“Hello!”
“Man, you better not be on my girl. I know you’re watching her and everything but you need to back up.”
“I know you’re playing. Brinley you better get your mans before I hurt his feelings.”
“So, you are there? Why isn’t she answering my phone calls?”
“I can’t answer that. I’m going to let her tell you.”
“I’m about to pull up on y’all.”
“He said he’s on his way.”
“For what? Put him on speaker.”
“She’s laughing at you man. I’m about to put you speaker.”
“What are y’all doing?” Maverick asked with an attitude.
“Don’t call with all that negativity. I’m making my new friend some hot chocolate.”
“Your friend. You don’t even know this man.”
“I don’t know you that well either but we’re friends.”
“What do you mean?”
“Maverick, get your ass out of your feelings and stop whining. All we’re doing is having hot cocoa and you’re jealous of that.”
“I’m not jealous,” he laughed.
“I can’t tell.” She cut in.
“Oh, she told you.”
“Man, shut up.”
“Don’t get too comfortable. Remember you’re on a mission and there are things that need to be done.”
“I know what my mission is. Once you stop bitching and worry about yourself, I can do that.”
“Maverick, stop acting jealous. We’re having a night cap. I would ask you to come over but I’m about to head to bed in a few.”
“Eewww, she shut you down already. Damn, man.”
“Shut up, Ken. I’m sick of you. I was only calling to see that everything was okay.”
“Yes. We’re good.”
Kendall nodded his head.
“Treat her right.”
“I might treat her too right that she leaves your dusty ass,” he joked.
Brinley started laughing.
“I know you aren’t laughing at this fool. Don’t pay him any mind.”
“Saying the guy that’s on the outside looking in.”
“Don’t make me.”
“You can’t. She already told you to stay home. Don’t try it. Respect the woman’s wishes.”
Maverick finally started laughing.
“I’m going to let you two have it this time. But the next time. I’m on both of your asses.”
“Excuse me?” she laughed.
“I said what I said. I’m on you two asses.”
“Don’t pay him any mind. Jealousy is one hell of a drug.”
“You got that right.”
“We’re straight, warden.”
“I got your warden.”
“Good night,” Brinley smiled as she added marshmallows in her cup. “Do you want some?”
“Yes, I want some.” Maverick mumbled.
“Man, get off my phone. She’s not talking about booty. She’s talking about this hot cocoa. This looks so good.”
“Taste it.”
Maverick tried not to react but he was growing suspicious.”
“What are you two doing?”
“We already told you that,” he took a sip and almost fell out. “Maverick, we have to go. I’m about to take her to the back and thank her for this drink. Omg, it’s so good.”
“I know right. I put my foot in it this time.”
“We’re just playing.”
“No, I’m not. This drink is delicious. Seriously, I’ll have to make you one. Hell I made you breakfast and stuff. Stop acting jealous. I don’t want Kendall. I might have a girlfriend for him though.”
“Oh shit now. Put me on,” Kendall smiled.
“I’m hanging up now. I can’t stand either of you.”
“I love you too, bro. Good night. Try and get some sleep.”
“Whatever. Kiss my ass and go to hell.”
“You’re so harsh.”
Chapter Eleven
Kendall sat in his black 2010 Audi A4 with his binoculars. He noticed a lot of movement on the far right side of her house. He looked up and saw another car pull up. That was the 8th car, yes because he was counting that as they pulled up to the house.
“But they’re worried about a black woman that lives by herself and they’re selling drugs two houses down.”
A woman dressed for summer came out scratching as she climbed back inside of her trunk.
“This is some shit here.”
No traffic for a while. He glanced at his clock, 5:35. He rubbed his head and laid his seat back. “The asshole of a police isn’t coming back, I see.”
There was a slight knock on the drive side window. He only opened one eye as he was prepared to curse whomever it was out.
“Good morning.”
“Maverick?”
“Why are you sleeping on the job?”
“What in the hell are you doing here so early?”
“I should be asking you the same thing.”
“Fool. I can’t stand your ass. Next time stay in the house. I don’t want you dead. I need you alive.”
“I know what I’m doing. I do this for a living.”
“Like I said stay inside. I’m sure they’re watching the house and will try either way.”
Kendall rolled his eyes. “But what in the hell are you doing here so early?”
“I came to check on you.”
“You really thought that I was going to have sex with her. We were talking about the damn cocoa.”
“I believe you.”
“Whatever man. So, why are you really here?”
“I came to help her with her mile. I need to help her get ready for her race.”
“Does she know that you’re here?”
“No, but I know that she needs to run.”
“Man, get out of my face.”
“I’m not in your face because your punk ass didn’t even roll the window down.”
“I sure didn’t,” he answered opening the door to get out. “Where is breakfast?”
“She isn’t going to make you anything to eat today?”
“I didn’t ask. I’m sure that I can get it.”
“Don’t start.”
Kendall started laughing. “I don’t understand where your jealousy comes from.”
“It’s the ego in me.”
“You need to put your pride to the side and relax. It doesn’t make any sense for you to be this bad. That woman likes you. Trust me, I know.”
“I don’t.”
“That’s your problem and not mine,” he answered shrugged his shoulders.
“Where are you going?”
“Man, mind your business.”
Brinley was walking from the bathroom when Kendall walked in.
Maverick stood behind Kendall as he turned the key to unlock the door.
“Don’t say shit to me about this key,” he mumbled.
Maverick put his hands in his pocket and waited to get inside.
“Well, good morning.”
“Good morning,” Maverick answered.
“Huh?”
“Yes, good morning.” Maverick repeated from behind Kendall.
“You can’t keep strays away long. They always come back.”
“Umm. Good morning. I think,” she laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“I wasn’t expecting you to show up. Were we scheduled to run today?”
“Not that I know of but I’m here if you’re ready.”
“I actually am. I was about to run by myself but since you’re here we can go together.”
Kendall shook his head.
“Don’t hate. You can join us.”
“What do I look like running? My big ass trying to run behind you two. I’ll past. You’re cool with him being here?”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice,” Kendall stated cutting his eyes are her.
“But you called me jealous.”
“That outfit is sitting nicely.”
“Yes it is,” Maverick stated stepped forward.
“She doesn’t want you touching her. Back up, bro for real.”
“You two sound like two kids.”
“It’s always Maverick. He’s so possessive.”
“I can’t help it.”
“I left a washcloth and a toothbrush on the bathroom sink. We’ll be back.”
Maverick shook his head.
“That was supposed to be yours too huh?” Kendall laughed.
“Go to hell.”
“I’ll wait on you to meet me there.”
“Are you ready?”
“I have to grab my headphones and I’ll be ready.”
“Okay.”
Brinley did a few jumps before she stretched her legs.
“What’s wrong?”
“My legs have been giving me issues.”
“What kind of issues?”
“Soreness. I don’t want to stop running but if my knees get any tighter I might have to stop.”
“You need to relax. I know you have a lot going on but you need to find some down time.”
“I have down time?”
“When?”
“When I get ready for bed.”
Maverick shook his head as he put his headphones on.
“I guess you don’t want to hear that foolishness?”
“Not at all,” he laughed. “Let’s go.”
They took off running in the opposite direction of her house. She saw the dog from the day before and shook her head but she didn’t slow down, she actually sped up.
“Don’t leave me!”
She smiled as she changed the song on her phone.
“Half way. 4 minutes and 30 seconds.”
“We’re halfway.”
“Yes, my app just went off too. Let’s kick it up a few and get this thing done faster.”
Brinley stopped. Somewhere during the turn she stepped wrong. She tried to shake it off but it wasn’t working. Maverick noticed that she wasn’t behind him and stopped. He took his headphones off and turned around. He ran back and kneeled down in front of her.
“What’s wrong?”
“My knee. It feels like so much pressure is on it.”
“We can walk the rest of the way if you want to.”
“Give me a minute. I’m going to try and stretch it out.”
“Right here in the middle like that?”
“Yes. We’re on a dead end road. People don’t come around here like that.”
“Okay. Do you need me to help you?”
“No, I think I got it.”
“Okay. Let me know and I’ll help. Have you had any bananas lately?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“You need to get some and a massage. I can schedule that when we get back.”
“A massage?”
“You’re too put together?”
“No, I’m not enough sometimes.”
“What did I do to deserve someone that pays attention?”
“Be yourself. You don’t ask for much and when do, you’re not asking.”
Brinley locked eyes with him.
“What?”
“I don’t know. You’re trying to make me cry on the street.”
“No ma’am. I’m trying to appreciate you. I’m trying to help you. I want you to run this race and kill it but your health is more important. You can’t run a race if you’re hopping.”
Brinley shook her head as she stretched one last time.
“Are you ready?”
“I’m going to give it another try. I’m glad that app stops when I stop moving.”
“I am too because our time would suck,” he laughed.
“You got that right.”
“Are you sure you’re ready? Don’t overdo it and hurt yourself.”
“I got this. I’m a superhero.”
“Alright super Brinley. Don’t let me look back and your ass is on the ground again.”
“Go to hell.”
“I’ll wait. I have a lot more life to live.”
“Let’s do this.”
Brinley started first. Maverick followed close behind to make sure that she was running normal. When he realize she was fine, he ran up beside her.
“Time.”
“What was your time? My lady tripping?”
“9 minutes even.”
“What?”
“Yes.”
Brinley was shocked. She was hiding the fact that she was hurting but she managed to get a better time than their last run.
“I guess you weren’t as hurt as I thought you were.”
“Nope. I’m fine,” she lied.
“Let me see how you’re walking later. Let’s go on a date?”
“A date?”
“Yes a date. I plan the date. You get dressed and be ready to go by 8:30.”
“You do know that it’s Tuesday?”
“I know. What’s wrong with a week day date? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Can you bring takeout? Today is an office day. I don’t want to be late. You know how I walk around with my robe on,” she laughed.
“That will work. I can do that too.”
“I bet you will. You want to be here when Kendall gets here.”
“Maybe,” he laughed.
“A hot mess. Why are you like that?”
“I just am.”
“I can’t believe any of this. The events of my life have changed so much in a couple of days.”
“You got that right but I got you covered. Nothing will happen while I’m around.”
“So, you say.”
“You will believe me one day.”
“About time you two got back. Damn, I thought I had to come and find you.”
“We weren’t gone that long.”
“It felt like 30 minutes.”
“Man, hush. It’s only been 15 minutes. We walked around half of that time.”
“No sir. It’s been longer than 15 minutes. Y’all left at 7:20.”
“Did you time us?”
“I did. I wanted to make sure I know how long it takes you two to have a quickie.”
“A quickie? In town?”
“It’s woods around here.”
“Get your friend, Brinley.”
“He’s your friend right now. I can’t do anything with him. He’s tripping. I can’t believe you would think I would have a quickie when I have a house to do that in.”
“Keeps the relationship fresh.”
“Are you fucking in the woods, Kendall?”
“I have,” he laughed.
Brinley grabbed two bottles of water and handed one to Maverick.
“Thank you.”
“How was the run?”
“It was good. My raggedy knees tried to take me out but besides that it was good.”
“That’s good. No friction?”
“Not this time. I was ready,” he stated sliding his sweatshirt up.
“Oh, I know that’s right. Keep that fire on you.”
Brinley shook her head.
“Don’t be surprised. We’re on a mission.”
“I can’t believe you ran with a gun on your hip.”
“Sure did. I was going to shoot that damn dog today,” he joked.
“You weren’t.”
“He didn’t run out to see,” he laughed.
“Don’t shoot the dog. You know they care more about the animals than they do humans.”
“You got that right. Hell, they both could have got it today.”
“And on that note it’s time for me to go,” Kendall laughed.
“Okay. Thank you again.”
“No problem. Do you need me tonight?” He paused and thought about it. “I’ll let Maverick call me when he leaves if he needs me to come over.”
“What does that mean?”
“Trust me. He’s not going for it two nights in
a row.”
“You know me too well.”
“Has this happened to someone else before?”
“What?”
“This situation?”
“No ma’am. This is the first time for something like this to happen. Trust me. I’ve been tried a lot but nothing like this. They are overstepping every boundary possible.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m positive. We aren’t preying on you. I promise. I’m helping my friend out. I’m not a guy that does something like that. We talked about intuition last night. Trust yours. If you feel like you don’t want me to come back, call me and let me know. I won’t show up again.”
“I was just asking.”
“I understand. Nothing wrong with being sure. I would feel the same way that you do especially with everybody trying to gang up on you around here. I’ll see you soon.”
“Later.”
“I’ll call you, Maverick.”
“I might answer.”
“A damn dog,” Kendall laughed as he left.
Chapter Twelve
The crisp cool air hit the side of Brinley’s face as she walked inside of the building. On the drive into work, she tried to keep her mind from wondering about the police and the neighbors behavior but she knew it was only the beginning.
“Good morning, Brinley. It’s nice to see you today.”
“Is that right? What’s going on?”
“I need you for damage control.”
“You know how I feel about talking to me before work. I just rolled in and you’re asking me questions.”
“I didn’t ask you a question. I answered your question.”
“That doesn’t make it any better.”
“You’re looking nice. Where are you going after work?”
“Can you get somewhere? Can I at least get in my office before you start talking to me?”
“Why are you like that?”
“Because it’s my damn business. I don’t come into your space when you first get in to ask you questions.”
“You don’t but we’re different.”
“We’ve been working together too long for you to act like this new to you. Like I said let me get settled first. Whatever is going on, it can wait. Hell, I’m sure the managers are here and can help you.”
“I don’t want them. I want your help.”
“I can’t help you right now. I’m trying to sit down. I’ll see you later. Let one of the other ones work.”
“Brinley, are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious. I’m about to close my door, so you can stop following me.”
Running Deeper Than a Race Page 8