Chapter 9
“Scottie!”
I rolled over in bed and groaned, shielding my eyes from the sunlight. Stretching, I opened one eye when Mama entered my room with a box in her hand. I could see my name written in black marker. Slim.
“What you and that boy got going for him to keep leaving you gifts?” she asked, eyes in slits, like she was a detective and I was her prime suspect.
I sat up. “What do you mean by gifts?”
“What I said. This box was on the porch this morning with your name on it. I know it’s from him because Ernestine said she saw him bring it and leave it on the porch. You were with Kane for hours last night, and now you have gifts.”
My heart began thumping erratically.
“Open it,” Mama demanded, placing the medium-sized box on the end of my bed. She crossed her arms across her chest as she waited.
I hadn’t even rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, used the bathroom, or brushed my teeth yet.
If she hadn’t woken me up out of my sleep, I would still be under my covers.
Kane dropped me off at two in the morning.
I was having so much fun playing the game with him, watching movies in his theatre, and eating snacks that I didn’t want to leave.
I wasn’t even tired when I left because I was having so much fun, but when I made it to the house, I had crashed.
Using my nails, I found the end of the tape and pulled it up.
Kane swore we were best friends now. I told him I didn’t need anything from him, though.
He was already putting the money up for the first game.
I just needed to get a team together. We would just need one other person because I knew Vani and Jalen would be down.
Inside the brown box was a Nike shoe box and a phone box. My forehead crinkled as I pulled each of them out.
“Are you sure you two are just friends, Scottie? A phone? An iPhone at that. Who is paying that bill?” Mama asked as I took all of this in.
“Just friends…I guess. I wasn’t trying to have a new friend, but he’s kind of persistent.” I opened the shoe box and gasped. “Aja Wilson’s shoes,” I whispered. I couldn’t wait to wear these for my next game.
“Well, that’s nice of him, but tell him a friendship can’t be bought,” Mama said.
“He knew I needed new ball shoes. Mine are falling apart. The phone…I don’t know.”
I struggled to figure out how to power it on until I pressed a button on the right side and a button on the left side simultaneously. Mama was still standing there, and I finally looked over at her.
“I like Kane. I do, but he doesn’t have to gift you. I know he feels like you need these items, but how is he getting the money for this?” she asked.
“His family is rich,” I mumbled.
“And do his parents know what he’s doing with his money?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean it is his money.”
“Don’t get smart, Scottie,” she said, making my eyes stretch.
“I’m not. I was just saying.”
“Well, I picked up an extra shift at work, so I’m about to go in. Send me that new phone number. If you’re going to hang with him today, let me know.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, and she left my room.
I navigated to contacts, and just like I knew Kane would, he’d already locked in his phone number. Before calling him, I cleaned myself up. I knew these phones you could chat on video. Vani has an iPhone and would always get on video calls with all his hoes.
While putting butter and jelly on my toast, the phone rang. I answered and placed it on speaker as I scrambled my eggs. Mama had gotten a few groceries. I couldn’t wait until next weekend. I was coming home with some money and would help put food in the kitchen.
“Hello?” I answered.
“What’s up, Slim?” Kane’s raspy voice rang out.
“Thanks for the shoes and the phones, but you didn’t have to,” I let him know.
“I know. I wanted to.”
“Who is paying this phone bill?” I quizzed, removing the pan from the burner and scraping the eggs onto the paper plate.
“Me. Don’t worry about that bill, Scottie.”
“What you was trying to say about my government phone?”
Kane chuckled. “Nothing. I don’t want no smoke. I’m about to FaceTime you.”
“Uh, okay,” I replied.
I answered the video call. Kane was driving shirtless. I looked away. Picking up my plate, I took it to the living room and propped the phone up against the fake flower arrangement Mama had on the chipped wooden coffee table.
“Where are you headed?” I asked, stuffing eggs in my mouth. “With no shirt on?”
Kane’s brows jumped up as a smile graced his lips. “Are you checking me behind not wearing a shirt or?”
“No! I don’t care, I was just asking. Don’t get this shit twisted between us. I already told you that,” I fussed, grilling him.
Kane laughed harder. “I know, Slim. We’re just friends. I like to tease you and shit ‘cause I know one day that it’ll be me more, but I’m patient.”
My eyes bulged. “I will hang up. Seriously.”
“Alright. Alright. I’m done,” Kane said, holding up his free hand in surrender, though his grin was wide as hell.
“I’m just playin’ with you, but I’m headed to the gym to hoop with some of the guys.
I would have asked if you wanted to come, but I know how you feel about some of the fools ‘round here.”
“Jerks, and I’m not trying to go to jail for fighting again, especially not on that side of town.”
Kane scratched the side of his face. “Yeah. Well, can I come scoop you after?”
I cocked my head to the side. “To do what?”
Kane shrugged as he turned, the muscles in his shoulder flexing with the movement. He licked his lips, and I had to look away again. What was happening?
“Whatever. Go eat. Chill or just ride.” He looked at the screen, his bushy brows dipping. “You know how to drive?”
I shook my head.
“I can teach you.”
“And then what? You’re gonna buy me a car?” I joked.
Kane didn’t respond quickly. I didn’t want him to.
“If I could get away with spending that kind of money and my folks not notice, hell yeah, I would,” he replied after a long pregnant pause.
“I wouldn’t want you to do that, Kane.” I shook my head and bit into my toast. “We can hang out today. Ma said it was cool with her. I just have to let her know.”
“Bet. I just made it to the gym. I’ll hit you up when I’m headed your way, Slim.”
“Okay,” I said, and ended the call, and stared at the blank screen.
My whole body was warm. This couldn’t be happening to me. I did not like this boy past a friendship.
After finishing my food, which had turned cold, I pushed myself up off the couch and took my plate to the kitchen.
I tossed it and placed my fork in the sink.
I needed to get a grip. Kane was a boy from Heart Heights with the mansion and a perfect life.
This…whatever is was probably temporary. A distraction.
Kane picked me up and was now dressed in white jeans, a blue Ralph Lauren polo shirt with a white horse, blue and white Retros, with a blue LA cap turned backward over his curly mane.
A blind female could see he looked good.
He even smelled rich. Meanwhile, I was in grey sweats and a loose t-shirt, white socks, and slides.
I didn’t even want to put on the shoes he bought me until I go back to school.
I had to find something that would go with it.
I wasn’t a pink girl, but I loved Aja Wilson.
He didn’t say anything about my fit, just gave me a once-over and a small smile as I slid into the passenger seat. “You look comfortable,” he said lowly.
“I am,” I replied. “You look like you’re about to go golfing or something.”
Kane chortled, pulling out of the projects. “Nah, I just felt like putting this shit on. Who golfs in jeans anyway?”
We drove with his phone connected to Bluetooth. The city lights blurred past the windows. I had to admit, I’ve been enjoying being out of the house.
“Where are we going?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“Ice cream,” Kane said, glancing over at me. “That aight with you?”
I nodded. “As long as it’s not a date or anything.”
Kane snickered and swiped his tongue over his lips. I wish he would stop doing that. Get some Chapstick or something.
“It’s not a date,” he said, assuring me. “No feelings. No dates. I gotchu.”
He pulled into a parking lot in front of a small shop with a neon sign that read Love Grove Scoops.
It was buzzing with people that appeared to be couples and maybe a few groups of friends, all laughing and talking.
We got out of the car, and I tugged self-consciously at the hem of my shirt, wishing I’d made a little more effort in my choice of clothing.
Although we were still in my neck of the woods, I was still feeling somewhat underdressed.
No one out here was wearing sweats and a loose shirt.
The girls were in tights and crop tops. The guys wore jeans that were starched down with crisp, white t-shirts.
I wanted to sit in the car and just let Kane order for me.
Kane must have noticed, because he bumped my shoulder against mine. “You don’t look bad. You look…” Kane stopped and looked me up and down, but there was something there in his eyes that I couldn’t explain. “…chill. Relaxed. C’mon, girl, let’s get our ice cream and bounce.”
We went inside, and the scent of sugar and waffle cones wafted in the air. I stood back while Kane went up to the counter, my eyes scanning the menu. Everything looked good, but I was too proud to order anything too fancy. I’d stick to what I know.
Kane stepped back with his hands stuffed in his pockets. “You know what you want?”
“Uh, just strawberry is fine,” I mumbled.
“Just strawberry?” he scoffed, with an eyebrow lifted. “Nah, you can add shit like candy to it, and they mix it in. We gotta go big or go home.”
I glanced over at the jars lining the counter with sweets like crushed Oreos, Butterfingers, marshmallows, and nuts.
“I guess I can add marshmallows and Oreos to it,” I mumbled.
Kane turned to the woman behind the counter and told her what I wanted in a waffle cone. He ordered birthday cake with marshmallows and sprinkles. After paying, we walked back outside. I started walking back to the car, but Kane stopped.
“It’s a nice day out. We should eat at one of the tables,” he suggested.
“Right. Don’t want to get any ice cream inside your car.” I licked a drip of ice cream from my cone.
We sat down on opposite sides of the small table. I looked up, and a few people were looking at us. I recognized all of them from school, but they never paid me any mind, so why now? Did they know Kane? Of course, they did, Scottie. Everyone knew of Kane but you, I said to myself.
“I’m gonna need to run to work all of this off,” I told Kane.
“I’ll run wit’ you.”
My head tilted. “Why does it feel like you’re trying to be around me a lot? Who sent you?”
Kane laughed while licking his spoon. “Maaan, ain’t nobody sent me, Slim. You funny.”
The corners of my lips tugged upward. I couldn’t deny the fact that I liked being able to laugh with someone other than Vani.
“I’m funny, huh?” I scooped ice cream and cone in my mouth. This was so good. I was glad Kane talked me into adding more to the ice cream. “You’re the one who’s acting like my damn shadow. Like I can’t move without you.”
“You can’t,” he boldly said, shrugging his shoulders. “We’re locked in.”
This time, I guffawed with my head thrown back, not caring who stared.
“I guess,” I mumbled, eyeing him as my leg shook underneath the table.
“I rather be your friend than your enemy. Conley still icing his nose.”
“Good! That’ll teach his ass to stop fucking with people,” I muttered and focused back on my ice cream.
Loud music caused my head to lift back up, and Vani’s uncle’s car swerved into an empty parking spot beside Kane’s car. When Vani hopped out of the car, he headed in our direction, pulling up his falling jeans, the Gucci belt just there, not helping at all.
“You on a date, Slim?” Vani questioned with a sly smirk.
“No, and how did you know I was here? You haven’t been responding to my texts.”
Vani sat down and kissed his teeth. “Girl, I been hustlin’, what you too got goin’ on?
The niggas be like Vani, yo girl Slim been chillin’ wit this rich nigga, and I’m like a rich nigga?
I instantly knew who the fuck they were talkin’ ‘bout.” Vani looked from me to Kane with his eyes in slits.
“Heard he was even allowed in the crib by yo’ mama. ”
That got a laugh out of me. Vani hated the fact that Mama didn’t want him in the house.
“That shit ain’t funny,” he continued. “That shit foul.”
“Take that up with my Mama, Vani,” I told him, knowing he wouldn’t. Vani knew he was trouble, and that still didn’t stop me from being friends with him. He just kept whatever shit he was into away from me.
Kane hadn’t said a word. He just kept eating his ice cream. Vani’s eyes darted to my new phone on the table. He picked it up.
“Well damn rich kid. You really going all the way out.” Vani smirked while running his fingers through the hair on his chin.
Word on the street was that Vani ran with some dudes who jacked. I never asked because I didn’t want to know. I could tell the wheels were turning in his head as he stared at my phone.
“Saturday, we’re hooping for some bread. You down?” I asked him, changing the subject. If Vani thought I was gonna tell him where Kane lay his head at night or even let him jack Kane and his parents, he’d better think again. I could see the wheels rolling in his head.
“I’m always down to make bread. Is that why you two are hanging ‘round each other, or is it more than that?”
“That’s it,” I said, eating the rest of my ice cream and waffle cone. I peeked over at Kane, who didn’t even bother to respond. He didn’t even try to clear it up. His ass sat there nonchalantly.
“Aight, so it’s just business,” he said, leaning back in his chair, all relaxed now. “How much the entry fee?”
“Eight hundred,” I said.
Vani nodded. “So we goin’ half, rich boy?”
Kane nodded. “Yeah.”
“Bet. Bet,” Vani replied, rubbing his hands together. “You fuck wit’ this ice cream?” he asked me, pointing to my empty bowl.
“Yeah,” I said, telling him what I had got.
Vani stood and told us he’ll be right back. We watched him walk to the door and disappear behind it. I turned to Kane.
“Never tell that nigga where you live,” I muttered.
Kane chuckled. “I’m already knowin’.”