Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Luke
" Y ou know my mom really likes you, don't you?" Malcolm's eyes meet mine as he's bent down in the stance of a point guard, guarding the ball and his position.
My eyebrows pull together. "I do know. She told me last night."
When he catches me leaning one way, he bounces the ball between his legs and moves the opposite way. Son of a bitch, he's good at this, always catches me off guard. There's no doubt this kid is playing college ball. I turn, watching him as he moves toward the hoop and easily goes in for a layup.
He smirks as he runs back the other way. "Caught ya lookin'."
Scoffing, I shake my head and take my place back on the court.
I'm sweating as Malcolm and I get into truck after playing our game. Guarding him got my heart rate up higher than I imagined it would. "You ran me ragged." I wipe my palm over my head, getting as many of the droplets off as I can.
"It was fun, seeing you struggle to keep up."
His smile is big and bright. It's one I haven't ever seen from him. This kid has seen the worst in people, and come out on the other side. "Don't tell your mom, kid."
All of a sudden, his face goes serious. "There hasn't been anyone I've trusted with my mom and sister since my dad went to prison. It's just the fact of the matter. I trust you, though, even if there are parts of me screaming not to. That's not because of you, that's because of me, and what I've dealt with. You've never once proven yourself to be untrustworthy."
"But..." I finish for him. My stomach is cramping as I think about what he might say to me. The whole rest of my life is riding on what this seventeen-year-old kid says.
"I told her that it doesn't matter what I think. I'm out of here at the end of the school year. So I need you to know that I'm not standing in your way. It's not as if you need my permission, but you have it."
The seriousness with which he's said those words kicks me in the gut like an asshole mule. In this moment I realize just how much his approval has meant to me. Has it been holding me back? Maybe. Will I allow it to any longer? Fuck that shit. "Thank you, Malcolm. Your words mean the world to me, and I promise to make life easier on your mom and sister. They'll have whatever they need for the rest of their lives."
He reaches over, holding his fist out. "I know, and I'm counting on it. I've worried about them for most of my life. I've never been the type of teenager who could leave all of that anxiety alone. So I've never done the type of shit any of my friends have. Didn't get drunk in a field, didn't sneak out of the house to meet some chick and hook up. I've never done any of that. I'm living my life in college."
He's not my kid, but I also know he needs role models. "Here's one thing I want to tell you, if you'll accept it."
"I don't need a dad," he warns. "Been there, done that, got the T-shirt and the scar on my forehead."
Holding my hands up, I wave him off. "Not trying to be your dad, trust me. What I am trying to be is your friend."
He reaches out, his hand extended for me to shake. "I'll take a friend. You can never have too many of those."
That makes me feel better. Malcolm has a good head on his shoulders, and I believe more than anything, that will keep him from making bad decisions in college. "Please realize this is coming from a place as someone who greatly cares for your mom. Call her a couple times a week, watch your surroundings, wrap it up, and don't tell a chick you love her if you don't."
He closes his eyes, smiling, before dipping his head to his chest. "Thanks, Luke. I could've gone my entire life without you telling me to wrap it up, but thank you caring enough to say it."
"Then you'll be okay if I ask her to marry me?"
The way he does a double take almost makes me laugh. "That's quick, Luke. But I get it, when you're a geriatric millennial you want to move fast."
"Fuck you, dude." This is the first time he's ever joked with me, and while it annoys me that he called us names, it's also great because he feels comfortable enough to tell me what he really thinks.
"First of all, no thank you. Second of all, you have my blessing. Just make sure you marry her when I get a break from school so I can be there. If anyone should walk her down the aisle, it's me."
Do I tell him the plans I've made? The fact I don't want this day to be over before I put an engagement ring on her finger? The way I don't want this month to end before I make her my wife? I'm about to open my mouth and put voice to those wishes when my cell phone rings. It's Troy, and he never calls me out of the blue. I answer, the sound reverberating through the speakers of the truck because of the Bluetooth. "What's going on?"
"I'm at Deanna's. Do you have Malcolm?" he hurriedly questions.
"Yes, he's with me."
"Thank fuck, we were worried."
My stomach drops and I press my palm to my forehead. "Why were you worried?"
"Don't freak out on me, but I'm at Deanna's. I've got two in custody, and I'm calling EMS because your lady put these fuckers down."
Malcolm and I look at each other, surprise on both of our faces. "We're on our way."