her the
remainder of today and it’s going to kill me. Tomorrow she leaves
to go home to Gunner and I’m completely jealous. I wish I could go
too, but I have class and practice on Friday. The next forty-eight
hours are going to feel like an eternity.

Making my way into the gym, Coach calls me into his
office.

“
Del Valle, have a seat,” he says, pointing to
the chair in front of me. “I’ve been thinking, and yes, you can
stay with your son.”

“
Thanks, Coach!” I say as excitement
builds.

“
Now listen to me, Del Valle. I want you to
talk to the team today at practice. You need to be the leader they
expect you to be, and if you’re not following rules, they need to
know why. Also, I expect an extra three miles tomorrow and while
you’re gone to make up for practice.”

“
Practice? I was going to be back in time for
that Monday.”

“
Take the day. You need this time, and I don’t
want that girl of yours to have to leave the little guy any sooner
than she should.”

“
Coach, her name is Marleigh. Thank you for
everything.”

He dismisses me from his office, and I make my way
to the locker room. Within moments, I hear Coach telling everyone
to wait in here for a team meeting before practice begins.
Suddenly, my palms are clammy and I’m sweating like I’ve been on
the court for hours.

Everyone takes a seat on the locker room benches and
looks around for answers. Coach steps in with his playbook and
everyone gets quiet, he turns toward me then addresses the
team.

“
How many of you have had something unexpected
happen in your life?” Scanning the team, hands begin to raise and I
raise mine as well. “Did you adjust to the situation?” Several guys
from the team agree that they made adjustments, but then one raises
his hand and asks Coach if he is okay. It does seem like he’s about
to drop a bomb on us. “I’m fine, but sometimes in our lives things
don’t go as planned. People walk in and out of our lives
unexpectedly. Life isn’t easy, but it’s what you do with it that
makes it worth living. One of your teammates will be breaking one
of our team rules this weekend… with my permission.” They all begin
to look around at each other. “Del Valle, I’ll let you have the
floor.” Nodding in agreement, I make my way to Coach.

“
Thanks, Coach. Guys, I’m not really sure
where to start this conversation, but some of you met Marleigh at
the Ale House the other night.”
Breathe.
“Most of you know I’ve known her for
several years and she walked out of my life unexpectedly, like
Coach said. It wasn’t until last week that I found out why. I have
a three-year-old son. This weekend when we play GWU, I won’t travel
home with the team. Instead, I will go home with my son and tell
him I am his daddy. I’ve never been one to ask for things, but I
need to do this. I can’t waste another day without him in my life
completely. I will miss traveling with the team and practice on
Monday. I’m talking to you as a teammate. I hope you all
understand. I need to know you guys are okay with this.”

I pause and wait for their reactions. Wade makes the
first move. “Del Valle, you’ve been talking about that girl since
the day I met you. It’s just one ride and one practice.”

“
Thanks, Wade, but I don’t want to be an
exception to a rule. If anyone has a problem about me breaking a
team rule, I want them to voice their opinion now.” Silence fills
the room. “Thanks, everyone. Things are about to change in my life,
but know that I’ll never let this team down.”

After practice, I debate telling Marleigh about the
change of plans for the weekend. I quickly decide against it
because that will be a perfect surprise before she leaves
tomorrow.

Chapter 33

MARLEIGH

I watch the clock and it barely moves. Twenty-five
more minutes until class is over and I get to see Gunnison. My car
is packed and I can’t wait to get home to my little boy, but
selfishly, I don’t want to leave Gunnison. I really wish Gunner was
here with me all the time, but there’s no way I could do it without
my parents.

As I hear my name called, I realize I wasn’t
paying attention to the professor.
Shit!
“Can you repeat that please?” After giving
me the evil eye, she does and I answer quickly. I don’t let my mind
wander again and as soon as class is dismissed, I hurry out the
door and make my way to the parking lot.

As my car comes into view, I see Gunnison propped up
against my driver’s side door holding a coffee from the coffee shop
with a killer smile. I pick up my pace because I can’t get there
fast enough. He must see my reaction because he places the coffee
on the hood of my car and takes a step toward me. I throw my arms
around him as he picks me up and kisses me as he spins me
around.

As my feet land safely on the ground, I notice he
doesn’t let go. “I know it’s a little late for coffee, but I
thought you might need it for the drive home,” he says as he
reaches for it with one hand.

“
You, Mr. Del Valle, think of everything,” I
say as I look into those chocolate eyes taking the coffee from him.
“I don’t know how I’m going to make it without you until
Saturday.”

“
I know. I wish I could go with you, but at
least I’ll be riding back with you on Monday.”

I stop. “What? I thought we had to be back Sunday
night so you could be at practice and class Monday.”

“
Coach told me this morning he’d give me a
pass, if I’d run an extra three miles today and run while I’m
gone.”

“
Ohmygosh! That’s awesome! Well, not the
running, but I’m so glad we don’t have to leave Gunner early.”
Carefully, I angle the coffee away from us and kiss him once more.
As much as I hate to leave him, I need to get on the road. Pulling
away from his lips, I can see he hates this as much as I do. “We
can do this. It’s two days, and really it’s one and a half because
the game’s at four.”

“
Good point, but I still wish I could go with
you. This is going to be hard every week. Now that you’re back in
my life, I don’t want to lose a second of our lives
together.”

“
Me either, but we have to put Gunner first.
When the time is right, we will all be together as a
family.”
Did I just say that out
loud?

“
I can’t wait for that day.”
Yup, totally did.
“Now get on the
road before he starts to worry about you, and call me after you get
settled. I love you, Marleigh,” he says as he slides his hand on my
cheek and kisses my lips tenderly before opening my door and
telling me bye once more.