Page 50 of Love & Streetball

“Aight, Slim. You got it. We was just fuckin’ wit’ the little nigga anyway. We know who he is. The ball player at LSU.”

“We’re all really fucked up about Vani still,” the cockeyed nigga said.

Slim looked away. One of the guys slapped the one who spoke on Vani, in the back, whispering that he didn’t have to bring him up.

“C’mon, Slim. I’ll take you back home. I got you some snacks ‘n shit,” I called out to her, knowing she was in her head now about Vani.

“You two take it easy,” one of them said. I cut my eyes over to him.

The trio turned and walked away, but I heard them mumbling about how they almost had a Bentley if it wasn’t for Slim walking up. I wouldn’t be surprised if they found someone else to rob tonight.

“Whatchu doin’ over here at this time of night, Kane? At the gas station at that. You was better off riding on E all the way to the projects,” Slim fussed.

I shut the door behind me. “What you doin’ out here?” I asked her, starting the car.

Slim dug through the bag of snacks. “Was just walking to clear my head, and grab a Gatorade, then I saw you. Look at God. He knew you needed me to come save you.” She laughed and pulled out a snack cake.

I smacked my lips and took off toward the projects. “I could’ve handled it,” I told her, but grateful that she did show up. Three against one…they would’ve definitely got my ass.

“Yeah…okay, Kane,” she relied with a cackle.

I snickered as I drove. When I slid into a spot in front of her house, I asked, “You good, though?”

Slim’s shoulder’s slouched. “I’m still irritated about losing.”

“You not gon’ win every game when you go pro,” I reminded her. “Get benched for being a sore loser.”

She pushed the car door open and placed a foot outside. “I know that, Kane. When I go pro though…I won’t have to worry about money. Right now, I need it.”

I nodded, understanding where she was coming from. In the back of my mind, I just hoped Slim didn’t do anything that’d ruin her chances of getting to college and going pro.

“You coming in?” she asked, stepping out and shutting the door. “I know you didn’t buy all the snacks for me.”

I grabbed my keys and hopped out of the car, locking it.

“You don’t have to worry about the car either. I got a doorbell camera I had for a few days and installed it when I got back from the game.” Slim laughed. “I had to do something to get my mind off of losing.” Her smile dropped as she unlocked the door. “Ever since Vani died, I’ve been a little paranoid. I know they got the people that did it, but still…”

“Shiiid, they need cameras out here period,” I said, putting my two cents in.

We entered the house, the air on blast so it felt good to my warm skin. You could tell her mama had cleaned right before she left for work from the scent of bleach and a lemon cleanser. I sat in front of the TV with the remote to find a movie that we could watch. Slim had said something about showering, and I ended up on Bad Boys. Twenty minutes into the movie, Slim reappeared.

“You know I’ve seen this one, but not the others?” she gushed, plopping down beside me. I could smell the Dove soap she bathed with.

“Wild. I think they’re playing the other ones right after. We finna have a long night together,” I advised, sinking into the cushion and getting comfortable.

“Nigga, you gotta go home at some point,” Slim chuckled, snatching the bag of snacks from the coffee table. She dug into the bag, pulling out some Airheads.

“You know Mama would let me crash on the couch.”

“Stop calling her Mama, boy.”

I guffawed with a shrug. Slim dropped the bag in my lap. I removed my drink and the pack of Now or Later.

A few minutes later, Marcus and Mike were in some shit, and Marcus said some dumb shit I couldn’t help but let out a loud laugh. Slim laughed too, a cackle that made her whole body shake. She leaned her head back against the couch, her eyes squeezed shut.

“Nigga, he so dumb,” she wheezed, wiping a tear in the corner of her eye.

“Dead ass,” I said through a breath, then I chuckled.