Page 31 of Love & Streetball

“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.