Page 21 of Crusher

“You, baby, make a terrible patient.” Herlips twitched and her eyes shined.

“No, I’m not.” And she couldn’t hold her anylonger and laughed too. The honk of a horn had me look in therearview mirror at the others with their hands held up in ‘what thefuck’. I rolled down the window, turned toward the gas station, andflipped them off all at the same time. I couldn’t remember the lasttime I had this much fun on a road trip. The only thing I regrettedwas the circumstances that placed us there.

I pulled to the front of the place so Carlydidn’t have far to walk and parked. I watched her as she walkedinto the store.

“Fuckin’ A. Another one is down,” Coast saidstanding by my window.

“I think so, man,” I said, then turned tolook at him when Carly was out of sight.

“She’s doing good considering it’s only beenthree days. She’ll make a good old lady for a president, brother.”Coast was always on duty, his eyes scanning the parking lot as hetalked.

“Yeah, just got to get her to believe.” Thedoor to the store opened and Carly and Speed walked out, laughingat something. The passenger door opened and Carly was preparing touse the step to lift herself in when Speed grabbed her waist andhoisted in as if she weighed nothing.

“You have to stop doing that. I can get in onmy own.” She glared at Speed and he glared back.

“I don’t have to do shit, you on the handneed to let people help you. And why didn’t you get out, Crusher,and help her in?”

“‘Cause I knew you would do it, and whyshould I get the backlash when I could put that on you.” Carlylooked between us and buckled her seatbelt.

“Both of you are asses.” Speed closed thedoor chuckling.

“I’m not sure I like having a sister. Gladshe is your problem.”

“Oh please, you are enamored by mygreatness.” Speed looked at her and just shook his head, then hereached in the window and rubbed the top of her head.

“Sure, little sis, keep believing that.” Iwatched as she flipped him off as Speed walked away. Watching thetwo made me wonder how much would have been different around BlackHawk if those two had grown up together.

“And stop calling me that!” Carly stuck herhead out the window and yelled across the parking lot. Speed’sreply was to flip her off.

“Dude, the clubhouse is never going to be thesame,” Coast said and, not waiting for a reply, turned toward hisbike. Once they were mounted and ready to go, we pulled back on theroad for the last leg of the trip.

“Why are we heading to Sami’s old house? Ihaven’t moved all my stuff there yet,” Carly said as I pulled inthe drive. Speed pulled in behind me. Coast had headed back toBlack Hawk instead of following to the house.

“The club moved you in and Sami oversaw it.They got your stuff in, put away, and I imagine the old ladies havestocked the refrigerated full with stuff. Probably won’t have tocook for a month.” I got out and walked around as she pushed herdoor open. I helped her out and when I set her on her feet the dooropened and Ally ran out with Sami behind her.

“Aunt Carly, you are my daddy’s sister!”

“Ally cat! Yes, I am.” I caught Ally justbefore she was going to launch herself at Carly who stood with herarms open to catch her.

“Baby, you can’t do that. Walking is it. Nocarrying anything that will put extra weigh on your leg.” I hoistedAlly on my shoulders and she laughed.

“Ally, didn’t we have a talk about beingwatchful around Aunt Carly till she’s healed?” Sami spoke while sheand Carly hugged.

“Yep, and I was watching around her and Ididn’t see nothin’. Momma, I needs a sister like Daddy.” Speedchuckled and lifted Ally from my shoulders to place her on his. Hedidn’t catch the look on Sami’s face after Ally spoke but Idid.

“Your momma meant watching so you don’t doanything to Aunt Carly because of her leg. No diving on her.” Speedpatted Ally’s leg.

“Come on, let’s get you inside, you’reprobably tired.” Sami stuck her arm through Carly’s and led herinto the house.

“Sami is going to help get her settled andthen we are going to head to the house. The trip wore on her, shelooks tired.” Speed looked back at the house.

“Yeah, last hour was hard on her. She wasfidgety so I figure sitting in the car has that leg pretty painfulright now but she never said a word.”

“Did you tell her?” I smiled at Speed.

“Tell what, Daddy?” Ally leaned over Speed’shead to look him in the upside down and he grabbed her shoulder andflipped her the ground. She laughed and took off to the house.

“No, she’ll figure it out soon enough.” Speedsmiled and shook his head.

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