Covering the Carolinas Read Online Free PDF

gonna stay for Mar, but y’all, I
might pass out,” she laughs.
    Grunting through my teeth, I say, “Tin, this isn’t
funny. It freakin’ hurts.” The nurse then breaks up our
conversation by saying it’s time. Everyone focuses on me and the
little boy who is about to make his way into this world.
    After twenty minutes of pushing, sweating, and
a few tears, I hear the most precious sound in my life. When I see
him in the doctor’s hands, I can’t help but cry at this perfect
human being. They place him in my arms and I am unable to hold back
the emotions of holding my son for the first time. My heart hurts
when the nurse takes him to get cleaned up. As the nurse hands him
back to me, I smile at him. He’s
absolutely perfect, just like his daddy. I know exactly what I’m
going to name him.
    “ Hey there, Gunner. I’m your mommy. I love you
so much,” I say as I look the precious little boy in the eyes and
he gives me a small smile.
    “ Marleigh, did you say Gunner?” I nod my head
yes. “Are you sure?”
    “ Yes, Mama. He’s perfect and he’s the spitting
image of his father.” There’s no denying that GC is his daddy. He
has his perfect lips and eyes. He even has his dark brown hair,
olive skin, and I guess in a little way, I’ll always have GC with
me.

Chapter 6
    GUNNISON
    Since Thanksgiving weekend, I’ve started to live my
normal life again. by focusing one hundred percent on basketball,
the horse farm, and graduation. I’ve had offers from Tennessee,
Virginia Tech, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Coastal
Carolina, and a few others. It’s hard to believe, in less than
three months, I’ll be living my dream on a full scholarship to
Coastal Carolina University to study accounting so I can help run
the farm. As a kid, I dreamt about the NBA, but let’s face it, it’s
just a dream.
    As graduation approaches, I can’t help but wonder if
Marleigh has made her final decision. I take my phone out and
debate about texting her, but quickly decide against it when I look
at the picture of Laura and me on my screen saver.
    We’ve been together since Christmas. She’s smart,
funny, and not to mention, hot as hell. We’re not as serious as she
wants to be. She wants me to commit while I’m almost ten hours
away, and I just can’t. I know what happened with Marleigh and me.
I was head over heels for her and it didn’t work, so I know there’s
no way I’m doing that again. I’ve decided to call it quits with
Laura once we’re back from Senior Week. This way I can enjoy my
summer with the guys, workout, play ball, and spend time with the
animals I love.

Chapter 7
    August 2012
    MARLEIGH
    This week has been so hard on me. I’ve worked thirty
hours at the local grocery store, signed up for classes at the
community college, spent every free minute with Gunner and my
sisters, but today, my world changes. Today, the other two pieces
that make me whole are leaving. We always dreamed of doing this
together, but that’s not possible because I have to do what’s best
for my son.
    “ Are you sure you don’t want to go with us and
stay at the house at least?” Tinleigh asks.
    “ Nah. Y’all need to get settled in and Gunner
has his routine.” She looks at me and doesn’t believe a word I say.
She knows why I don’t want to go. There’s a chance I’d see him, and
I’m not willing to risk it.
    “ Sis, I can’t promise we won’t run into him,
but I promise we will do our best. It’s a big school and since we
aren’t on campus that should be easier.”
    I give her a quick hug and pick Gunner up in my
arms. At seven months, he’s a chunky monkey. He reaches his arms
toward Tinleigh. She takes him from my arms and squeezes him tight.
“You be a good boy for your mommy.” She gives him a kiss on the
forehead and then Carleigh takes him from her. I smile as I look at
him. It’s hard to believe that this little boy has taken over our
lives. He’s brought our family even closer