Hassan #2
She was back laughing again and I was happy her stress had eased. She didn’t realize I wasn’t joking with her ass.
“I let him know. Thank you again, baby.”
I was cheesing at the phone now because she’d called me baby.
“Whatever it is you need I got it. Remember that.”
She only hesitated a second before she gave me a response that damn near gave me wings. “I’m starting to see that.”
“’Bout fucking time. Let me scoop him and I’ll see you later.”
We hung up but I kept the phone in my hand the smile lingering on my face.
“Gone head and tell her you love her. It’s all over your face.”
I looked up and saw Cass looking at me with a goofy smile on his face. I shook my head and tried to laugh it off, despite that being exactly what was on my mind. I’d come damn close to telling her I loved her before I hung up the phone but I was still scared to scare her off. “It’s too soon.”
“Not according to your heart, nigga. One-eyed bastard came through town like a wrecking ball and got his girl. I ain’t mad at ya’, cousin.
” He held his hand out and we moved toward one another to hug.
I patted him on the back happy that he was behind the moves I wanted to make with Sylvia.
I didn’t need approval but my family fucking with her that much meant a lot to me.
‘Preciate it. But I gotta get my boy and prayerfully not commit a murder.”
Cass smirked hearing me call Dorian my boy but shit he was. Sylvia was my lady so her babies were automatically mine.
“Aye. Plenty of unincorporated land that can’t be sold or developed on that the family still owns. Say the word.” He gave me a nod like he was down to be an accomplice for whatever I wanted to do.
“My nigga, I might have to take you up on that depending on what I see when I get to this school.”
I peeled out of Cass’s spot and headed west to the school.
I was trying to keep my temper under control but hearing how frustrated Sisi sounded had me pissed off.
That nigga kept playing with my girl and I was gonna play with his heart.
Cut that shit out his chest and me, Cass and Smoke would play Hacky Sack.
The campus of the high school came into view and I slowed down, knowing I had to keep my personal feelings in check.
I might know Dave was a bitch ass nigga but Dorian was his son.
I didn’t want him to embody any of the bullshit of his father.
Hearing me talk down on his daddy might have him thinking I was speaking about him and I couldn’t have that.
He wasn’t hard to spot being the only kid left.
It pissed me off even more that whoever was running this shit hadn’t stayed behind to ensure that all the kids were picked up.
I knew Dave had something to do with that shit especially since he was a part of the staff.
I wasn’t sure how he weaseled his way into working on staff but I could only guess he did it unpaid so that he could save face and still be a part of the team despite his fucking up.
My truck pulled up and I could tell Dorian wasn’t expecting me. He glanced up and did a double take from where he was sitting beneath the shade.
I rolled down the window and the relief on his face had me ready to fuck up his daddy yet again.
“You coming or you like hanging out in this heat, young buck?”
Dorian stood up grabbing his water container and his duffle bag. He had clearly showered because he wasn’t wearing the camp uniform that he’d shown me last night. He was excited as hell about this camp but now he looked upset. “You here for me?”
“Is that okay with you?”
He tried to keep it player but his smile still broke through the usual teenage demeanor. “Yes, sir.”
He walked up on the car and I hit the locks so he could climb inside. “You good?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I appreciate the respect but you can loosen up some if you need to. I’m about to swing by Pizza House so we can get some food on your stomach. I remember how much hell summer conditioning was when I was a kid so I know you gotta be hungry.”
He nodded but then stopped abruptly, and his face changed. “You don’t have to.”
“I know I don’t. I want to. Put your seatbelt on.”
Dorian did as I requested before sitting back with an intense stare out the front window.
It was the type of look where I felt he needed to sort something out in his head.
I wanted to press but I was sure he’d clam up so I kept the music going and headed toward the restaurant.
I vibed to the music glancing at him a few times before he finally spoke up.
“Mr. Hassan?”
Another glance and I saw he was now looking my way. “What’s good, youngin’?”
“Are you only nice to us cause you’re trying to get with my mama?”
“Nah. I’ve known your mama before y’all were born. We had a bond as friends and it’s growing into something more than that. Why would you think I wouldn’t rock with you just cause of who you are?” I was heading to Pizza House because now my ass was starving since I hadn’t met Sisi for lunch today.
“My dad.” And now this nigga had to feel me. “He said that. Well he wasn’t that nice when he said it and I got mad. I told him not to talk to about her like that but he didn’t care. He never does.”
Hacky sack it is.
I wanted to ask questions but I didn’t know what the fuck was appropriate and what crossed lines.
“How does it make you feel?”
“Angry. He was mad that I stood up for my mom and for you. Whenever you hang around us you make sure to give all of us your time. We play the game and stuff and even though you like my mom you don’t spend all your time with her when we’re around.”
“You think I’m neglecting your mama?”
“No, not like that. I mean I know y’all have more time together when we go to bed or when we are at dad’s but I mean while we are up. My dad spends a lot of his time out with his friends or arguing with Ms. Bianca. I can’t even do something fun most of the time because I’m watching my sisters.”
He was painting a fucked up picture cause he shouldn’t have to babysit his sisters since their dad didn’t want to be a father. “Even when your dad is home or gone?”
“Yeah. Ms. Bianca says that she needs a break and that she didn’t sign up for three kids. So she will go in her room or go for a walk or something and we play with the baby. She’ll take our phones too but I try not to complain about it too much.”
I could tell he was frustrated because any kid, a teenager at that, was going to be attached to their phone.
I hated that Sisi thought everything was cool and they didn’t reach out because they were having fun with their dad.
But in actuality they’d been unable to let her know what was up because of the two trifling people they were court mandated to spend time with.
If Sisi knew how ol’ girl was treating the kids she would go for round two with her ass
“You know talking to your mama about this is the right way to go, right?”
He sighed like the world was on his shoulders. “I know I shouldn’t keep secrets but then they get to arguing and I don’t feel like being the cause of that.”
We’d reached the Pizza House and I put the car in park but didn’t make a move to get out of the car.
“But you know it wouldn’t be because of you, right? Grown ups have problems they need to work out. You being honest with your mama or your daddy is never a problem.”
I wasn’t really honest about that daddy part but I had to make myself look unbiased despite being biased as a muthafucka.
Dorian was nodding like he wasn’t quite sure that I was being truthful but I hadn’t given him a reason to doubt me.
Dave was surely talking shit to him about me because he’d more than made his anger at Sylvia moving on apparent to anyone who would listen.
But his son even knew not to listen to that shit.
“Hold your head up, young king. We not about to mope and stress about anything that is above your pay grade. You gotta worry about doing well in school, your chores and shit and being nice to your sisters. Listening to your mama and being a good person. Your wanting to protect your mama and keep the peace shows you’re already doing what you need to.
You got a good heart just like your mama, Dorian.
Let the adults handle the adult shit ‘cause at the end of the day you’ve got all of us in your corner.
” I tapped him playfully on his shoulder and he got a hopeful look on his face.
“You too?”
“Hell yeah. I already got a list of mutha— a list of people I got to check bout you being out here by yourself. And as much as I hate to say it, your dad is on it. He should’ve made sure you were good before he left you.”
Dorian only nodded but I could tell he was hurt. “I know. I didn’t feel like dealing with him though. I would’ve walked home if need be.”
“I doubt anything crazy would happen to you in the Grove but better safe than sorry, feel me?”
He grinned showing that he was in that space between child and teenager. It was clear that my words made him happy.
“I feel you.”
“Cool. I don’t know about you but I’m starving. I’m about to smash a Beacon and probably a side of potato skins by myself. You ready to eat?”
“Yes sir.”
“And I’m about to introduce you to my cousin, Cass.
You need a shape up cause we can’t let your hair lessen your fly, feel me?
He’ll get you right.” I tried not to overstep my place but I’d noticed Dorian hadn’t had his hair cut in the last few weeks.
At his age I knew how it could mess with his confidence if he didn’t feel his best and I wasn’t about to let him feel that.
“My dad normally cuts my hair.”
“That’s what’s up. Good bonding time with his son. We’ll have Cass do something light. If he wants to get mad about it, he can step up. Ask your mama if it’s okay and see what she says.”
“Yes, sir.” He pulled out his phone and checked with his mama and we climbed out of the car while he waited on the answer. We got seated and ordered by the time Sisi hit him back.
“She said yes.”