Chapter 15 Carter
CARTER
“So what’s up with you and Kingsley?” I asked my sister.
“Nothing. He’s just sweet.”
I stared at her until she blushed. She was feeling him.
Treasure used to be a straight shooter. Ever since her attack, she was always unsure of herself and everyone else around her.
I hated witnessing that change in her, but I knew that she would be that way mentally for a long time.
The way they tortured her wasn’t something that she could just get over quickly, if at all.
I noticed he talked to her a lot at Mr. Storm’s house. He arrived a little later, after my boy had left. Almost the entire time he spoke to her, she was smiling.
“He’s a really nice guy. He’s about three or four years younger than me, but . . .” She turned her head and focused on the horses that were whinnying in the pasture. She turned back to me. “He’s mature for his age.”
I nodded. “He seems to be a good guy. A lil on the crazy side but good.”
She smiled. “He asked to take me out this weekend, but I told him I wasn’t ready for something like that. He seemed extremely understanding. I may invite him to Sunday dinner over here if Mama cooks.”
I smiled slightly and put my arm around her and kissed her head.
We were sitting on the back porch at our parents’ house.
just chilling. We all took time out of our schedules to spend time with Treasure.
She ended up resigning from her job, because she couldn’t stand to be away from the house without family being close to her.
Strangers were extreme triggers for her.
Had it not been for us taking her out and about, she would have easily become a recluse.
“I like him,” she said softly. “I somewhat trust him, but I’m scared.”
I closed my eyes as I listened to my little sister bare her heart. I already knew she liked him. She wouldn’t have allowed him in her space if she didn’t. She would have gotten away from him so fast he would’ve thought she’d disappeared.
“I can understand why you’re scared. King is a good dude, and he seems to be a lot like Mister Kenny. It seems we all tryna be in the Henderson family, huh?”
She chuckled. “I guess, but not in Storm Henderson’s family. Seven gon’ mess around and fuck with the right one.”
“He may have already. Iesha ain’t playing with his ass.”
She chuckled again. “It’s a shame for him to be so fine on the outside and a whole ass terror on the inside. It’s gon’ take a hell of a woman to tame his ass. Epic tryna be in the family?” she asked as she stared up at me.
“I heard he was watching Malia Henderson. Marcus’s daughter.”
“Oh. Well, I know Cachet ain’t worried about none of those niggas.”
“Naw. Baby sis tryna get that degree. I can’t wait until she get home. I miss her lil worrisome ass.”
“Whose worrisome ass?”
We turned around and saw our mama standing there with her hand on her hip. I slowly shook my head. “Not you, woman. We talking about Cachet.”
“Aw-right. I didn’t think y’all were talking about me, but I had to be sure.”
She pushed my head when she saw me shaking it, then kissed my cheek. “What are y’all up to?”
“Nothing. Just sitting here talking about Kingsley,” Treasure said.
Apparently, she and Mama had already talked about him.
They talked about everything. It seemed they were more like friends instead of mother and daughter.
Treasure was twenty-seven years old though .
. . a grown ass woman. Their relationship was a lot like mine and Dad’s.
I also had Squared, though. Treasure didn’t have anyone else.
She was starting to get close to Maui, but her attack slowed that down.
I stood from the swing, since Mama had gotten home, and said, “I need to go meet my baby for lunch. She’s at the diner.”
“Okay, baby. See you later.”
“See you later, Carter,” Treasure said.
I walked around the house to see my dad pull in the driveway. That nigga was always on the move. I supposed that was what kept him young. When he got out of his truck, he had a frown on his face and his shirt was torn.
“What happened?”
His frown eased. “Stupid ass steer was acting a fool.”
I released the breath I took in and shook my head.
As hot as shit been out here with ICE trying to get at Marcus, that shit had my nerves on edge.
Those muthafuckas didn’t care who they fucked with.
We were all carrying our guns these days.
I had hunting rifles in my truck, although, I barely had time to hunt.
“Where you headed?”
“I’m going to meet my baby at the diner for lunch.”
“Oh okay. Be careful. I saw a few SUVs circling the area.”
“Yes, sir.”
I got in my truck to head to Nome and saw a delivery truck stop at the end of the driveway.
When I saw it was a floral shop, I smiled.
I was willing to bet they were for Treasure from Kingsley.
I had to applaud him. He was definitely showing her how much he cut for her.
Whenever he was at the diner and she was there, he paid for her food.
Mythic had told me that much. Most times when Treasure went, she was with Mythic.
I got out of my truck and met the lady at the end of the driveway. After she confirmed with me that Treasure was here, I signed for the bouquet and brought it to the backyard where they were. I set them on the table and handed the envelope to her from the stem. She smiled as she opened it.
“A’ight. I really have to go now.”
“Thanks, Carter.”
I nodded and prepared to see my baby. She’d stayed at my house Sunday night, because her uncle Marcus was still at her house.
Instead of leaving for Puerto Rico on Sunday, he decided to leave Monday morning.
I hadn’t seen her since Tuesday and today was Friday.
I missed her ass so much. She’d been working hard.
People were coming from Beaumont to seek medical attention from a Black woman doctor.
Black women were so grateful when they saw Bali’s and Noni’s faces.
I was happy for her, but that lessened the time we saw each other. It was more convenient for her to be in Nome in case there was an emergency of some kind. I was so proud of her. She was doing her thing and had the patients to show for it.
When I got to the diner, I could see her heading inside.
She looked so sexy in her white coat. She was so proud of her accomplishments she wore that shit everywhere.
I had laughed at her going into the grocery store with it on.
Her exact words were, I earned and paid dearly for this shit.
I’m gon’ wear it wherever the fuck I wanna wear it. I could only laugh at her crazy ass.
I got out of my truck and went inside to find her still at the counter.
I gave the two men from Watchful Eyes head nods, then went to the fountain drinks and slid my arms around my baby and kissed her neck, since she had her hair up.
I could see her cheeks redden. I gently bit her ear, and said, “Hey, Doctor Henderson.”
She giggled. “Hi, baby.”
She turned to me and kissed my lips, then handed me a Root Beer. She knew that was my shit. When she kissed my lips, I knew I would be staying in Nome tonight. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I missed her so much. Being away from her was always torture.
“How has your day been, baby?” I asked.
“Busy as hell, but productive. Ashanni is so close, and I’m so excited. The baby is in position. She may last another three weeks, tops. What about your day?”
“It’s been chill. I hung out with Treasure while my mama went to some kind of Black professionals networking meeting.”
She put the lid on her Big Red soda, and said, “Oooh, I would like to get involved in stuff like that. I’m sure Noni would, too.”
“Well, I’ll tell her to let you know whenever they have another social.”
She nodded as we headed to the table with Maui, Ashanni, and Mythic.
My brother was doing well for himself. He was in school and working for Watchful Eyes.
That was right up his alley, especially if he got to shoot his gun.
I knew his former life had been haunting him.
He was doing his best to stay away from that bullshit.
While he was ready for a change, it didn’t stop the memories from interfering with his progress.
I remembered Philly telling my dad that.
He’d gotten involved with Watchful Eyes as well, and Marcus had helped him with a race car to race at the track in China.
I was pretty sure PJ was having the same issues.
That nigga was still young, though, so maybe the transition wasn’t as hard for him.
He’d only been in it for two or three years.
When I got to the table, I slapped my brother’s outstretched hand, then kissed Maui’s and Ashanni’s cheeks. Once I sat, Mythic asked, “How’s Treasure?”
“She’s good, man. She’s even crushing on somebody. I don’t know if she’ll finally let him in or not, but she likes him.”
“Well, that’s a step in the right direction. He putting in the work, that’s for sure.”
I nodded. He’d witnessed Kingsley’s tenderness toward our sister as well. Honestly, I couldn’t wait for her to allow him to love her. She deserved everything he had to offer and more. I looked around and didn’t see Noni. I interrupted Bali, and asked, “Where’s Noni?”
“She had to go to the hospital in Beaumont to see one of her patients. She should be here in a little bit.”
I nodded as Red Squared walked through the door. He came straight to our table and greeted everybody, then said, “Let me holla at’chu, bruh.”
I stood from my seat and walked toward the entrance with him. “What’s up?”
“Somebody reported me, man. I can’t go to fucking nationals. My sponsors pulled out. The police pulled footage from the restaurant and saw me grab Noni by the neck. Man, I can’t fucking go to nationals.”
“Did you get disqualified?”
“Yeah, man.”