Page 43 of Don Caselli

“Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Cause that fucking serial killer is still on the loose and you’re a woman out in the world alone. I’m the kind of man, and have been raised by one, who protects women. Not every nigga thinks like that, so I need to protect mine.”

It was the way she snickered when I called her mine that told me she wanted to eventually be mine. It was a fear that stopped her from wanting to tell me that she would eventually want more. To her, it was easier to just be friends and see where things went, and I had to admit that was best for us right now.

There was no pressure to be perfect. We could just be without all the politics of dating. I didn’t know the rules when it came to dating because I purposely never dated. Dick and black cars was all I could provide.

She looked around me. “Our stop is next. Nervous?”

“For what?”

“To be hanging with my family. Now let me warn you, my family is a lot. They are crazy as hell.”

“So, giving your pops the keys to my whip wasn’t smart?”

“At all. You probably won’t have any gas in it, either. He and my uncle probably went around the whole city for some soda.”

“It’s cool.”

Soon as we exited the train station, you could smell the food on the grill. Music could be heard in almost every direction. I pulled her over from walking near the street side. She was so focused on getting to her grandparents’ block that she was in her own head.

“Navy, come here, Loca… I got your favorite,” a Spanish woman called her from a window, and she grabbed my hand and pulled me with her across the street.

“Hey Rosario, you finally got cherry in?”

“Hell yeah… took about a month. You want a cup? I can make it for you, or do you want the gallon?”

She had this wicked look on her face. “Gallon… we up tonight.”

“I’ll bring it around front,” she called back and closed her window while we waited on the stoop.

“The fuck are you up to?”

“Nothing… but I’m giving you the whole experience since I’m not having my birthday block party this year.”

“You have a birthday block party?”

“My parents have been throwing it for years, but I have a trip planned around my birthday. A brand invited London out the country, and she invited me as her guest.”

I didn’t know who London was, but I was a little bummed that she was gonna be gone for her birthday. With mine before hers, I was already in my head planning on seeing her. My birthdays weren’t all of that.

Whatever club that happened to be my favorite was rented out and then I ended up leaving with a shorty. It was always the same shit, so being excited never crossed my mind.

“Damn, I thought we could celebrate together.”

“Awe, you done fucked me like that and wanna spend all your time with me,” she paused before she busted out laughing, waving her hand in her face. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry,” she said between heaves of laughter.

“Fuck you, Bleu.”

“Nah… you want to.”

The door to the building opened, and the woman held the gallon of whatever she bought. She went to dig in her bag, and I went into my pocket before her and counted off two hundred dollars.

“Oh, Papi, it’s only thirty dollars.” The woman waved her hand, like I made a terrible mistake.

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