Stepped

Chapter 8 #2

“Yes,” she stated cheerfully…sounding rather ghetto.

It was just a certain mystique to her voice that sounded hardened.

Like she smoked a few packs of cigarettes daily and probably had a few shoplifting cases under her belt.

But I digress. “That muthafucka was telling me about all the munyun he can make for you. He was even laying out timelines, and said that there was already deals on the table, if you sign with him. And he swore that he got the inside scoop, and is positive that you’ll be a one and done in college.

Meaning that you could be in the NBA in about a year and some change. ”

Breeze tucked his lips into his mouth, appearing irritated. “I’m eighteen, so he really should be calling me directly. And…I told you that I wasn’t interested in the one and done thing. The NBA will still be there, after I finish college—”

“Lil’ Ricky,” she interjected. “I know that you wanna do your computer programming stuff, but that don’t happen overnight.

Nobody is saying that you can’t do yo lil’ pipe dreams. But get the money first,” she stressed.

“Get them millions, then do whatever you wanna do. This is life-changing money. For everybody. Think about your sisters and brothers. Your granny. You the chosen one, Lil’ Ricky and this is bigger than some hobbies. ”

Breeze’s jaw clenched, as he listened with a frown. “Alright, mama. I hear you. Let me call you back.”

“Okay—”

He didn’t let her complete her sentence, before he ended the call.

“She be tripping with herself,” he vented, as he randomly pulled up to a curb, behind some parked cars.

“And because I don’t go back and forth with her, she really thinks that she can manipulate me.

And don’t even realize that my pops goes out of his way to remind me that I aint gotta take care of nobody, but me.

I mean, I’ma always look out for my siblings, but not to the point where it’s dictating my decisions. Fuck what she talking about.”

I nodded. “Right…but, I do understand her perspective. Even if you aint super passionate about being drafted, it is an incredible opportunity, that can open doors to whatever else you wanna do, outside of that. You don’t have to choose one over another.

If it’s something you can live with. Meaning that you’re willing to delay the things you’d rather do.

But if it feels too stifling and pushes you into an unhappy space, then I say no.

Ultimately, be smart, while also following your heart. ”

He nodded his head. “I feel you.”

“Do you?” I arched a brow.

“I do.”

“Okay, good.” I reached over, grabbed his hand, and interlocked our fingers. “Now, let’s find a club to go to.” I smiled big. “Please.”

Breeze

The power of the pussy was something lethal. I’m telling you. I always said that if I didn’t wanna do something, then I wasn’t doing it. But after gazing at Summer’s pretty face, I found myself folding.

Twenty minutes later, we were stepping into some random club. It was in midtown, and was midsized, with a nice crowd.

Rocking a floral green backless shorts jumpsuit, along with a pair of tall, gold, leafy Giuseppe sandals, Summer was effortlessly sexy. She wore her hair in its curly state, as it stretched down her back. She strutted into the building with confidence, while that ass bounced with every step.

She was the type of fine that made niggas stop and stare, which had me mean-mugging niggas, left and right. All the while, she held my hand, as we traveled though the thick crowds.

Eventually, we found a nice corner to post up. Naturally, I stood behind her, as she stood in front, with that ass perched on my dick.

The crowd was rocking, but niggas kept pausing their stroll, after laying eyes on her.

Hooking an arm around her waist, I spoke in her ear. “I know you wanna bop, but I’ma end up popping one of these niggas in the eye. Cause this staring shit is disrespectful.”

Abruptly, she spun around, hooked her arms around my neck, as she sang along to the music.

“Mobbing, scheming, looting, hide your bodies.” She swayed side to side, while tilting her head, and gazing up at me. “Long as you dreaming ‘bout me, ain’t no problem. I don’t got nobody, just with you right now. Tell the truth, I look better under you…”

“I can’t lose when I’m with you. How can I snooze and miss the moment? You just too important. Nobody do body like you do…”

Sza was floating from the speakers, as this girl serenaded me.

I was now grinning from ear to ear, as she playfully humped me to the beat. She moved in such a hypnotizing way, that I lost my train of thought. It was like everybody around us ceased to exist, as she locked eyes with me, regardless of who was standing around, lusting after her.

I guess that was her way of letting me know that it didn’t matter what these niggas wanted from her. In her world, it was about me, and that was all I needed to focus on. And that was exactly what I did.

I kicked it in the club with my homie, lover, friend, realizing that literally anywhere was lit, as long as I had Summer there with me.

Summer

Months later…

Sitting on the floor, between my mama’s legs, as she was seated on the bench at the foot of her bed, I was getting my scalp greased. Which was something she hadn’t done for me in quite some time.

“You know that lady is almost done making your prom dress,” my mama casually mentioned. “We’re gonna go pick it up this Friday.”

“Okay. Well, that’s good.” I smiled.

Prom was just a week away, and my mama had been adamant about getting things done early to avoid any possible last-minute mishaps. And she was going all-out, renting a Wraith for the evening, and everything.

If it had never been evident before, then it was clear now that I was Array’s first and only child, and people would’ve thought that she was planning my wedding. With the way she had put so much money, time, and effort into my prom dress and send off.

“Yep,” she sighed. “I honestly can’t believe that we’re at this point. Seems like yesterday that you were preparing for middle school. Time is passing too damn fast.”

“I know,” I agreed.

“Right. So…you still don’t know who’s taking you to prom, huh?”

I sighed, realizing that this was the perfect window to slide some new information in.

“Well, since me and Breeze both don’t have dates, we decided that we’ll just go together.”

She paused for a brief moment, before clearing her throat. “Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Now, is it that y’all don’t have dates, or that y’all are the dates?”

“Huh?” I frowned, feigning confusion.

“If you can huh, you can hear, lil’ girl. It’s time to stop this game, where we pretend that I don’t see what’s going on around here. The thing is…I haven’t been saying anything, because…I created the environment for you to have in-house dick.”

“Ma.” I whipped my head around.

She rolled her eyes. “Girl, stop it. You’re legal now, Summer.

And we both know that you’re no virgin. So, let’s stop playing.

It’s clear as day that you and Breeze have something going on.

All of sudden you just break up with poor Harlem.

Breeze doesn’t bring any girls over. Nor is he ever on the phone, talking to girls.

It’s just you and him. Running around here, whispering.

Leaving for hours at the same time, whenever I’m at home for too long.

The boy even goes to HEB to buy your pads when it’s that time of the month. ”

“Right,” I sighed, waiting on her to go off.

“Only God knows what y’all do around here when we’re at work.

But…that’s on me. I made the decision to move him and Ricky in here.

Even wondered if y’all were attracted to one another.

And truthfully…I’m not mad. Breeze is an incredible student.

Mannerable. Handsome. And honestly? You guys make sense.

I can definitely see y’all together. Down the line. ”

My heart skipped a beat, as I glanced back. “Down the line? Why not now?”

“Because he has a lot of potential…but y’all are young.

So, I feel like if y’all insist on seriously being together now, it’s gonna turn toxic.

Because y’all both need more experience.

And I’m not basing this purely off y’all ages.

Because some people just know, and they end up with a great story of how they started out young.

But it’s different for you and Breeze. You’re gorgeous.

Already have a thriving writing career…that will only grow…

and you like thrill seeking. Meanwhile, Breeze will probably get drafted into the NBA.

And even if he doesn’t…he’s going to be something special.

The both of y’all are going to face heavy temptation.

And I believe that both of you are susceptible to folding.

But with some worldly experience first…y’all could be beautiful together. ”

I gulped, processing what she’d said. “Okay. So, basically, you’re saying that I should have fun for now…but not take him too seriously?”

She nodded. “For the time being.”

I shook my head. “I guess. You’re making sense, but you gotta remember that I’m 18. Immature. And have to learn the hard way. So…I don’t know what to tell you, girl.”

Breeze

“Aye, Breeze, hold up!”

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw my teammate, Rory jogging in my direction, while I halted my stroll down the hallway, outside of the boys’ locker room.

“What’s up?” I questioned as he approached me.

“Man, I been meaning to holler at you.”

“About what?”

“Your uh…step sister. Summer. I know that her and Harlem broke up, and I haven’t seen her kicking it with nobody else. So, I wanna know what’s up. And I figured that you could…put me down. I honestly wanna take her to prom.”

I looked him up and down, while imagining myself knocking his teeth out. But I couldn’t crash out like that. Besides, he was literally the fourth teammate to ask me some shit like this. And probably wouldn’t be the last.

They were shooting their shot, and maybe I was supposed to respect that. But I didn’t. The shit was irksome, as they were openly lusting after her, like some fucking blood hounds.

“No, nigga. That aint happening,” I chided.

“Damn. It’s like that?” He opened his arms.

“Yeah, it’s like that, nigga. Matter of fact, don’t even think about approaching her. Cause, on my mama, I’ma slide you.”

“Slide me?” He scowled.

I nodded. “Fucking right.”

Sucking his teeth, he stepped around me, before stomping off. Undoubtedly, he felt a way about what I’d just said, but he also knew that I was a knock-out artist, with a quick temper. So, moving around had definitely been in his best interest.

Nixing that encounter off, I sped walked to the student parking lot, wanting to catch up with Summer, before she could pull off. It was the end of the day, and I was trying to see if she was down to take a ride with me to 5th Ward to see my mama ‘nem.

At this point, she’d met the whole fam. On my daddy and mama’s side. Everybody loved her, and knew her as my gal versus my pops’ girlfriend’s daughter.

Funnily, me and Summer would discuss everything under the sun, but had never discussed any labels. After a while, it was just implied. She was mine and I was hers. And there was no bullshit between.

Ironically, I had been somewhat of a commitment phob, but then jumped head-first into it with her. It honestly came natural, as she was everything I loved in a girl. I would even go as far as saying that I was in love with her. And that shit had me on edge.

With Summer, my feelings were on the line, pushing me into a new, uncomfortable space.

Meanwhile, we were about to face all type of obstacles.

Especially considering that she’d committed to UCLA while I was going to Uconn.

Of course, she’d decided on UCLA when she was with Harlem, and they wanted to attend the same school.

Now, we both agreed that it was too late to be changing plans.

So, she was doing a semester in L.A. before transferring to be with me.

A lot of people had expressed that a semester apart might do us some good, and I couldn’t disagree more.

I didn’t know how I was gonna transition from having grade A pussy everyday to being on the other side of the country, with a hard dick.

But Summer was geeked about moving out to L.A.

She said that there were some literary moves she wanted to make while there, and I was never gonna be the nigga to stand between baby and her dreams. But I’d be lying if I said that I was cool with the plans.

“What the fuck?” I grumbled, as I stepped outside and spotted Summer.

She was wearing some tight ass biker shorts, a cropped muscle shirt, with a cropped varsity jacket, looking like she wanted some attention.

Her long hair had been straightened, and was bouncing with her, as a bitch ass nigga named Slim was rough-housing her.

She was trying to grab her iPad that he was holding over her head, but the laughter told me that she was thoroughly enjoying the interaction.

Slim was from the hood like myself, and had a way with a lot of the girls around the school. He was the type to only interact with the baddies, and I was sure that his little play session with Summer was calculated.

Trying to keep my composure, I approached them. “The fuck is this?”

Summer’s head whipped around. “Bae…I mean Breeze.”

Hearing her correct herself really rubbed me the wrong way.

“What’s up, man?” Slim offered a head nod.

“Ion know. You tell me. That’s her iPad?”

“Yeah, I was just bullshitting around,” he claimed, while handing the iPad to Summer.

I licked my lips. “Is that right?”

An awkward silence settled between us.

“I’m saying,” I eventually spoke again, before spitting on the ground, mere inches away from his Jordan’s. “The fuck is you still standing here for?”

Slim frowned. “Shit, I should be asking you that question. You came over here, fucking with us.”

“Slim—” Summer started.

“Nawl, fuck that!” I lashed. “What you and this nigga got going on?”

“Nothing—”

“I’m saying, though,” Slim interjected. “The fuck are you worried about it for? Acting like you her fucking daddy—”

I didn’t let him finish, as I swung, connecting with his jaw, dropping him instantly.

“Breeze!” Summer gasped.

“Breeze, nothing!” I snarled, while Slim was scrambling off the concrete. “Go get in the fucking truck, and drive home!”

Fuming, she glared at me, before spinning around and stomping over to her beamer.

“Man, what the fuck?!” Slim shouted, as he bled from his mouth. All while keeping a safe distance.

Calmly, I rotated my shoulder. “I’m saying. What you tryna do, Slim?”

Spitting on the ground, he glared at me, before turning around and walking in the opposite direction.