Chapter 10
Icould see why Slim’s mama didn’t invite Vani into her home.
He was probably good for walking her home and looking out for her, but I can sit here and smell trouble on the nigga.
Slim didn’t think I caught on to the way his eyes lit up when he saw that phone.
From the first day I hooped with them, Vani knew I came from money.
That’s why the nigga didn’t have a problem looking out for me and walking me out of the projects.
He was sizing me up, not as a threat, but as an opportunity.
A come-up. And Slim, bless her heart, was so used to his brand of loyalty that she couldn’t see the poison dripping from his words.
I just hope that nigga didn’t get caught up in what he had going on.
After we left the ice cream shop, I had to get home since my parents were on their way back.
The whole way back to Heart Heights, I wondered if I was over my head doing this streetball shit with Slim.
She was so set on it and making money that I was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to stop once she got started.
And those niggas played dirty. I’d hate to get hurt playing with a bunch of overly rough niggas.
They aimed to hurt a nigga to get them out of the game, and because it was streetball, fouls weren’t called when needed.
I pulled into my driveway, the automatic garage closing behind me with a quiet thud.
Inside, the house was silent and peaceful.
I wanted to enjoy it until my parents came.
I tossed my keys on the counter, grabbed a Gatorade from the fridge, and then headed upstairs to my room.
Mama was going to push Kayla down my throat, and Pops was going to question me again about Scottie, and I was pretty sure he was going to tell me she wasn’t welcome back.
I couldn’t wait to leave this house. This city.
I flopped down on my bed and took a sip of my Gatorade.
I wasn’t in the mood for the drama. I just wanted to go back to that ice cream shop, to the moment before Vani showed up, when it was just Slim and me, laughing and eating ice cream like we didn’t have a care in the world.
But we did have cares, a whole world of them.
The front door chime echoed throughout the house, a sound I’d come to dread when I was having some alone time. It was the signal that my time was up. My parents were home. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the inevitable interrogation, and headed downstairs.
I met my pops first, looking sharp like always in a tailored suit.
He was followed by my mom, who looked effortlessly elegant in a silk dress, her diamond earrings glistening under the foyer lights.
They both looked like they’d just stepped out of a magazine, and I never understood how he could be comfortable driving in that.
“Kane,” he said, his voice crisp. He gave me a curt nod, his eyes already scanning the house, looking for any sign of imperfection.
“Hey, Pops. Hey, Mama,” I said.
Mama came over and gave me a quick air-kiss on the cheek. “Did you have a good weekend?”
“It was straight,” I replied, shoving my hands in my pockets. “I hung out with a friend.” But they knew that already.
My dad’s eyes narrowed. “About that friend.”
“What about her?” I challenged, ready to go to war behind Slim. I was tired of people always coming for her.
“Watch your tone, Kane. I’ve been telling you that a lot lately. What has gotten into you?” he asked me, removing his jacket.
“That girl is innocent. Everybody judges her because of where she’s living.
Scottie has been more genuine than anyone since I met her, and we have a lot in common.
She doesn’t deserve to be looked down on because of what she doesn’t have and where she has to live,” I screeched out.
My nostrils were flaring because I was irritated.
Why did I have to school a grown ass man like this who should know better?
Pops just stared at me, his expression unreadable. I could tell he wasn’t angry. He was disappointed, and that was much worse.
“Kane,” my mama said, her voice in a soft, pleading whisper. “Please calm down.”
“I’m calm,” I said, turning to her. “Just stating facts. Y’all are making this into something it’s not. Scottie is a nice person who doesn’t harm anyone.” I didn’t dare tell them about Conley.
“We’re not making it into anything,” Pops shot off. “We’re just trying to protect you from people who don’t have your best interest at heart.”
“Like you?” I shot back, the words flying out before I could stop them. “You don’t have my best interests at heart. You have your best interests at heart. What you want for me isn’t what I want. In fact, it makes me want to move far away and do me!”
“Enough!” my dad thundered, his face flushed with rage. “You will not speak to your mother and me that way in my house!”
I waited for the threat of him taking everything from me, like my car. It didn’t come. I knew it wouldn’t. My dad liked for me to show off in my vehicle. He loved that shit. He would hate for me to be seen getting in and off a city bus.
“What about Kayla and prom?” Mama asked quietly.
“I don’t want to go to prom with her, Ma,” I said with a shrug.
“Let me guess, you want to go with that other girl?” My dad asked, folding his arms across his chest.
I shook my head. “Nah, because I know it’s not her thing.”
Mama wanted me to go to prom for the aesthetics and to blast me on her social media to show me off. That’s why I wished that they had another kid to do all of that with. She didn’t care about the dance or the girl; she cared about the picture and the caption.
She let out a sigh. “Kayla’s mama and I have been planning this for so long.”
When I looked at her, she actually looked sad about it. My jaw tightened.
“I’ll do it for you, Ma, but that’s how far mine and her relationship is going,” I told her and meant it. I was standing on it. I’ll be damned if they make me propose to the girl and actually marry her before I go off to college.
A slow, triumphant smile spread across my mom’s face. She thought she’d won, and I was going to let her believe that. She thought she’d cornered me.
“Oh, wonderful! Kayla and her mama will be so thrilled. I’ll call her mama right now.”
She took off, and I was left with my dad. He didn’t move. He just stood there, his arms still folded and his lips in a hard line. His eyes bore into me. The silence was heavy, and I was ready to get back to my room.
“I’m going to let you be friends with this girl, only to prove myself right. She’s going to get you in a world of trouble, and I’ll be here to tell you I told you so,” he said, his voice low and devoid of any warmth.
“Okay,” was all I replied. I already knew there wouldn’t be an I told you moment.
The cafeteria at Heart Heights High was a symphony of clinking silverware and hushed conversations. I was sitting with my boys, Kyle, and RJ when a cloud of floral perfume descended upon our table. I didn’t even have to look up.
“Hey, Kane,” Kayla cooed, her voice a sugary-sweet melody that always grated my nerves.
She slid into the seat beside me, her perfectly manicured hands resting on the table.
“I heard we were going to prom together like I knew we would, but I wanted to know how you plan on asking me? I would like it to be in front of the whole school, maybe something in the sky.”
I nearly choked on my Gatorade while Kyle and RJ cackled. I put my bottle down slowly, turning my head to look at her. Kayla was dead serious. Her eyes were bright with expectation, already scripting the moment in her head.
“Kayla,” I started, my voice flat. “I’m not doing that. I barely want to go to prom. I’m only going because my mama wants me to. We’re going together, but there’s no need for a proposal—especially not skywriting.”
Her perfectly plucked or threaded eyebrows furrowed. “What? Why not? It’s our senior prom! It’s supposed to be special.”
“It is special,” I let her know, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice and failing. “It’s so special I agreed to take you at all. That’s the proposal. The answer is yes. Let’s leave it there.”
RJ coughed, trying to hide a laugh. Kyle pretended to eat his pizza, but I saw the smirk on his lips.
Kayla’s smile tightened, and I knew before she left the cafeteria, she would be texting her mom, who would be on the phone with my mama.
I refuse to do a proposal, and I was putting my foot down.
If they do decide to do one, I wouldn’t be in attendance.
“Don’t be like that, Kane,” her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, though she knew damn well everyone at the table could hear her. “You’ve just been off lately since you’ve started hanging with that boy-girl. I heard it from Conley. Heard she punched him for no reason.”
I scoffed with my head thrown back.
“First, she’s a female, and you talking about someone you don’t know makes me want to take back going to prom with your small-minded ass,” I gritted.
“Conley’s punk ass started with her first, and Slim just ended it.
Same thing she’d do to you if you even try it, but you won’t. You’re all bark and no bite, Kayla.”
“Damn,” RJ breathed out.
“How dare you?” Kayla seethed. “You’re defending her over me? Over me? You’ve known me longer. She’s a nobody, Kane. A violent, aggressive, poor bitch from the projects who is probably using you for money.”
“And what the fuck are you? An annoying bitch who can’t catch a hint,” I shot back.
“I know that’s right, bro,” Kyle smacked.
“Someone finally said it,” RJ added.
Kayla had tears in her eyes and stormed off. She got what she asked for, and I didn’t care what I had to face when I went home after my game this evening.