Page 53 of Love & Streetball

I groaned, standing and rolling my eyes. “Scrawny as fuck.”

“I know what ain’t…”

My eyes ballooned and so did Kane’s.

“My bad, Slim. I be forgetting I can’t play wit’ you like that,” he laughed, holding his hands up in surrender.

My face heated knowing exactly where he was leading too. Now, it was stuck in my head.

“Yeah, let’s go riding and don’t talk to me because you’re doing way too much. I’d hate to have to punch you in your throat.”

Kane guffawed. He started walking away with his hands inside the front of his pants. A walk that had a group of girls stopping to gawk. My eyes narrowed, but then I had to catch myself again.

This. Was. Not. My. Nigga.

We ended up at an axe throwing venue, just doing random shit. Just being teenagers and having fun. Kane and I were both super competitive which made it even more fun. Sweat was coating both of our faces in the end.

“I let you win,” he cackled as we sat in his car.

“Lies! You were trying your best, but my aim was just better,” I shot back, shoving his shoulder playfully. The windows were cracked because the temp dropped just a tad bit. The sky was getting dark because rain was on the horizon. The cool air was a welcome relief after the heat of the venue. The adrenaline from throwing axes was tickling my skin.

A deep rumble escaped from Kane’s mouth, causing my stomach to do flips. Why was my stomach doing flips?

“About the other night,” he started, making a left onto the main road. I opened my mouth, but Kane stopped me. “Let me talk, Slim. Before I leave, let me get this off my chest.”

I swallowed—hard, not knowing what Kane was about to say.

“I like you. Not like a friend…but more.”

I felt like I was about to vomit. I let my window down and stuck my head out.

“That kiss…I meant it, even if it was just for a second. I’m not trying to force it on you, Slim, but I…I want us to be together.”

“Pull over,” I gurgled.

Kane pulled over safely and I pushed the door open after unfastening my seat belt, leaning over and let the cereal from breakfast come up.

“Damn,” I heard him release. I stayed leaned over, my stomach heaving until there was nothing left but bile. My whole body was trembling. The cool air felt good against my sweaty forehead, but it did nothing to calm my insides down.

I heard Kane open his door, then his footsteps on the pavement. Luckily, we weren’t on a very busy road. I didn’t look up. I was embarrassed.

“Slim…” Kane said in a soft tone. He was standing a few feet away, giving me space that I appreciated. “You aight?”

I finally straightened and Kane reached out a KFC napkin to me. Wiping my mouth, I closed the door and closed my eyes after the leaning the seat back a little. All it took was someone to tell me they liked me for me to be sick.

“I’m tired of pretending,” Kane continued as he sat behind the wheel. His voice rose with frustration. “I’m tired of acting like I don’t feel this way.”

“We’re not supposed to be like that, Kane. We’re just…friends. Why mess that up?”

Kane started driving again, pulling back onto the road. “Alright. I respect it.”

I tried not to look over at him, but his jaw was clenching. Glancing away and out of the window, I wondered if our friendship was now ruined. He ruined it. One friend was gone…buried in the dirt, and the other…the other ruined it by his heart getting in the way of our friendship.

Back then, I wouldn’t have cared, but somehow my heart was beathing faster. My stomach was clenching. I was scared.

“Are you…mad?” I pushed out through a breath.

Kane shook his head, then said, “No.”