Loving the Buster//Brian O'Conner

Nine

We take the cars to Tej's garage.

"Man, Tej's garage is ridiculous. He's got the best of everything. Snap-on tools. All these lifts are brand-new. They're only maybe a couple months old," I tell Roman. "Hey, yo, Jimmy."

Jimmy smiles when he sees me. "What up, girl?"

Brian and Jimmy shake hands. "What up, Bullitt?"

Brian points to Roman. "That's Rome right there."

"Do me a favor, Jimmy, when you get a second, I want you to check out the Evo and the two Spyders and make sure everything's copacetic," I tell him.

"Evo? Where'd you get an Evo from?" Jimmy asks.

I smile. "Well, it's a long story."

"I got you, Cruz," Jimmy assures.

"All right, thanks, Jimmy," I tell him.

"Man it's so hot and humid out here, I can't even wear no drawers," Roman states.

"Yeah, tell me about it," Brian remarks.

I shake my head. "Things I don't need to know about either of you."

Roman laughs as he sees the pool filled with bikini clad girls. "Look at all this potential out here."

Tej is shouting at people on jet skis in the ocean right of the back of the shop.

Rome stops to hit on a girl. "Girl, you know your boy can help you put that fire out." Brian grabs onto him. "Look at the bubble on that..."

"That's cool,"  Brian says.

"That's serious right there," Roman remarks.

I sit down next to Tej as he keeps screaming at the people on the jet skis.

"You're making me lose money. Don't do that to me right now. I cannot take that right... Come on, Ray! Do it!"

"Hey, Tej Parker," Brian interrupts, "Roman Pearce."

Tej fist bumps Roman before turning back to the jet skis. "Come on, baby..."

"Basically, he's the man to know in Miami," I tell Roman. "He's got his finger in absolutely everything. It's just the way it is."

"What's goin' on, Suki?" Brian kisses her on the check.

"What's up, baby?" Suki greets. "Hey, Cruz."

"What up, Suk," I say. "How you doing?"

"I'm good," Suki says.

Brian looks at her sketchbook. "What's this? What's the latest?"

"It's a work in progress. It's not finished yet," Suki tells us.

"That's some artistic shit. You got talent, girl," Roman tells her.

"Yeah, she's good. She's the best," I tell him.

Tej keeps shouting, "Do or die. Bring it home, Ray. Bring it home, Ray. Bring it home. Bring it home." He stands up. "Yeah, baby! Pay up! Pay up! Pay up!"

"That's how they do it out here, man?" Roman asks.

Brian smiles. "Every day."

"That's crazy," Roman remarks.

Tej starts to collect money from people. "Right here, right now. What's up, man? You don't look too happy. A'ight? Expeditiously, man. I need it quick right here. What's up? Thank you. Thank you. All right. How you feeling, man? A'ight? A'ight. Thank you. Thank you, man."

"Not too bad," I tell Tej.

"Whoo!" Tej shouts.

"I'll see you about your money, homey," Roman says. "You race too?"