39 Blacktop Obsession
"How you feeling, Kaidyn?" Brian asked, watching her look a bit restless as she yawned,
"I'm okay." She replied, looking like she was contemplating sitting down, her face saying otherwise.
"Hurting, huh?" He asked, getting a slight nod. "Have a seat and talk to me. Roman will come settle down in a bit I bet if you do." Brian nodded, offering his jacket for her to sit on.
"Thanks." She said, yawning. "Why'd you tell Shay I was hurting?" She asked, curious, still feeling betrayed a bit.
"I know how bad pain can be. No sense in suffering." He replied simply.
"I hate taking meds." She complained.
"At least it'll help with the pain, right?' Brian asked, trying to make the best of the situation.
"Yeah." She agreed. "So what is up with you and that bitch Monica?" She asked, making Brian almost spit out his drink of water he had just taken.
"Let's not go there." he coughed, not wanting to bring up anything that could get to the subject of anything that could stress her. "Hey Rome, why don't you come sit down and chill for a bit?" he asked, hoping Roman would distract her from the line of fire of questions.
"Ok, let's talk about Shayde." Kaidyn said, not skipping a beat. Roman sat down and finished off his sandwich.
"What about her?" Brian asked, wondering where this was going.
"How you feeling, Blondie?" Roman asked, watching her shiver a bit.
"I'm okay." she rubbed her arms.
"Come here, let me warm you up." Roman said, pulling her in his lap, she laid her head on his chest and he casually played with her hair.
"I'm not tired, just cold." She said, not wanting to go to sleep.
"Just sit here with us." Brian suggested.
"Are you sure you aren't hanging around just because you like Shay?" Kaidyn asked, her eyes closed but opening to look at Brian's expression.
"No, that is not the reason. What makes you think that?" Brian asked, curious to know what would bring this up.
"I don't know. I am just asking. Guys are always trying to go out with her and she hasn't dated since I can remember." Kaidyn said, shrugging. "I just don't want you to try to be a friend because you want to date her." Kaidyn sighed, yawning. "I don't want her to get used." Kaidyn shrugged.
"You getting tired, Blondie?" Roman asked, trying to help Brian get out of the line of Kaidyn's questioning.
"I'm okay." She nodded, still watching Brian for an answer.
"I am helping because...it's complicated. But it's not because I like her and expect anything from her. It's not because I like her. I promise." Brian said, looking her in the eyes.
"Are you sure you just want to be friends with her? She's really pretty, right?" Kaidyn asked, her words starting to sound a bit different.
"She is very pretty, yes." Brian hesitated, wondering where this was going. "I will respect what she wants regardless." he promised.
"Ha, I knew you liked her." Kaidyn smiled. "Then you will not keep trying to get with her." Kaidyn said, playing with Roman's chain on his neck.
"Checking in to see how Kaidyn's doing." Hector came over the walkie talkie.
"She's good, man. I think the meds are starting to kick in." Brian laughed.
"I love your braids." Kaidyn said, her eyes getting heavy.
"What? That's not me..." Roman said, almost alarmed.
"Shh, man, drop it. Let her go to sleep." Brian said, shaking his head.
"Man, thats some..." Roman shook his head. "I feel attacked." He said, shaking his head.
"Yeah, man, she's def feeling them meds. She's out." Brian said, talking to Hector over the walkie.
"Good deal. Hopefully she'll get some rest. We gave her some pretty heavy meds. She might be a bit out of it. Let me know if you need anything or have any problems." Hector said. "Should be pretty quiet the rest of the night. Holler if we need to make any stops, I got a few planned but only if we need em." Hector said.
"10-4. Sounds good, bro." Brian said.
In the other truck…
"So, where's this house we goin to?" Tej asked, sitting back and getting ready for the long ride.
"It's a house I had built a while ago. It's by a beach and it's been real secure. Secure enough to keep Kaidyn from getting out and the Feds and the bad people from getting in." Shayde said matter of factly.
"Nice. Sounds like a cool place. So you running from the Feds and some others, huh? Must be pretty exhausting." Tej nodded,
"You can say that again." Shayde said, literally ready to just be back in Florida and what she called home. They had been on the run for a very long time. Eight years with Kaidyn was taking its toll on her.
"So, I know the whole Carter thing is hush hush around Kaidyn but do I wanna know what you are into or how this all came about?" Tej asked, shaking his head.
"I trust you, It's your boys I don't trust." Shayde said, folding her arms.
"They are good, I can vouch for em." Tej promised.
"Well, I can't right now. I can tell you that it's some crazy stuff and you guys shouldn't want to get mixed up in it." Shayde warned. She had hated that Kaidyn had taken so well to these boys and now she was bringing back three boys she had not intended on bringing with her.
"I am sure they have handled worse. Bullet's always in some kinda trouble and Roman well, he's Roman." Tej laughed, "I am not tryin to be all up in your business. Just know that's not how I roll." Tej held up his hands innocently.
"It's all good. Just tell me what's up with Brian and him tryin to win me over like some prize?" Shayde asked, popping open a Dr. Pepper. She offered Tej one and he nodded. She slid the ice chest over to him.
"I don't know, that's just Brian. He's always tryin to help someone. I think helping others might help him. Best I can tell." Tej confessed. "My turn. So tell me, Carter, you his sister? Funny, you guys don't look a bit alike to me." Tej mused, grabbing a sandwich and a bag of chips.
"You can't see the resemblance huh?" She grinned. This amused her to no end.
"I can see Kaidyn looks a bit like him but she's only his half sister?" Tej asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You're very observant I see. I knew you would pay more attention than the others for some reason. I like people who pay attention to details." Shayde said, impressed. "You see the other half of her?" She asked, waiting for the response.
"I mean, I guess she kinda looks like you." Tej replied, confused and not sure if he was on the right track. "I mean, I just thought if she was only his half sister, how is it she looks more like you than him when you're full blooded brother and sister?" He asked, scratching his head.
"Sometimes it's easier to go with what people believe," Shayde said, making Tej stop and look at her. "I'll just leave it at that." She said, not wanting to discuss anything further. "So, what's up with you and Kaidyn?" She asked quizzically.
"What you mean?" Tej asked, finishing up his sandwich.
"Don't play dumb with me, boy. I answered your questions, you gotta answer mine" She laughed.
"What do you mean what's up?" Tej asked innocently.
"I see you checking her out all the time. I'm very observant just like you are." Shayde promised.
"I mean, she's cool. She's my homegirl for sure." Tej nodded, eating a chip to not have to say anymore.
"Boy, you can't bullshit a bullshitter. I see how you check her out and how she responds to you." Shayde said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I mean, I do like her but Roman…" Tej stopped.
"Uh-huh, what about Roman?" Shayde asked, curious.
"I gotta let him figure out what he's doing because I am pretty sure he's into her and it's only right to let him make his move if he's gonna." Tej shook his head.
"Roman couldn't handle her if he tried." Shayde scoffed. "But I understand." She nodded.
"You think we'd be a good fit?" Tej asked, curious now on her thoughts.
"Yeah, and I wouldn't say many people could handle her but I am confident you could. She needs someone who can handle her and keep her outta trouble." Shayde nodded.
"Yeah, I can see that." Tej laughed. "She's definitely a handful." he agreed.
"Yup, she is a fireball. No chill. But I love her." Shayde laughed fondly.
"She's all that fo sho." Tej said appreciatively.
"Just letting you know if you ever do decide to make a move, you got my blessing and believe me, in my family, that is everything you need." She promised, leaving Tej to ponder those words.