Page 39 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

“What you doing that’s so importantyou missed my games?”

I pull back to peer up at hishandsome face. “Do you really not know I’m working at Ms. Hattie’s shop everyday after school?”

“Doing what?”

“Whatever she tells me to do. Sweeping. Washing and dryingtowels.” I beam with pride. “I just started shampooing.”

“You still thinking about skipping college to do hair?” heasks, grabbing his school uniform blazer from the back of his desk chair.

“I’m thinking about going to community college todo hair. I need training. Just because it’s not a four-year degreedoesn’t mean it’s not what’s right for me. You’re planning to skip college toball in the league as soon as you can, right?” I wait for the nod I know iscoming. “What’s the difference? We both know what we want and see the path toget us there.”

“Well, I’m guaranteed one and done. I’ll be drafted after myfreshman year.” He slips Air Force Ones onto his feet. “I just don’t want youto settle and be stuck here all your life.”

“What’s wrong with Houston?”

“Nothing, I guess. It’s just where we grew up. What we’vealways known. If I had to stay here forever, not see anything else, not beanything else, I’d suffocate. It’s the dream of getting out that keeps memotivated.”

“What if you get drafted by Houston and your butt ends upstaying right here after all?”

“If I’m playing ball, even here ain’there. I’ll be at a different place in life. Travelingall over the country, all over the world. Nothing but money and opportunity.You think I’m being scouted now? Wait’ll we win thebig game.” His mouth hardens. “So Naz can forget playing time. I need everyminute on the floor I can get.”

“Well, I’m sure you have nothing to worry about. You thebest, right?”

“Damn right.” The irritation clears from his expression.“You know wherever I end up, there’s a place for you with me.”

“What? With your groupies? No, thank you.”

“I’m serious, Tee.” He pulls me in for a side hug. “If I’mgood, you good. I mean that. I’mmaalways make sure you straight.”

“I know.” I loop an arm around his waist. “You may be a painin the ass.”

“Excuse me?” he asks, pulling back to glare/grin down at me.

“But you’re my pain in the ass,” I finish, giving him onefinal squeeze.

“Kira!” Mama’s voice booms from downstairs. “Cliff! Get downhere. Somebody just pulled into the driveway.”

“Here we go,” he mutters, heading out the door and down thestairs.

A steady stream of towering boys invades our house over thenext twenty minutes. Mama may have grumbled when Cliff first asked if he couldhost a pre-championship party at the house, but she’s in her element,surrounded by hungry people. Her smooth brown skin shines with a light sheen ofperspiration from living in that kitchen all day. The more people who crowdinto our house, the wider her smile grows.

“I know we’re still getting our plates,” Cliff says,standing at the mantle over the fireplace, “but I wanted to say a few thingsbefore we get lost in my mama’s food. Y’all thank her for a taste of the WestIndies.”

All the boys whoop and holler, some pretending to bow toher.

“Awww, thank you, sweet boys,”Mama says. “But it wasn’t just me. Takira helped.”

I feel the weight of all eyes on me, and I smile stiffly,sliding my hands into the back pockets of my jeans. A few of the guys sneak glances at my bare midriff and down the length ofmy legs. It makes me want to cover myself, to hide myself, but I stand stilldespite the discomfort.

Like I said. The boyestboys.

“Yeah, thank you to my baby sister,”Cliff says, slipping a little steel into the mild words to warn them off. I’msurprised he didn’t douse me with a pesticide to keep them away.

Myron, one of Cliff’s first friends at St. Catherine’s,offers a mocking salute. “We hear you loud and clear, Cap. Hands off.”

My cheeks heat, and I shuffle my feet uncomfortably. Passingaround plates, Mama pauses long enough to glare like she might take her shoeoff and throw it at anybody she catches looking too hard at me.

“You got that right,” Cliff says, looking each of histeammates in the eyes. “But we’re not here to talk about how I’ll break yourhand if you even think about it.”