Covering the Carolinas by Casey Peeler

gives us his game plan for the second
half, we make our way back on the court and we finish off the
opponent. As the buzzer sounds, we shake hands with the other team.
Taking a minute to scan the crowd, I see them moving down the
stands, but I notice that Gunner points in my direction. I smile
and wave at him. He turns to Marleigh and I can tell he’s excited
that the guy with the number he’s wearing actually acknowledged
him. Marleigh mouths thank you to me and I nod before I make my way
to the locker room.
    Walking out, Wade asks me if I want to go to a
party later at Brett’s. Why not? Summer stops me on the way to my truck.
    “ Hey, Del Valle, thanks for last
night.”
    “ Actually thank you, Summer. If I were you, I
wouldn’t be so nice about this.”
    “ What can I say? I still kinda have a thing
for this hot basketball player.” She winks.
    “ You want to grab something to eat? I’m
starved.”
    “ Sure,” she says and we make our way to the
local Mexican restaurant.
    MARLEIGH
    Watching Gunner at the basketball game was
priceless. When he chose GC’s jersey before the game, I couldn’t
tell him no. Then, when GC waved to him after the game, my heart
melted in one big puddle.
    Gunner wanted seafood for supper so we took
him to Sarah J’s and he ate every last bite of his shrimp as well
as dessert. When we get back to the house we go for a walk on the
beach and I can’t help but notice the crowd growing at
Brett’s. I’m sure I’m not welcome there
anymore.
    We continue to walk the shoreline but the January
wind is bitterly cold. Eventually, I can see that even though
Gunner wants to keep walking, it’s too cold for him.
    “ Sweet boy, you ready to go in?” I
ask.
    “ No! I stay here,” he says as he stomps his
foot. My dad tries not to laugh, so he and my mama walk
away.
    “ Gunner, I know you don’t want to, but it’s
getting late and it’s so cold. Come here,” I say as I scoop down to
pick him up. “You’re gonna turn into an icicle. What do you say we
go back and drink hot chocolate by the fire pit?” He smiles and I
know I’ve won the battle with a three year old.
    We spend the remainder of the night by the fire pit,
and when he is tuckered out, I carry him inside and read him a
story as he drifts off to sleep. I kiss his forehead as he sleeps
peacefully.
    “ Is he asleep?” Tinleigh asks.
    “ Yeah.”
    “ I think we’re going to go to the party. Do
you want to go?”
    “ I don’t think that’s the best idea. I
actually think I want to go for a walk on the beach alone. I’ve got
a lot on my mind after the game today.”
    “ You sure?” She questions.
    “ Yeah, you think Mama and Daddy will
mind?”
    “ No, they are just sitting by the fire. I’ll
tell them. You go ahead and go to the beach.”
    “ Thanks, sis. You know I don’t tell y’all this
enough, but thank you for always being there.”
    “ That’s what we’re here for,” she says as I
grab my coat and make my way toward the beach and to the place that
brings back so many memories.

Chapter 24
    GUNNISON
    Arriving at the party with Wade, we make our
way straight to the keg on the back porch. Wade and I hang out and
talk about the game with the other guys, then I see Summer and her
friends arrive. She stumbles over the doorway and it’s obvious
she’s drunk. When is she ever going to
learn? As she walks toward me, I force a smile. This
isn’t the girl that was with me this week. She throws her arms
around me and the smell of vodka is evidently her poison
tonight.
    “ Summer, you better slow down,” I whisper in
her ear.
    “ Awe, Del Valle. How sweet of you. You want to
take care of me later?” Smiling at her, I avoid the question as she
looks at me for an answer. When I hear the screen door open, I
glance toward it and see Tinleigh and Carleigh walking toward the
keg. Of course, she wouldn’t come with
Gunner here .
    “ Del Valle, please don’t tell me you thought
she’d come here tonight.”