Covering the Carolinas Read online

  Covering the Carolinas Box Set

  Crashing Tides, Our Song, & Southern Perfection Box Set

  By Casey Peeler

  Also by Casey Peeler

  Full Circle Series

  Losing Charley (Full Circle #1)

  Finding Charley (Full Circle #2)

  Loving Charley (Full Circle #3)

  Tutu’s & Cowboy Boots (Coming December 29, 2015)

  Featured

  Crashing Tides

  Out Song

  Southern Perfection

  Covering the Carolina’s Boxset

  By Casey Peeler

  Published by Casey Peeler at Smashwords

  Copyright 2015 Casey Peeler

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a written act of fiction. Any places, characters, or similarities are purely coincidence. If certain places or characters are referenced it is for entertainment purposes only. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The author recognizes all copyright and trademarks that are mentioned within this work of fiction

  Table of Contents

  Crashing Tides

  Our Song- A Novella

  Southern Perfection

  About the Author

  Crashing Tides

  Prologue

  April 2011- Spring Break Week/ Junior Year

  GUNNISON

  The basketball team and I got into Garden City at noon. Now I’m watching the clock hoping coach will wrap it up soon so we can get cleaned up and head out to find some hot girls and party.

  Once the meeting wraps up we have dinner with our families, and Dad lays down the ground rules before giving me the keys to the truck. Mikey, Diesel, and I climb into the extended cab pickup and head out to cruise Ocean Drive. The closer we get to the pier, we see the glowing lights and people lining the sidewalks.

  As we drive down Ocean Drive the three of us do a double take when we see three identical blondes walking down the street. Thankfully, the light ahead is red and it gives us a chance to stare at their matching long legs and Daisy Dukes.

  I look at Mikey and Diesel, “We have to find out where they are going.”

  Looking in the rearview mirror at Mikey, he gives me a grin. When the girls look our way, one catches my eye more than the others and instantly I feel a connection. When she gives me an ‘I dare ya’ look, I know she’s the one. There is something pulling me to her. Looking directly at her, I give her a wink and continue to drive past, but little does she know, I’m turning this truck around at the next street.

  If she is still around, I plan to make a move, and who knows maybe her look-a-likes will want to spend time with my boys. As we approach the spot, I realize she’s not there and my heart begins to beat rapidly while scanning the crowd for her. Never in my life have I felt like this about a girl I know nothing about, but a smile escapes my lips and my heart rate slows when I see them walking toward us on the opposite side of the street.

  “Hey pretty girl, want a ride?” I ask with as much charm as possible. Without missing a beat, she smiles and walks straight toward my truck.

  “That the best line you got?” she says with sass, but that doesn’t stop her from coming closer.

  As I apply the break, she locks eyes on me, confidently approaches the driver’s side, opens the door, slides across my lap and sits in the middle between Diesel and me. Lord help me; never in my life have I met a girl so confident and sure of herself. This girl is different, and I want more. More of her, more of who we could be together, and more of anything she’s willing to give. Pulling my eyes from hers I notice her sisters are in the back with Mikey.

  When she notices me looking at them she makes the introductions. “I’m Marleigh and these are my sisters Tinleigh and Carleigh,” she says as she points to them over her shoulder. “We’re triplets, but I’m sure you’ve figured that out already.” She’s right. I figured it out, but I’ve never seen triplets up close before. I never understood how one could be more attractive than the other until now. Marleigh just stands out.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty obvious. I’m Gunnison but my friends call me GC and these are my friends Mikey and Diesel. You guys from here?”

  “We’re from South Carolina but not Garden City. What about y’all?” Y’all. That word on her perfect, southern lips makes me want to rewind and hear her say that word again and again.

  “We’re from Pennsylvania, and here for a basketball tournament.”

  “Y’all any good?” she asks.

  “Maybe. You guys should check us out tomorrow.”

  “Maybe,” she says as she glances at her sisters. “So what’s the plan tonight? We wasting gas all night or are you gonna show us girls a good time?”

  “You guys like ice cream?” I ask.

  “Maybe a little,” she smirks.

  MARLEIGH

  Holy freakin’ moly! This boy sitting beside me is the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. He’s got naturally sun kissed skin and a smile that makes me giddy inside. But, that’s not what has my mind racing, all of the sudden I can feel a pull toward him almost as if he was supposed to crash into my life at this very moment.

  As he turns the truck off Ocean Drive, I can feel Carleigh’s eyes boring into the back of my head. She needs to lighten up. They aren’t going to hurt us. I swear! Thank goodness, Tinleigh always has my back. Finding a parking spot underneath the pier, GC gives me his hand as we exit the truck as his friends help my sisters. Damn him and that hot body. It’s obvious playing basketball does a body good. He towers over six feet with an athletic build, but the way he carries himself is like a hot country boy.

  Crossing the road, we walk toward the ice cream parlor. GC opens the door and we order a scoop of our favorite. He pauses and looks at me as I cover my cookies and cream with caramel syrup.

  “What? I have a thing for caramel.” I shrug as he then proceeds to do the same to his peanut butter cup. Seriously? Is he copying me? I reach for a spoon and scoop a bite of his peanut butter and caramel goodness into my mouth.

  “Yum! I always wanted to try it that way,” I say as he stands there speechless and I make my way to everyone else sitting at a table near the entrance. GC takes a seat beside me and I catch him watching me multiple times. Each time I do, I give him a show by eating my ice cream as slow as possible.

  We spend the next hour joking around and laughing at each other, playing I Spy like we’re kids, and having the most fun I’ve ever had. Noticing we’re being a little loud, we make our way outside. GC takes my hand and pulls me back behind everyone as they continue to walk.

  GUNNISON

  “Marleigh, can I see you again?” I question as I place my hand on her cheek and look into those hazel eyes.

  “No,” she says and my heart stops as I begin to remove my hand. Quickly, she places her hand on top of mine and as our eyes meet, a smile escapes her lips and she says, “You better.” I feel my heart begin to beat again. Slowly, I pull her lips to mine for a kiss that causes the mix of emotions swimming within me to crash into my soul. Never in my life will I ever be the same.

  “The games should be over by six to
morrow, wanna meet up after that?”

  “Sounds perfect. I’ll meet ya at the pier around eight.

  The next day I play ball as soon as the sun rises. I know with each dribble of the ball and tick of the clock I’m closer to seeing Marleigh. After a brief team meeting, we make our way back to the hotel with our parents. I take a few extra minutes to decide what to wear knowing Marleigh will be waiting for me. Grabbing a pair of AE cargo shorts and a fitted vintage tee shirt I grab my country boy hat, and meet Mikey and Diesel in the lobby.

  After climbing the rickety steps at the edge of the sand, we make our way onto the pier, and I see Marleigh sitting on a bench under the pier lights with her sisters. The ocean breeze makes her long hair whip and she tries her best to keep it in place. I can’t help but laugh at how adorable it is.

  As we approach the girls, her hazel eyes meet mine and she bites her lip. Whoa, I wasn’t expecting my body to react that way.

  “Hey ladies,” I say in greeting. We take a few minutes to make small talk as a band begins to play. They each take our hands and pull us toward the music. As Marleigh begins to pull me, I plant my feet.

  She turns to me with caution, “C’mon GC! Let’s go dance.” I shake my head no.

  As she begins to pout, I pull her into my lap as I take a seat on the bench. “I think I’d rather just sit here with you.” I place a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear causing her eyes to lock on mine.

  “And what are we gonna do beside sit?” she says with a raised eyebrow.

  “Talk. Mar, I want to learn everything I can about you.”

  Placing her arms around my neck, “Ask away,” she says.

  “Favorite color?”

  “Carolina Blue. Yours?”

  “Yellow. Favorite movie?”

  “The Notebook. What’s you’re favorite type of music?” she asks.

  “Country.” Then she begins to giggle. “What’s so funny?”

  “You’re like a Yankee Cowboy aren’t ya?” Stunned. Never in my life has a girl called it like she sees it, and I love it.

  “Yankee Cowboy, huh?”

  “Yeah, I mean look at your country boy hat,” she says with a wink. “I mean now all you need is a horse or two and you’re good.” I can’t help but laugh. She obviously doesn’t know what’s funny. “Why you laughin’?”

  I pull my wallet from my back pocket, and pull out a picture. She snatches it from my hand and covers her mouth.

  “Well, aren’t you just full of surprises. She’s a beauty. She the only one you got?”

  “Nah, we have an entire stable full. We own one of the largest horse farms in Lancaster, Del Valle Farm. Come on, let’s go for a walk.”

  I stand, take her hand and lead her down the beach.

  After a few moments of silence I decide to ask about her plans for the future. “What do you plan to do when you graduate?” I say looking at her as we walk.

  “I’m going to Coastal.” I can’t help but grin at that comment. “I’ve always wanted to study Marine Science and my parent’s beach house being so close, makes it the obvious choice for my sisters and me. What about you?”

  “I want to play basketball at Coastal.” She stops midstep.

  “You totally just made that up.”

  “Sure didn’t. Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved the beach and Coastal has an awesome team. I promise, I’m not making this up. You can ask Mikey, Diesel or my parents.”

  Folding her arms she stares into the sky as if she’s trying to decide if she believes me. I wrap my arms around her from behind to keep her warm.

  “I can’t believe we both plan on going to Coastal. You know, I feel like we were supposed to meet for a reason.”

  “I feel the same way.”

  *****

  By the middle of the week, I’ve spent every free moment I have with Marleigh. The team is giving me hell, and telling me I’m whipped by a girl I’ll never see again. They don’t understand. Marleigh and I aren’t just a beach fling. In fact, I’ve learned more about myself and what I want in life in just a few days than I have in any other relationship. She’s a girl that follows through with her actions, leaps before looking and I want to be the one to catch her when she lands. There is a connection between the two of us that I can’t figure out, but I know I don’t want this week to end.

  MARLEIGH

  As the sun starts to descend from the beautiful, blue Carolina sky, I’m pulled from my Kindle when Daddy tells us to pack up our beach gear. Carleigh, Tinleigh and I help our parents pack up the tent and roll the cooler two blocks back to our home away from home.

  With our parents behind us, we begin to make plans for our final night in Garden City. It’s evident my plans involve GC. This week I’ve fallen hard for a scrumptious country boy from up North. To think there are country boys up North totally makes me laugh. The moment he cruised by my sisters and me on Ocean Drive, I knew I wanted more than a moment with him. Undoubtedly, he was thinking the same thing because it took him all of two seconds to find a turn around and offer us a ride.

  “Marleigh, what do you have planned tonight?” Carleigh asks, and I can’t help but giggle inside at my “older by ten minutes” sister.

  “Heck, I don’t know. I just know GC said he and the guys are going to chill at the pier. Y’all know you want to go too. Carleigh, you’ve been eyeing Diesel all week, and Tinleigh, you can’t make up your mind which one you like,” I say as I apply my mascara.

  “Just because I like to keep my options open doesn’t mean a thing,” Tinleigh giggles as she slides on a tube top.

  “What am I going to do with y’all?! I swear. I’m the only one who thinks these days. Y’all throw a few hotties in the mix and you’d think y’all were only thinking about one thing,” Carleigh states placing her hands on her hips.

  “Might be,” I say as I shrug my shoulders.

  “Marleigh, you can’t be serious,” she states.

  “I’m so serious, Car. Nothing’s wrong with a little extracurricular activities,” I say as I raise my eyebrows up and down. Tinleigh falls right in line doing the same thing, then makes her own comment. “Car, it’s like recess, we’re just playing with all the boys until the right one comes along.”

  “Ohmygod, y’all! How did I get blessed with being the only triplet with any sense whatsoever?”

  “Oh, we have plenty of sense, Car. We don’t do anything too stupid,” Tinleigh says.

  “Whatever,” she says as we finish getting ready and then head into the kitchen to eat supper.

  After supper with our parents, we are told to be home by midnight and to call if we need them. Our parents know we like to have a good time, but they’ve raised us right. Being brought up in a small southern town, we have been taught morals, responsibility, and respect even though we don’t always do as our parents wish. In fact, at home, as soon as the sun goes down, the Anderson girls become hell on heels. The only one of us who even thinks twice about the consequences is Carleigh, but most of the time Tinleigh and I can usually talk our big sister into doing what we want to do.

  As we walk from the house to the pier, I can hear the sounds of the arcade, horns blowing, and the waves crashing in the distance while the salty air tickles my nose. Crossing the road, we sway our hips a little more as we cross the street, and laugh as a truck horn blows, “Dixie”, at us. As we make our way up the steps and onto the pier, we stop to listen to a local musician play a few cover songs, and then make our way toward the end where the party is really starting. As we get closer to the end, I can see GC, Diesel and Mikey standing there, and lord have mercy, I’m pretty sure tonight’s a night I’ll never forget.

  Approaching them, a smile spreads across my face and GC pushes off the railing and makes his way toward me. When we are close enough to touch, I wrap my arms around his neck and place my lips on his.

  “I missed you today,” he says.

  “I bet you did. How was the game, Yankee Cowboy?” I say.

 
He smirks when I use the nickname. “It was awesome. I had twenty-three points in the championship game and we came in first at the tournament. I’m pretty sure the scouts from Coastal took note,” he says as his smirk becomes a cheesing grin.

  “I’m so happy for you, GC!” I squeal as I pull him in tighter.

  “What about us?” Mikey asks.

  “I’m sure y’all were just as fabulous,” Tinleigh says to him as she places her hand on his chest.

  “Come on, let’s dance.” I look at my sisters and we make our way to the dance floor at the edge of the Garden City pier.

  GUNNISON

  The moment I see Marleigh walking toward me with those long tan legs peaking out from the short denim skirt, I knew tonight was going to be a great night. There’s something about this girl that I can’t explain. Every year my family goes on vacation based on where my travel team is playing and I always meet girls, but this one is different.

  As Marleigh and her sisters make their way to the dance floor, I can feel my heart beating in sync with the speakers. I swear it’s about to bounce right out of my chest as I watch her hips move with the beat of the music. I can’t take it any longer and motion for the guys to make our way to the dance floor and dance with the Anderson triplet of our choice. Taking Marleigh by the hand, I spin her around to face me as she giggles sweetly. We dance and two-step through several songs until the music slows. As the pier lights shine on us, flecks of gold shine through her hazel eyes. Mesmerized by her in this moment, I know I can’t share her with anyone else tonight because I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again. Without thinking, I quickly pull her from the dance floor. She looks at me suspiciously, but follows willingly.

  Standing on the pier, I press Marleigh against the rail and look into her eyes. “Mar, I can’t share you with anyone tonight. What if I don’t see you again?” She takes her arms and wraps them around my neck.

  “GC, there’s no way I’m letting you leave my life now that you’ve crashed into it.” She kisses me deeply as a firework is shot into the night sky and she holds onto me for dear life. Glancing over my shoulder, I see a group crowded around a roaring fire.