Free Loving Charley by Casey Peeler Page A

my
face, I reply, “I know it’s the right choice. This semester will be
over before we know it. Then, I will be home until next
year.”
    Not really wanting to touch
the next year subject, I just do what any girl would do lying with
the hottest country boy around. I take advantage.
    Until we have to get ready,
Cash and I have fun in the sheets, but don’t cross the line. I’m
dreading this moment. It was terrible to leave him in Grassy Pond,
and here I am replaying this scene again. He must sense my sadness,
as we get ready, because he wraps his loving arms around me as I
attempt to pull my hair into a ponytail.
    “I don’t want to leave either, but I
have to. I’m sure your dad would love to have to pay double
tuition.”
    “You’re right about that.” I smirk. “I
could just see his face if he got that kinda bill.”
    Once I finish putting up my
hair, we hold each other until we don’t have any other choice but
to go our separate ways.
    “Come on. Let me drive you
to practice,” Cash says as he grabs my swim bag and his duffle
bag.
    Cash gets my keys, and we
make our way to my car. He opens the passenger seat for me and
kisses my lips before closing the door and walking around to the
driver’s seat. After glancing at him in the driver’s seat, I
smirk. The things a guy will do for his
girl, like drive her car.
    “What’s that for?” he
asks.
    “You just look so cute drivin’ the
Honda.”
    “Hey, it takes a real man to drive
one, but I feel like I’m on the dirt compared to the
truck.”
    After placing the car in
reverse, he puts his hand on my leg and drives me to practice. As
we see the gym approaching, tears begin to swell in my eyes. I try
to brush them without Cash noticing, but it’s a lost
cause.
    As we pull into a parking
space, Cash puts the car in park and comes to open the door for me.
He guides me out of the car by my hand, and I stand as he pulls me
in for a sweet embrace. He wipes the tears that are now freely
falling from my eyes and pulls up my chin to meet his
gaze.
    “Char-coal, don’t cry. It
only makes it harder for both of us. I’m going to try to come back
next weekend or at least for Southern States. Maybe Tessa can bring
your car, and I’ll follow her in the truck. That way you can come
home when you want. Know that whether I’m here with you or at home,
you are always my first thought. The first one in the morning,
constantly during the day, and the last one before I meet you in my
dreams.”
    “I love you, Cash Money,
with my whole heart, and it hurts so much to know we have to be
apart.”
    “I love you more, but think of it more
as an adventure. While I’m at home in Grassy Pond, you’re living
the college life for both of us. Not that I regret not going away,
but it wasn’t my dream… it was yours.”
    Knowing that Cash is right, I hold him
tighter. He brings my lips to his and kisses them sweetly and hugs
me again before making me head to practice before I’m
late.
    “I’ll text ya when I’m home. Now, go
before you’re late. Love you!”
    “Love you, too,” I say as I
turn and walk into the gym, strutting just a little to leave him
with a view to remember. That thought makes me smile instead of
wanting to cry, so that’s what I do. I smile.
    Practice is just practice.
It’s great to be back with Coach and the team. It feels amazing to
be back in the pool, especially considering that I didn’t get to
the pool like I wanted to the last few days. When practice is over,
Coach asks to see me.
    “Whatcha need,
Coach?”
    “Charley, come in and have
a seat.” This cannot be
good , I think to myself as I take a seat.
“I know you probably don’t want to talk about it, but I need to
know exactly what is going on at home. Word travels fast, and the
fact that one of the state’s best swimmers has been charged with
rape, I just need to know how I can support you.”
    “Coach, I just want him to
pay. I want to stop him from hurting anyone else, and I want