by Tina Martin
“A bowl of cereal,” Shayla told him.
“That’s it?”
“Yeah. That’s all I wanted.”
“You’re gonna have to do a little better than that. Am I gonna have to start planning your meals?”
“Nope.” Shayla said, one eyebrow raised. “There’s no way I’m eating yogurt and broccoli for the rest of my life.”
Carter chuckled. He watched her more as she focused her attention back on the TV now, and as she tried to get back into the show, she wondered why Carter was staring at her so fiercely. Was he staring at a scar? A pimple? Just the thought of him seeing a bump on her face made her cringe. She interlocked her fingers and didn’t move an inch.
“Why were you so relaxed on the floor, but sitting right next to me, you’re reserved?”
“Um, I don’t know,” Shayla said, rubbing the side of her face to make sure there were no bumps. There wasn’t. “Maybe if you’d stop staring at me…”
Carter scooted closer to her. After throwing his arm around her, he said, “Now. That’s better.” He watched as Shayla stared at the TV screen. “So if I was on this show, what kind of woman do you think I’d pick to go out with me?”
“Hmm…well she would have to have a Bachelor’s degree, because although I think looks are more important to you than brains, you still don’t want a dummy for a girlfriend.”
Carter smirked and Shayla continued, “She would have a career that’s greater than or equal to yours. She would also be the type of woman to get manicures and pedicures every week, have good hair or a really good weave, wear expensive clothes and those high-priced shoes with the red sole on the bottom. And then she would need to have one of those overpriced purses and wear makeup to bed so you never see her flaws. How good did I do?”
“You’re way out in left field,” he said, smiling reluctantly. Her comments were almost an insult for him but in the same token, it could also be considered a compliment.
“I may be out in left field, but I’m still in the ballpark.” Shayla knew Carter to be a man who wanted the best of everything. She could tell that much from his cars, house and his signature selection of suits.
“Mostly everything you described is the exact opposite of what I would look for in a woman if I wanted to get serious. Education, yeah, that’s important, but she doesn’t have to have a Bachelor’s degree. A good career would be nice, but in this economy, a job is a job. Feel me?”
“So you would date a woman who was working at Burger King?”
“It’s a job, ain’t it?” Carter said with raised brows. “I don’t knock anyone’s hustle, and as for everything else you mentioned, sweetheart, I don’t care about any of that. I know most women dress a certain way to attract men, but I like a woman with her own style whether it be classy or laid back. Doesn’t matter, just so as long as she’s comfortable with herself.”
“I don’t buy any of that.”
“I wasn’t selling it.”
Shayla gave him a hard glare and with her eyes squinted, she said, “Why do you always have to have some smart comeback?”
“I’m a very straightforward person,” he said, holding her gaze. “You should know that by now.”
“Well, straightforward or not,” Shayla said, folding her arms, “You still have to admit that if you saw a woman walking down the street all glammed up, you would notice her before you notice a woman in a sweats, jogging with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, or better yet wearing a Burger King uniform.”
“Well, yeah, you’re probably right. Initially, I will notice the most attractive of the three, but I don’t judge people by their physical appearance. I used to, but now I know that stuff really doesn’t matter. It’s all superficial. In the end, if you can’t be yourself and be comfortable with who you are as a person, then it doesn’t matter how many layers of brand name clothes you put on. You’re still the same insecure person underneath it all.”
Shayla focused on the TV again.
“So what if you were on this show, looking for a guy,” Carter said. “What kind of man would you pick?”
“He would have to be smart, funny and good to me. That’s all I ask.”
Carter thought about what she said for a moment. Was his brother only those three things, or was he more? Did he have the right to even ask her? Instead of asking outright, he played it cool and said, “So every man you’ve ever been involved with has only been that simple?”
“Jacob was the only guy I was ever involved with, so yeah.”
“You’re twenty-seven, and you’ve only been in one relationship?”
Shayla smiled uncomfortably. “That’s another subject. Let’s just stick to the topic at hand.”
Carter nodded in agreement. He didn’t want to make her talk about something she was uncomfortable with. “So looks aren’t important to you? How can you be with someone if you’re not attracted to them?”
“Attraction is more than physical,” she chimed in. “For example, you are very attractive, but—”
Shayla stopped speaking when she realized it was probably not a good idea to use Carter as an example. He would probably be offended by the rest of her comment if he took it the wrong way.
“But what?” Carter said, anxious to hear the rest.
“Nothing. I shouldn’t have used you as an example.”
“No, go ahead. I’ll be your guinea pig.”
“Nah, I’ll speak generally instead. So a man can be attractive, but he could, in turn, be an abuser or a womanizer. You see where I’m going?”
Carter thought for a moment. He knew she wasn’t referring to him as an abuser, but did she really see him as a womanizer? He wasn’t involved with anyone presently, and he hadn’t brought any women by the house (something he never did) so why would she think he was a womanizer? Instead of asking her he said, “Attractive or not, any man can be either of those things, right?”
Shayla glanced at him. “Right.” She took the remote from the couch, handed it to Carter. “Anyway, turn to whatever you wanna watch. I’m going to bed.”
“Right now?” he said with a look of disappointment on his face.
“Yeah,” she said standing, stretching her arms as high as she could get them, exposing her navel. “It’s almost nine-thirty.”
“You can’t stay for thirty more minutes…keep me company until ten?”
Shayla looked in his eyes and could see the longing he had for her to be there with him. He’d been working most of the day and all he wanted to do was unwind with her. That was a bit flattering, but then again, he lived alone for years. He must’ve been accustomed to being alone, doing things by himself. Watching sports highlights and surfing the web on his laptop.
“Seriously? You want me to stay in here with you?” Shayla asked to confirm he wasn’t joking around.
“Yeah.”
“Okay. Thirty minutes,” Shayla said, sitting next to him. She leaned her head against his shoulder and watched him change the channel to ESPN.
“Maybe I’ll be home a little earlier tomorrow and we could have dinner or something. A real dinner. Not cereal and milk for goodness sakes.”
Shayla laughed softly followed by a yawn. “Okay, Carter.” She closed her eyes, felt relaxed and secure in his arms.
“You let me know where you wanna eat and we’ll go, okay?”
“Mmm ‘kay,” Shayla mumbled.
“Shay,” he whispered, stroking her hair. He felt her calm breathing again. He smiled at the realization that she felt comfortable enough with him to fall asleep against his chest. He took the remote, turned the volume down a few notches and rested with her, the two of them huddled on the couch like a seasoned couple.
Chapter 16
March 2010
A month flew by faster than either of them could’ve imagined. And in those weeks, they grew to learn things about each other, normal things one learns about another during the course of a friendship – likes, dislikes, favorite foods and behaviors. And while le
arning Shayla, Carter continued to cater to her every need. He made sure she got all the documentation she had been without since being homeless– her driver’s license, social security card and birth certificate. He opened a five-thousand dollar personal bank account for her and made an extra set of keys for the house. He also made a spare key for the Lexus, practically giving her the car so she could get around with ease. They communicated well with each other, talking a lot about Jacob, her absent father, his estranged family and other general topics, such as the unusually cold weather, Charlotte news and current events.
Shayla felt comfortable with Carter. He enjoyed her company as well, but felt apprehensive with their friendship since she was in the dark about several things she should’ve known. That Jacob, the man she once loved and was engaged to, was his brother. However, at this stage, Carter deemed a full confession irrelevant. Did it really matter that she know? She hadn’t known for this long…why tell her now? And being that they were just friends, that he was only helping her get back on her feet to fulfill his brother’s wishes, what was the harm in her not knowing?
* * *
This morning, they were in her room, lying face-to-face, their legs intertwined. His arm around her. Her arm around him. Shayla awakened first, seeing the beautiful sunlight peering through the window as she stretched. Lately, she looked forward to waking up, starting a new day and she knew why.
She looked at Carter now, her knight in shining armor. She studied his face – his slender yet full, curvy lips and stately nose, finding him so appealing at rest. He was peaceful, content and strong – in a poised, unconscious state – but still very much full of life. Shayla was drawn to this powerful, relaxed version of him, so much so that she touched his face, loving the pricks of his facial hair against her soft fingertips. Carter opened his eyes and smiled with her touch.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” he said groggy, stretching a little to awaken the rest of his body. He was still tired since he’d spent most of the night watching her sleep, admiring her for loving his brother so much. There was something aching within his heart that wanted her to love him with the same fervor, to know what true love really felt like.
“Good morning,” Shayla said softly. The morning was indeed beautiful thanks to him. “I didn’t even know you slept here last night.”
“Yeah. I had gone to my room, but it didn’t feel right…lying there alone…without you. So I came in here.”
“Aw…you missed me?”
“Yeah.” Carter admitted, squeezing her hand. “I did.”
Shayla gave him a yeah-right smirk. “Hey, it’s a little after eight. You’re not gonna be late for work, are you?”
“Not going to work but if I was, this would be worth being late for…being here with you.” He interlocked his fingers with hers. “I’m going to stay home with you today.”
“Carter, you don’t have to—”
“I want to,” he said in a tired, seductive type way followed by a yawn. “And your pillow was wet when I came in here last night…not going to have no more crying out of you young lady.”
Shayla grinned. “Sounds like something Jacob would say.”
Carter ignored her comment, was even a little jealous she mentioned Jacob’s name at this particular moment.
“Sometimes I cry just thinking about him,” she said. “The good and bad times brings tears to my eyes. And I wasn’t really sad last night…actually I don’t know what I was feeling, but either way it goes, I’m okay now.”
“Did you sleep okay? You know, with me wrecking your flow and all.”
A smile grew on Shayla’s face. “You’re so full of it. You know I sleep good when you’re next to me.” She fiddled with her necklace.
“Is that right?”
“Mmm huh,” Shayla said stretching and yawning, her joints popping.
“I sleep good when you’re next to me too, Shayla Kline.”
Shayla laughed playfully and said, “My, my, my…what are we ever gonna do without each other?”
Carter stared at her with a concrete, unreadable expression on his face.
“What?” Shayla asked, staring in his mysterious eyes feeling uneasy by his sudden change in mood or whatever it was that made him stoic. She blushed, held his gaze a bit longer before finally turning way, looking up at the ceiling instead.
Carter, still looking at her, thought about how he might feel if she left. It was bound to happen sooner or later, but how soon? Was she ready to leave now? He felt a pang in his stomach at the thought of it. But why?
“Um…it’s very hard to read you sometimes, Carter.”
“Why you say that?” he asked, breaking his silence.
“Because you do weird stuff, like just now, pausing conversation and staring at me like I did something to piss you off.”
“I’m not mad at you. I was just thinking.”
“About what?”
“About what you said…what we will do without each other. I hadn’t thought about that until now,” Carter said, smiling uncomfortably. Why was he even thinking along those lines anyway? It’s not like he needed her to be there. He was just fine before she came into his life and undoubtedly he would be fine when she finally decided to depart.
Shayla giggled again. The thought of Carter actually musing over her sarcastic expression was a little entertaining.
“I’m serious, Shayla,” he said straight-faced.
Shayla looked at him and the smile she’d put on previously quickly fell away from her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh. It’s just that you come off as this powerful man that has a boatload of women at your disposal but yet you’re worried about what you will do when I leave. I mean, who am I?”
“Wait a minute…a boatload of women? You’ve been here for a little over a month. Have you seen me with a woman?”
“No but—”
“So what are you talking about?”
“You said you date loosely, remember? You give them what they want and they give you what you want. Isn’t that what you told me in the hospital?”
“Yeah, but—”
“So why you actin’ so surprised now? Hunh?” Shayla asked, and poked him in the chest with her index finger, watching a smile light up his face.
“You testing me now?” Carter sat up and rolled on top of her, tickling her sides.
“No, Carter. Stop it,” she managed to say through uncontrollable laughter, her coily hair bouncing all over the place. “Okay…okay,” she panted. “You win.”
“Ah’ight then…you know you ain’t seen me with no women, girl.”
“No, but I was just going off of what you told me,” Shayla said staring up at him. “And now I have this image of you in my head…like a bad boy, chick magnet. That’s my perception of you now.”
Carter grinned. “I’ma give you five seconds to change that perception, or I promise you I will tickle you in places you didn’t even know were ticklish.”
“No, Carter,” Shayla said laughing already, his body pinning her to the bed.
“Five.”
“No.” She laughed harder. He hadn’t even touched her yet.
“Four.”
“Carter…”
“Three.”
“Okay.” She stared into his eyes, watched his smile fade to a more serious visage, the same expression he’d put on a few moments ago. “You’re doing it again,” she said her breathing quickening. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he replied but in that moment, he was completely astonished by the innocence of this beautiful morning. This was that kind of feeling that made him realize how special life could be to have someone to share it with. And he could see, as clear as day, why his brother had fallen in love with Shayla. She made it so easy. She was down to earth, had a playful, youthful side but yet, still was a woman. A beautiful woman.
“What is it?” Shayla asked, her hands automatically clenching his sides and she wondered if she should’ve been touching him there or
if he was offended.
“I’m not quite sure,” Carter said, looking into her eyes, “But this is perhaps the most amazing morning I’ve ever shared with a woman.”
Shayla’s cheeks became rosy in color while the intensity of his stares sent her eyes away. Amazing morning? Did he actually say that? “I find that hard to believe,” she told him. Who wouldn’t find it hard to believe? Charlotte’s most eligible bachelor surely wasn’t smitten by the likes of a reformed homeless woman, especially when he had access to so many women. Extraordinary women. Well-known, powerful women. Women so beautiful, they could grace covers of fashion magazines. Who was she in comparison?
“Look at me,” he whispered to her, his lips brushing against her jaw. His calming voice putting her in a trance, taking control over her mind.
Shayla fought to catch her breath, locking eyes with him again.
“What are you doing to me, Shayla?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, frowning nervously.
“I’m talking about the fact that you’ve been able to do something to me that no other woman has been able to,” Carter said in his morning baritone that had Shayla mesmerized.
“And…um, what might that be?” she asked softly.
“You’ve made me feel something…something I’ve never felt before. Something I never thought I could feel…” he said, his lips fluttering against hers. He’d never desired to kiss a woman before but as he stared down at her, that’s all he could think about.
“Um…I…don’t know what to say,” she forced out, thinking of a way to get away from him before their lips connected.
“You don’t have to say anything…just wanted you to know.”
Shayla blushed, completely uncomfortable. “Okay…um….think I’m gonna go take a shower,” she said to break the intensity between them.
“No. Not yet,” Carter said, thinking about her in ways that he hadn’t before. Just how soft were her lips, and why did her hands against his skin make him tremble?