Covering the Carolinas by Casey Peeler Page A

some point I doze off, and wake up
unexpectedly to ice sitting in the curve of my back. I scream and
jump out of my skin. As my sisters burst out laughing, I turn over
and see exactly who’s behind this joke. Brett. “You’re so dead!” I say as I stand. He
starts to laugh, but realizes I’m not joking as I dig my hand in
the cooler, then he takes off toward the water. I run after him and
follow into the water. He dives under just as I reach him. I stand
and cross my arms, making my “B” cup look more like a “C” and pout.
He comes above the water and notices me. He starts to laugh. “You
don’t play fair, Brett,” I say and when he walks toward me, I can’t
help but know he’s playing right into my hand. As he gets within
one arms reach, I take a step as I’m going wrap my arms around him,
but instead, I push him backwards into the water and take off back
toward the beach. It doesn’t take him long to catch up with me and
toss me over his shoulder. I kick and yell like a girl as he takes
me back into the water. As he starts to toss me into the ocean, I
realize that’s not his plan. Instead, he slides me down his solid
body and holds me in his arms looking me dead in the eyes. He
stands there as if waiting for permission after last night, and I
don’t give him permission, I just react. Wrapping my arms tighter
around his neck, I can’t get close enough to him. He walks us
further out into the water and I giggle as we step into a hole and
almost go under. When he smiles, I can’t help but realize here I
am, yet again, falling for a boy on this beach. I’m not sure if
this is just for fun or what exactly, but for right now I’m living
in the moment.
    “ So Marleigh, would you want to go out
tonight?” he asks as we float together in the water.
    “ I’d love to,” I say and then I place my lips
on his again.
    GUNNISON
    Finally breaking down, I decide to go by Summer’s
apartment and check on her. On my way over, I stop to get a bouquet
of flowers and a coke. Knocking on her door, I wait for a few
minutes but no one answers. When I turn the doorknob it’s locked so
I grab the spare key and let myself in. It’s perfectly still. I
make my way to her room and quietly open the door. I see her hair
is a complete mess and she is sleeping like only a princess can. I
place the flowers on her dresser, slide off my shoes, and climb in
bed with her. As I wrap my arms around her, she snuggles closer. I
kiss her cheek and fall asleep.
    I wake up to Summer kissing my neck and my entire
body wakes up. “I guess you feel better.” She smiles and her lips
begin to trail down my body. She shows me just how great she feels
as she takes me in her mouth and brings me close to climax.
Quickly, I pull her from me and remove her clothes. I begin to
trail kisses on her neck and as she encourages things to go
further, I take a condom from my wallet and waste no time making
her scream my name.

Chapter 15
    MARLEIGH
    As the sun begins to set, we say goodbye to the
guys, pack up, and make our way to the house. I have a little over
two hours to be ready for Brett. Just thinking about going on a
real date is making me so damn nervous!
    “ Quit biting your lip,” Tinleigh says, “it’s
just a date.”
    I roll my eyes and she bursts out laughing. “Y’all,
I haven’t been on a real date since freakin’ prom and that was with
Wesley, which doesn’t even count. Having a kid doesn’t exactly
attract guys our age.”
    “ Speaking of that, are you going to tell
him?”
    “ Hell no! I mean, if we got serious maybe, but
no.”
    “ Sis, just so you know, Brett doesn’t date too
many girls. He pretty much focuses on the team and classes. He
always has a date to the formals and always finds a girl at a
party, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like he was today, and
we hang with them a lot since we live so close.”
    “ That’s good to know, but y’all, what the hell
am I gonna wear?”
    “ Easy, wear what you would