Page 30 of Love & Streetball

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’.”

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.