Running Forever Read online

  Garrett didn’t say anything while they made their way toward the car. Bree didn’t, either, though Bailey chattered away, telling him ‘mommy car broked.’

  “Is Bailey’s seat in his car?” Garrett finally grumbled when they reached the parking lot.

  Bree paused. “Yeah, I’ll be right back.” She started to turn, but Spencer was already headed down the stairs.

  His Mustang beeped as he pointed his keys toward his car. “I got it.” He barreled down the rest of the way, touching Bree’s back on his way by her.

  Garrett took in a slow breath. Losing it here would only make him look bad.

  “Bailey ride Pence car.”

  “Yep, you got to ride in Spencer’s car.” Garrett handed Bailey to Bree and took the seat from Spencer, who’d just removed it from his own backseat. “I got it,” Garrett clipped.

  “Bailey ride Daddy car,” Bailey continued to chatter from Bree’s hip.

  “Give me five,” Spencer held up his palm, Bailey giggled and high fived him.

  Garrett clenched his jaw as he snapped her seat in his car. He couldn’t tell what Bree said to Spencer, but he didn’t like the way she tipped her face toward him, smiling as he watched through the window. “All right, we’re all set.” Garrett’s voice echoed against the two-story apartment building. He didn’t mean for it to come out as loud as it did.

  “Text me later.” Spencer’s hand landed on Bree’s shoulder like it belonged there.

  “Okay.” Bree dipped away from him. Garrett took Bailey from her and buckled her in the car as Bree climbed in the front.

  Garrett was rigid when he sat down. Bailey talked from her seat, her words quick and ran together, he could only understand a few of them.

  Bree crossed her arms and stared out the window. Spencer watched them drive away.

  It wasn’t until ten minutes into the drive home, after stewing over the interaction, that Garrett finally spoke. “Is that why you don’t want to be with me?” he stared at the long road ahead of him. Not much traffic on the highway tonight.

  “What?” Bree asked, blinking, as if just coming out a daze.

  Garrett tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “You don’t want to be with me because you have feelings for Spencer.”

  “No,” her voice was almost a shout. “I’ve told you before, Spencer and I are just friends.”

  “Is that what I am? Just a friend?”

  She didn’t respond right away. Garrett heard her breathe and felt her staring at him.

  “See tree, Daddy?” Bailey’s little voice traveled from the back as if trees weren’t something they saw every day.

  “Yeah, I see the tree.”

  “I can’t believe you,” Bree said.

  “What?” He lifted a shoulder. “Did she have a nice little nap for you two?”

  “Are you …” There was a crack to Bree’s voice.

  “Probably not, because he wouldn’t want you to text him if he finally got what he really wanted from you.”

  “You’re being a jerk.”

  Guilt hit the pit of his stomach. He was being a jerk. He’d had a horrible practice. If that wasn’t bad enough, he was sure his teammates were irritated he didn’t tag along this afternoon. Then his mind ran away with him, imagining Bree with Spencer. It wasn’t that he was the jealous type, that he never expected her to talk to another guy, but something about Bree and Spencer’s relationship bothered him.

  “Mommy. Mommy. Mommy,” Bailey sang.

  “Bailey,” Bree’s voice was softer than a second ago.

  “Bree,” Garrett looked her way.

  Her hair swung through the air when she turned away from him.

  Yesterday, last night he’d been so close, and now he’d basically just accused her of sleeping with him and turning around the very next day and sleeping with Spencer. He knew she wasn’t like that and the fact that her mom was and she never wanted to be like her mom or have anybody think she was like her mom. It might have been the worst thing he could have done.

  ****

  The tears welled in Bree’s eyes and weight hit her chest. She inhaled, then mentally counted to five before letting the breath out. Did he really just imply she slept with Spencer? She stared out the window. The back of her head turned toward him. It was going to be a long ride. Exactly what she didn’t want.

  Things would never work with him if he didn’t trust her, if he didn’t like her hanging out with Spencer. It wasn’t that she wanted to be there hanging out in the first place. If he hadn’t have come, she would’ve been stuck by a busy highway with a two-year-old. If that wasn’t bad enough, it was one of the hottest days of the year.

  “I’m sorry,” his voice was scratchy.

  She lifted her hand to her face, letting her hair fall over her eye, as she swiped a tear away. She didn’t know if he could tell she was crying. She hoped not.

  “Daddy, daddy, daddy.” Bailey sang.

  Bree knew Bailey would be hyper after that nap, but now trying to entertain her in the car, while also trying to hold back her hurt, made Bree claustrophobic.

  “I love you,” he reached for her knee, but she pulled away. “I do. I love you so much.”

  She held her arms across her middle and kept her eyes on the trees Bailey was so excited about.

  “Daddy lub Bailey,” Bailey said.

  “Yes, I love you, too, Bailers.”

  Bree blinked. The weight on her chest rose to her neck. She bit her lips between her teeth. She thought, someday, they’d be able to be a family. not now. She grew up with her dad expecting the worst of her, accusing her of sleeping around like her mom. There was no way she could live like that for the rest of her life.

  Sometimes she wondered why she tried to prove everyone wrong if they were going to think she was doing it anyway. Because despite everything, her being a teenage mom, the fact that she came from a messed-up family, two people believed in her.

  Garrett’s parents.

  But they were wrong about her. It was Garrett and her dad and everyone else who were right. She didn’t stop things with Garrett last night. If she was what Randy and Robin believed she was, she would have. If she cared more about her faith, she should have.

  “Bree, please talk to me,” Garrett whispered.

  She shook her head and stiffly swiped another tear away. If she even tried to talk, if she opened her mouth, the tears would burst out and there’d be no talking, only sobbing.

  When they finally made it home, after miles of Bailey jabbering and singing and Garrett pleading with her, Bree hurried into the house. There was no way she could keep it in any longer. She was thankful nobody was in her path to witness as the tears poured and she stalked to her bedroom, sinking to the floor and pulling her knees to her chest as soon as the door was shut behind her. The walls felt like they were closing in on her and she wasn’t sure how she could live here with him anymore. Where would she go? Before them, she was used to being alone. After being here, she’d grown too used to having a family. But even if Bailey was theirs, Bree wasn’t and she never really would be.

  ****

  Bree tossed her bag in the middle of Carly’s bed. “Thanks for letting me stay tonight.”

  “We haven’t had a sleepover in forever.” Carly folded her legs. “Did Garrett seriously accuse you of sleeping with Spencer?” She curled her lip when she said Spencer. “Or did you just take it wrong?”

  Bree flopped down beside Carly. “I’m sure I didn’t take it wrong.”

  “Parker would kill him.” Parker was Carly’s boyfriend, Bree’s half-brother, and Spencer’s adopted brother.

  “I didn’t do anything. Bailey was there.”

  Carly waved her hand in front of her face, “That didn’t stop you last night.”

  “I told you not to say anything.” Bree knew she’d regret telling Carly about it, but she had to tell someone.

  The fountain of curls on Carly’s head bounced as she giggled. “I didn’t say anything. I ke
pt your dirty little secret.” As soon as Carly’s phone chimed, she glanced down.

  Bree fell backward. “Why do I even try?”

  “Don’t think like that,” Carly said as she typed into her phone. “What Garrett and your dad think of you has nothing to do with you.”

  Bree groaned and covered her face with her arm. “I was ready to give him another chance, too.”

  “Parker wants to know if he should beat him up.”

  Bree huffed a laugh, “Is that the answer to everything with guys?”

  “Uh, yeah,” Carly’s mouth opened. “You know what’ll make you feel better?”

  “What?” Bree groaned.

  Carly climbed off the bed, taking Bree’s hands in hers. “Cookies and lip syncing.”

  “I don’t …”

  But Carly didn’t wait for her to resist, she just pulled her up, a bright smile on her face.

  “Isn’t Maverick sleeping?” It was weird to think that Carly had a brother younger than Bailey as well as an older brother who played on the same team as Garrett. But Hudson wasn’t home tonight.

  Carly let out a loud laugh, “Are you kidding? Maverick sleeps through anything.”

  As soon as Bree was standing, Carly hooked her arm around her shoulders. “Besides, if he does wake up, he loves my chocolate chip cookies.”

  Carly checked her phone again when it chimed. Bree rolled her eyes. Carly and Parker seemed to not be able to ever get enough of each other.

  Bree followed Carly to the kitchen as Carly typed a reply with a giggle.

  With everything else going on, Bree hadn’t had the chance to think about the envelope in Spencer’s drawer, but now, as she slid onto the barstool and watched Carly grab the flour and the sugar from the cupboard, it came back to her. What was in that and why hadn’t Spencer given it to her yet?

  This time, when Carly’s phone went off, it wasn’t a text, but a call.

  Bree sighed. “Are you kidding me? You literally just saw each other ten minutes ago.”

  Carly turned toward her and held her phone up, “It’s not Parker.”

  Bree glanced at the screen…Garrett flashed across it. “Don’t answer it.”

  She didn’t listen. Carly swiped it with her pointer finger and held it to her ear, smiling at Bree the entire time. “She’s mine tonight.”

  Carly held a hand to her hip and pursed her lips. “Uh huh.”

  Bree tapped her foot against the side of the island, waiting for her to hang up already. The last thing she needed was Garrett invading her girl time, though she wasn’t sure she’d enjoy any of it with everything going on. At least a sugar high wouldn’t hurt.

  “Did you tell her that?” Carly blinked at Bree.

  Bree shook her head.

  “Yeah, she can be stubborn, but really, Garrett, you can be kind of a jerk sometimes.”

  Bree glared. Carly winked at her, as if she was making a valid case.

  “If you love her like you say you do, prove it.”

  Right now, Bree wished she could hang up on Garrett for Carly. When Carly finally looked back at her, Bree pointed toward the sugar.

  “A ring?”

  Bree slapped her forehead. Why did he have to bring that up? That was the most awkward proposal ever. They weren’t even together when he stopped dinner in front of his entire family and got down on one knee.

  “Trust me, Garrett, the ring did nothing to help your case. If you guys already have issues, how is marriage going to solve them?”

  That was exactly why Carly was her best friend. She put the phone down. Bree didn’t know if the conversation was over or if Carly just hung up on him, which she wouldn’t put it past her.

  “Seriously, Bree,” Carly said as she grabbed the chocolate chips, “There is no way you or anyone can deny that boy loves you.”

  Bree sat her elbows on the counter and twisted her fingers. “You know how I grew up.”

  Carly measured out ingredients. “Boys are stupid sometimes. They say really dumb things. You know, just yesterday, I was eating Parker’s last …”

  Bree groaned and covered her ears. “I really don’t want to hear this about my brother.”

  With a quick yank, Carly pulled Bree’s hand away. “It’s not sexual. You know we’re waiting.”

  “Sure you are.” Bree spun the measuring spoon around.

  “Uh,” Carly held a hand to her chest. “Just because we like to kiss … a lot.”

  “You can’t keep your hands off each other.”

  “Whatever. All I’m saying is, guys can be clueless and things come out they don’t mean. Especially when they’re worried about some guy coming in on their territory,” Carly stirred.

  “I’m not property.” Bree held her hands out. “You know how I grew up, you know my dad thought I was a slut, and now Gare…”

  “Whoa, okay.” Carly stopped, with an egg cradled in her hand. “Garrett suggested you might have slept with Spencer. He didn’t call you a slut.”

  “Same thing.” Bree grabbed some chocolate chips and popped them in her mouth.

  “Not really.” Carly plugged her iPod in and cranked the music up. Bree cringed when she thought about Maverick asleep in the other room.

  Chapter 8

  Bree jolted from her sleep when her phone went off. Carly snored beside her. Bree had eaten so many warm cookies earlier, she felt like she was going to throw up before they went to sleep.

  Even though Carly had insisted her little brother slept through everything, her mom wasn’t happy when their music and Carly’s loud laughter woke him. Just like Bree suspected it would.

  Amy, Carly’s mom, shuffled out, her eyes half open and her hair messy. Maverick sat on her hip in his footed pj’s and wispy blond hair.

  “You woke him. You babysit.” Amy handed him to Carly, who just giggled and turned down the music as she bounced her little brother on her hip.

  “He likes hanging with us.” Carly looked up at Bree. “Too bad you don’t have Bailey with you.”

  Maverick’s grey eyes had sleep crusted in the corners. Bree was glad Bailey wasn’t here. She could completely relate to Amy and felt horrible for waking him. Carly didn’t seem to mind, though, even if he didn’t go back to sleep until after one with all the cookies Carly fed him.

  Her phone went off again. This time, she really thought she was going to puke. It was after two. The only thing she could think was something happened to Bailey. But when her eyes finally came into focus and saw Spencer on the screen, she felt relief, but also confusion. What was he doing calling her at this time?

  Carly groaned and swatted the air as Bree sat up and lifted the phone to her ear. “Hey.”

  Loud music filled the speaker and nothing else.

  “Hello?” Bree said.

  As she waited for a response other than hip hop, Carly nudged her with her foot. “Shhh.”

  “You shhh,” Bree nudged her back. “Spencer?” she said into the phone.

  The bed shook when Carly flipped toward Bree, her sleepy eyes now wide open.

  “Bree.” He slurred. “I … need … I …” he belched. “Could you gimme a ride?”

  She didn’t know whether or not to be ticked. He didn’t know she wasn’t at home with Bailey and how could she get him without a car anyway? “Where are you?”

  Carly rubbed and sat up.

  “I’m at Owen’s … bar.”

  “Is Parker with him? Parker better not be with him,” Carly said a little too loudly.

  “Is that Carly?”

  “How am I supposed to get you without a car?”

  “Hi, Carly,” he shouted in Bree’s ear.

  Carly glared.

  Bree held the phone away from her mouth. “You know Parker wouldn’t be with him.”

  “He better not.” Carly stood up and pulled on a pair of jeans.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m taking you to him.”

  “Bree … Bree … Breanna,” Spencer sung. “Are yo
u still there?”

  “Yes, I’m here.”

  “Tell Carly, my future sis, to bring you,” his voice floated. “You can drive the ‘stang.”

  “What?” Nobody drove his Mustang but him. He must really be drunk if he was going to let Bree drive it.

  “Can’t let her sit by the street all night. Owen was ‘posed to take me home, but he bailed.” He mumbled something she couldn’t understand.

  Carly’s keys jingled and she stood by her bedroom door, dressed in jeans and the tank she wore to bed.

  “Carly …”

  “Let’s go,” Carly motioned toward the door.

  Bree sighed. “I’ll be there shortly.” She did at least owe him that. He did drop everything to come after her.

  “Bree,” he slurred and the chaos behind him quieted.

  “Yeah?”

  He belched again.

  Bree stood and pulled on her jeans, as she cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder. “Like I said, I’ll see you soon.” Bree hung up on him.

  Carly stood with her hands on her hips. “Let’s go.”

  “Parker doesn’t go to bars,” Bree sighed as she pushed her feet into her worn-out canvas shoes. She didn’t know what Carly was making a big deal about.

  “Why else wouldn’t he answer his phone?” Carly opened the door.

  Bree trudged behind Carly. “In the middle of the night? He’s probably sleeping.”

  ****

  Bree’s gut twisted as they pulled up to the curb. Spencer slouched against his Mustang, something he would never do sober, his hands were in his pockets and his head down. The street light cast an orange glow over him.

  “Where’s Parker?” Carly rolled her widow down.

  Spencer’s eyes were glossy and droopy, as he lifted his head, a crooked sloppy grin stretched across his face. “Probably at home.”

  His older brother, Owen, stepped out of the bar. The petite girl on his arm looked unbalanced against his large, muscular frame. “Hey Bree, Carly.” He waved before turning back to lock the door.

  “Breanna.” Spencer stumbled toward her as she climbed out of the car.

  “Parker’s really not here?” Carly leaned forward.

  Spencer held his arms out, swaying back and forth as he did. “Does it look like he’s here?”