67 Blacktop Obsession
"Shayde!" Kaidyn knocked on her door excitedly.
"Hold on, I am getting up." Shayde said watching Carter dart off to the bathroom.
"Hey Shay. I gotta talk to you." Kaidyn said, her excitement apparent by the smile on her face.
"What's up, Silly girl?" Shayde asked, opening her door.
"I finished all my classes." Kaidyn said bouncing up and down, her energy draining Shayde's.
"Wow, I am so proud of you! What made you decide to do it all of a sudden?" Shayde asked, folding her arms, trying to not look at the bathroom.
"I wanted my car, my phone and my computer back. I wanted to show you I could get it done and maybe you'd show me how much you can trust me again?" Kaidyn asked, hopeful as she batted her eyes.
"I'm really proud of you Kaidyn but I don't know if we are there yet." Shayde said, not wanting to disappoint Kaidyn but knowing she was going to.
"I understand." Kaidyn said quietly. "I also did it because I know it was stressing you out." Kaidyn said, making Shayde look up at her.
"Come here, Honey." Shayde patted the bed. She played with Kaidyn's hair, running her fingers through it. "I appreciate that but why would you worry if it was stressing me?" Shayde asked, looking her in the eyes.
"Because I don't want you stressed out over me and I don't want to cause you to worry." Kaidyn said, with a shrug.
"Silly girl, I am always gonna worry about you and it's just how I am." Shayde pulled her into a hug. "I am so proud of you. You never have to worry about stressing me out, okay?" She asked, smiling to reassure her. "I promise I am tough and can handle more than you could ever know." Shayde said as Kaidyn looked around the room curiously. She was very observant and this made Shayde nervous.
"I just don't want to keep disappointing you. You've been kinda sad and I just worry about you. You spend more time up here since we got here, which is okay. I just worry about you." Kaidyn said, hugging Shayde. "I know you are stressed and worried about something. I feel like you are in danger." Kaidyn admitted quietly, wrapping her arms around her knees.
"Oh I am just resting and it's nice to be in this big comfy bed, girl. You know how I love to be lazy." Shayde laughed, hugging Kaidyn back. Kaidyn's eyes looked around the room, scanning the room and saw her car keys on the side table by the bed. Then she saw a tray of cigars.
"SHAYDE!" Kaidyn pulled away, her eyes big.
"Kaidyn, what's wrong?" Shayde asked, scared this was the start of another flashback, although she didn't have that lost, empty look she normally would get.
"Who's been here? Do you have a boyfriend?" She asked, her eyebrow raised.
"No, I don't have a boyfriend." Shayde replied.
"Well, who's been up here then?" Kaidyn asked, folding her arms.
"Shayde, don't lie to me." Kaidyn said, her chin held high. "You said lying is not okay and to tell the truth no matter how hard it is." Kaidyn said, shaking her head.
"Let's go downstairs." Shayde said, looking uncomfortable.
"Uh huh. Hmmm. Let's stay here and chat." Kaidyn said smugly, laying on the bed, putting her arms behind her back and crossing her legs. Kaidyn doing the Hmm thing like Carter did almost made her drop her cup of coffee she had been drinking.
"How about we don't and we go downstairs. I was just about to come down there." Shayde said, shaking her head.
"I love this bed just like you do. Let's stay and chat." Kaidyn examined her nails nonchalantly.
"You have a bed in your room just as soft as this one." Shayde countered.
"Not as big as this one. I like it in here. Smells like coffee and cigars. So you want to tell me who's those are?" She asked, moving her feet and staring at Shayde. "Did you take up smoking?" She asked smugly.
"I have to go to the bathroom. I will be right back." Shayde said, getting up.
"Uh Huh, using a stall tactic. Don't worry, I will be right here waiting for you, dear Shay." Kaidyn promised, watching her go into the bathroom and shut the door. She slipped off the bed and looked under the bed and behind the curtains. She walked by the bedside table and quietly slipped her car keys in her pocket and scooted back up on the bed, getting back in her position as if she had never moved.
"Carter, you gotta keep quiet in here. Kaidyn is in the room." Shayde rushed in, worried that Kaidyn was going to hear him in the shower. They didn't want Kaidyn seeing him and having any episodes or flashbacks.
"Mhhm, you look good when rushing in the bathroom to come see me." Carter said, grabbing her and kissing her.
"Carter, are you crazy? We are gonna get busted." Shayde said, kissing him, then slapping him gently on the chest.
"Yes, but you are crazier leaving her alone in there. She'll figure out I am in here. I hate having to hide like a teenager caught in your bedroom." he said, putting his arms around her. "But then again, it's pretty hot." he said, kissing her face. She pulled away, rolling her eyes.
"Carter." She sighed.
"Go fix this, baby." He swatted her on the ass as she walked out. She turned to glare at him, reminding him that she did not appreciate that.
"Carter, you know how I hate when you do that." She shook her head.
"You know I love your ass." He retorted. She sighed and walked out of the bathroom.
"I see you are still comfy. You are not leaving are you?" She asked, getting up on the bed by Kaidyn. Kaidyn scooted over and laid her head in Shayde's lap.
"Not a chance." Kaidyn said, shaking her head, looking up at Shayde.
"Well, Missy, I guess I have no choice but to tell you." Shayde sighed, playing with her hair, making Kaidyn smile.
"Yup, I need to know these things. Just be honest. I won't judge you." Kaidyn said, her blue eyes looking into Shayde's honey brown eyes.
"Congrats on you and Tej." Shayde said, trying to divert the conversation they were about to have.
"How'd you know? We haven't told anyone?" Kaidyn asked, confused.
"I heard Roman going on about Tej having a girl and he was hiding around some corners and then he said something about a lemon. I don't know, he was being Roman and talking fast." Shayde said, forgetting that Kaidyn had no idea about the cameras or mics in the house.
"Oh, that makes sense. He is just being a baby. Shay, why don't you want to tell me? I promise whatever it is, I can handle it." Kaidyn said, starting to get frustrated that Shayde was keeping something from her.
"Ok, if I tell you, you promise to not be upset?" Shayde asked.
"Yes, just tell me please. I need the details." Kaidyn said. She didn't notice Shayde grabbing her phone and holding down the button to scramble the room's mic, while also checking to make sure Carter was still in the shower. Shayde knew Kaidyn was going to forget this after a bit so she was going to tell her to get her back downstairs.
"Okay. I'll tell you. Do you remember me telling you about my bestfriend? The one who's phone number I always said to keep on you in case of an emergency?" She asked, making Kaidyn nod. "He keeps us safe and checks on us from time to time." Shayde explained.
"Why can't I meet him?" Kaidyn asked, laying on her stomach now, her chin on her elbows and her feet up and crossed behind her, like she was at a slumber party.
"Because he can't be seen with us right now for safety reasons and I don't want to be together that way, one of us is always available for you." Shayde said fondly.
"But that's not fair to you." Kaidyn said, playing with Shayde's hand.
"Honey, it's fine." Shayde promised. "I'm fine. You really shouldn't worry so much about me." She smiled.
"But I do. You are amazing. You deserve someone who will give you the best of everything." Kaidyn said. "Instead of having to always worry about me and my issues." Kaidyn said, sounding almost sad.
"I love taking care of you. You are worth everything to me and then some, Kaidyn." Shayde smiled. "You are my everything." She promised.
"So what's his name? How come you never tell me his name?" Kaidyn asked, sitting up.
"Because my little hacker bee, you would be all over that and would find him in a heartbeat and we gotta keep things on the downlow for right now. Just know he's my ride or die and he makes me very happy." Shayde promised.
"Really? That makes me happy to know you have someone. But I will find out someday right?" Kaidyn asked curiously.
"When the time is right and we are out of danger, yes." Shayde said with a nod.
"Can I at least have his initials?" Kaidyn asked, her eyes hopeful.
"Not a chance." Shayde refused.
"Shay…" Kaidyn rolled her eyes. "I see you are still not over the whole hacking thing. Are you ever gonna be not mad at me for that?" Kaidyn asked, looking down.
"Girl, you spent 6 months in Juvie. You went on a hunger strike, organized a riot and refused to do your work so you didn't graduate. Why wouldn't I still be upset?" Shayde asked, narrowing her eyes. "I'm still trying to get some more weight on you from that whole fiasco." She said, shaking her head.
"Can't we let the past be the past? Can we talk about a phone or a computer at least?" She asked.
"Not today, Silly Girl. Not today." Shayde laughed. "Now will you stop worrying so much about me?" She asked.
"Does he make you happy?" Kaidyn asked.
"Yes, Kaidyn." she replied.
"I know he must take good care of you but do you miss him?" Kaidyn asked, still not ready to give up.
"Yes, all the time. We have been together for a very long time. But I am not telling you how long because I know any info I give you will just help you play detective." Shayde said.
"You are impossible." Kaidyn said, rolling her eyes. "He must be amazing the way your face lights up when you talk about him." Kaidyn clapped her hands together.
"Oh, he's really amazing. For sure. And if anything ever was to happen to me, you have that number you can call him. But only for emergencies, promise me. It's very serious. If someone were to trace the number to us it could be really bad. So swear to me you will never call it unless you have to." Shayde said, looking serious.
"I promise. So I can't call him if I need to talk? Does he know me?" She asked.
"He knows you very well." Shayde promised. "You can only call him in an emergency, okay?" She asked, being very serious. "I mean, like very life or death emergencies." She said, lifting up Kaidyn's chin to make sure she knew she was serious and staring her in the eyes. Kaidyn nodded.
"Then can I use your phone to talk to him? Your so-called work phone?" Kaidyn asked, folding her arms, using air quotes when she said work phone.
"You are pushing it, little girl. Let's talk about this later." Shayde said, shaking her head. She was worried Carter was going to be out of the shower soon. "No more talk about my bestfriend, promise me?" She asked, hoping Kaidyn was done with this whole business.
"Okay, okay." Kaidyn said, nodding and holding up her right hand as if she was swearing. Shayde let go of the unscramble button and hoped Kaidyn really would drop it.
"I want to celebrate tonight. What do you think about a barbecue tonight?" Shayde asked, trying to change the subject.
"That sounds like a lot of fun, honestly. I wish Dom and Jesse could be here. You think they are doing okay by themselves?" Kaidyn asked.
"I'm sure they are fine." Shayde said, putting her arm around Kaidyn and walking her out the door.
"If I had a phone I could call and check up on them." Kaidyn reasoned.
"Stop it or I am gonna ask Han to find some more homework for you." Shayde warned.
"I still can't believe Letty up and left them. If I ever see her, I have some words for her." Kaidyn shook her head.
"Hey, Letty's still your family. Now stop it." Shayde said, shaking her head.
"Family doesn't leave you." Kaidyn said, shaking her head. "No matter what, there is no excuse for leaving your family." Kaidyn said with conviction.
"There could be reasons. There are always exceptions." Shayde said, walking by a camera. "Don't worry, there are always exceptions to that, Kaidyn. Things are not always as they seem or so simple." Shayde said, looking up at the camera, wishing Carter did not have the whole house wired. She hated that she had to worry about her and Kaidyn's every move and conversation.