She's My Queen

Chapter Eight

TIANA

"It's perfectly fine, Eva. It was random." I sighed on the other line as I walked to the small diner.

Eva, she caught a terrible bug over night. She kinda looked sick and I had to re arrange everything. I would get her medicine while Cariana and I was out and going to meet Carter. I told him I was on my way and I had a way to get there, though I know it's a high possibility he will be upset that I caught a lift with Troy and he doesn't even know he's here just yet.

I told Troy that he might get a private call and it would be from Carter if he decided to talk. I couldn't explain everything because even though Troy told me the story, I just want to take some time to think about how much of what he said and how it makes no little to no sense.

Troy claimed King had intentions for me and Cariana which makes no sense given he was only worried about me and what Troy claimed seemed to fit Cartron's intentions. All he wanted was to take Cariana for his selfish needs.

I rounded the corner and the diner came into view. I had told Troy to park around and I would walk the rest of the way but he kept his eyes on me to make sure nothing happened.

I stopped at the door of the unfamiliar spot I chose and walked in. The sound of a bell singing alerted my presence. I caught a few stares and I ignored them, looking around until I found Carter seated at a table on his phone. He looked up briefly in the direction of the counter before his gaze caught mine.

His lips went still as he stared at me. He was checking me out and I was doing the same. He has yet to get rid of the facial hair that I found really sexy and there was something about him that looked different. I couldn't put my finger on it just yet but I will figure it out.

I made my way over there and he was finishing up his conversation with whoever.

"Just send them to me. I'll see you later." He says before hanging up almost quickly.

I swallowed as thoughts and questions that could possibly leave me crying later crept. Who was on the phone? Mina, perhaps?

No, I should stop thinking. I know despite everything that happened between Carter and I, he loves me and I love him so much.

It's just something about this girl, a girl I never met, gives me bad vibes.

"Hey." I smiled in greeting.

"Afternoon, babe." He smiles in return and stands to his height and helps me get Cariana situated in one of the chairs before pulling out a chair for me to sit in. I placed the baby bag on the last empty chair before taking a brief look at the menu.

I frowned when I seen it was written in Italian. I turned it over in hopes and I sighed in relief when it was in English otherwise I would have to ask Carter for help.

A silence fell over us and I held the menu up so it was hiding my face. Something is wrong with me. I'm a nervous ball to call him and now that we're here, I feel I would pass out if I say the wrong thing to him.

I don't know why I feel like this.

I heard him chuckle lowly and I peaked over the edge of my menu to see what amused him.

Turns out I was the one.

"What's up?" I queried with a raised brow.

His chuckles fade softly and he stares at me. "You tell me, babe. You called me and asked me out."

"I didn't—" I basically did ask him out. I closed my eyes and put down my menu. "Why aren't you shaving?"

I mentally cursed myself. He looks at me, frowning. Get it together, Tiana.

"Do you want me to?" He asked.

No, baby.

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that."

"Tiana—"

"Can we go baby shopping? I want to get Cari some more clothes."

He eyes narrowed a bit. "If that's what you want and stop beating around the bush."

I sighed. "Okay."

I'm actually scared to tell him because Carter has a short temper sometimes.

I go in and explain everything Troy told me and I know he was listening to me by the look on his face. It went dark when I told him Troy was back and when I told him King and his wife was dead and killed by him. I watched him with caution. When I finished, he inhaled and I don't think he exhaled. He rubbed a hand over his face and shook his head. After a moment, a waitress came over and took our orders. Carter didn't speak and I wasn't ready so I told the waiter to give us a few minutes.

Carter lifted his head and his gaze was towards the window.

"Carter?"

"How did you react?"

I sighed. "I didn't believe him, I still don't know if I should but I want find answers. It's hard to believe that the people who raised me aren't my parents." I looked down at the clear plate before inhaling and exhaling. I looked back to him and his jaw clenched and unclenches a few times.

"Carter—"

"How did you react to King being dead?"

His eyes were boring into mine and I knew that this conversation was taking a trip down hill.

"I was shocked and also disappointed." I murmured.

"Do you hate your brother?"

I frowned. "No. Why would you ask..." my voice trailed off then realization hit me. "I don't hate you, Carter. You know I don't."

"That day I shot King, I spared you from seeing his brains everywhere. He was suppose to die by my hand and he was stopped by doing just that because a confused girl saved him. After that she broke off our engagement—"

"We're not—"

"I'm not done talking." His tone clipped.

I shut my mouth and looked around to see if there was on lookers. The waitress came back and she politely asked for our orders again.

"Two specials and a water. Make them to go and give me the bill." He spoke quickly, his gaze remained on me.

After she walked off, Carter continued. "Just when I think you're ready for my life, you back and don't say you haven't because you did a few times. You're a confusing book I'm trying to understand."

I played with my shaky fingers while listening to him speak his honest feelings. But what he says next completely takes me off guard.

"After yesterday, I been thinking about this break shît. I know I been angry and frustrated with you ever since you said that's what you want and now, I'm thinking you're right. You've been upset and hormonal and we can only blame some of the postpartum. Newly mother and she's figuring out how to adjust to feeding two mouths but one more frequently. But none has anything to do with what happens with outside bullshît. You knew who you was fvcking with, babe. I know our meeting was not how normal people would meet and form a relationship but we came a long way from that. It's been a year and months with us and you know I'm not that great at expressing my feeling emotionally."

The lady comes back with wrapped up boxes and a foamed cup water with the bill. It wasn't much but expensive. Carter sighed and reached in his pocket for his wallet and pulling out two hundreds and placing them inside.

He looked at me with an emotionless face. "Am I wrong?"

"No, but I know what I said. Am I allowed to express how I feel? A man that you thought did great by you in your youth before everything went to shît. What would you do, Carter, if our roles were switched? Would you kill a man you thought was your father and did nothing wrong at the start and when you find out he's actually someone else and had other plans with you and without your child? Would you kill him?"

"Yeah, I would because unlike you, I think about everything at risk. If you really think about it, you put Cariana at risk."

I gasped, looking at him, appalled at what he said.

"I never put her at risk. Never. I would kill anybody that try's to harm or take her from me."

"Then why didn't you kill him? Matter of fact, why did you step in front of the gun?" He snaps.

I glared at him ignoring the few eyes on us. "We shouldn't be speaking in public. I didn't think this conversation would turn to another. Maybe we should—" I spoke, standing from my chair but Carter cut me off.

"Sit down." He said, his tone warning.

I raised an angry brow. "Or what, Carter? I'm not about to be the show and—"

"Sit. The. Fvck. Down." He repeats, dangerously low.

I slowly sat back down and glanced at Cari. She was sleep and her pacifier fell out her mouth to the side. I sighed and looked to Carter. His ears were turning red and I knew he was raging inside.

"I'm just being honest—"

"Stop fvcking talking. That's your problem."

My frown deepened and soon I wasn't going to give a care who was here in a moment. Carter might be angry but he better check how he's talking to me right now.

"We're going to have a problem if you cut me off again and if you don't fix how you're talking to me. Cussing and shît." I crossed my arms and continued my glaring.

He blew out a long frustrated breath. "It's clear this isn't working right now between us and I told you I'm agreeing to your break. Two months you want?"

"Ugh, you really pissing me off now."

He calmed down a bit, ignoring what I said. "Yes or no? That's the same time I was given."

"More like kept yourself away. I don't need that much time away from you but if you want to keep acting like an asshole and talking to me crazy then I might want more away from you. I'm trying to be civil with you, bastard."

His gaze darken and at that moment I realized what I said. I opened my mouth to apologize but I closed it back. He was talking to me crazy. It's only fair.

"Do you like the word, b***h?"

My eyes went wide in shock and pure fury coursed through my veins. "You bet not call me a b***h, Carter."

"You call me out my name again that would be your new name."

At this point, our entire conversation went down hill and off a cliff.

I nod. "I guess it's settled then." I say, standing to my feet.

He glare me, watching me gather my things and Cariana's things.

"Running away again, babe?"

"No, I'm leaving before I give people something to really watch."

"Since you want to leave, can I spend some time with my babygirl? Is that too much to ask?" Carter stood to his height.

My throat became sore and it was getting hard to keep my tears of anger in. I nod, handing him the baby bag and leaning down to kiss my sleeping princess. He grabbed his box of food and the car seat.

"I'll pick her up or you can drop her off. Which ever works for you and make sure you heat the water in the cup and not put her bottle in the microwave. How long are you keeping her?"

"Two days. I'll come by and get her some more food if needed. I'm sure you put he on a schedule." He murmurs.

I nod and grabbed my food and looked at him. "Well, thank you for the food." I say before walking off to the exit.

When I rounded the corner, I pulled out my phone and called Troy. What just happened honestly ruined my mood for the entire day.

I will agree that I have been all over and I was emotional but now I'm finding things that work for me. On the second ring, he answered.

"How did it go?"

"I don't want to talk about it." I murmur as I walked on. "Are you still close?"

"Yeah, I'm on my way. You sound a bit angry?"

I scoffed. "That because I am and I'm still not talking about it."

He was quiet for a moment. "Did you give him my number. I would personally like to talk to him about our situation."

I sighed and lifted my head up. "Shît, I didn't." I was too angry to realize it. I'll give it to him when I see. If I see him." I mumbled the last part but he heard it.

"Both of you just need to be locked in a room together to work out your problems because if it doesn't, it will get worse."

"He's so frustrating!" I breathed out, rubbing my temple.

"And you aren't? Plus, you're stubborn. Come on, T."

I shook my head knowing he was right. So, what if I am. I've always been that way. "Are you-never mind. I see you." I ended the call when I saw his car pull up.

Once it stopped he had his arm out the window. I walked around and got in. I put on my seatbelt and looked ahead. I felt him looking at me and I turned to look his way.

"What?"

"Where's my niece?" He questioned driving off.

"With her daddy." I huffed out.

He chuckled and shook his head. I didn't see anything funny but whatever.

As Troy took me home, I couldn't force my mind to think nothing else but on the argument Carter and I had.

_____________________

Thoughts on Tiana and Carter?

Never lose hope, be persistent and stubborn and never give up.

#TeamKingandQueen #TeamBeautifulCariana #TeamCarterandTiana

If any confusion on this chapter, please let me know so I can make anything clear as possible.