Page 29 of Kassir and Rebel
“Leaving where?” I ask.
“Oop! Time for me to go. Another drink and somebody’s son is out there calling my name. I’ll check on you before I headhome,” Teaira says. After stepping back to the bed and hugging Rebel, she walks to the room door.
“I have to let you out,” I tell her, then walk her to the front door.
“She needs to ice for at least fifteen minutes every other hour. Make sure she does.”
“I got her,” I assure Teaira before letting her out. Then I head back to the room to holla at Rebel about her leaving.
“Not now, Kassir,” she sighs as soon as I walk back into the room.
“Not now what?”
“My ankle is killing me. I want to take these pills and not discuss our long distance relationship.”
I open the Tylenol and Advil bottles and hand them to her. She pours out two Tylenols and one Advil then I open one of the waters and give it to her. As she takes the pills, my phone vibrates in my pocket, so I pull it out. It’s Linnea and she’s at the gate to drop Kassan off.
“Kassan is out there. Let me go get him. I’ll be right back to talk ’cause ain’t shit going to be long distance about me and you,” I tell her, then kiss her pouting lips.
“Don’t rush back up here. I’m fine. Between that strong ass drink I had from Emma before I fell and those pills, I should be out like a light in a minute. If I wake up and need you, I’ll text. Just go and have fun with your son. I’ll be fine,” she says, ignoring my words, but it’s cool. We will have this convo.
After helping her get comfortable under my comforter, I grab the remote, hand it to her, then dip. I guess Linnea found a place to park because when I make it downstairs, she’s standing in front of the building with her arms crossed. Kassan is standing beside her. As soon as he spots me, he rushes over.
“Daddy, I’m ready to ball,” he says excitedly.
“Me too. Let’s go.”
“Well, hey baby daddy,” Linnea snaps. “I can’t get a hello now?”
“Hello and goodbye,” I tell her as Kassan and I start to walk off.
“Wow! You can carry a bitch through the block party but can’t give me five minutes,” she utters slickly but I hear her ass so I turn back to face her. I get close enough for her to hear and not Kassan. I never want him to hear me talk shit to his mother.
“Ay. I already told you ’bout that. Her name is Rebel. I’ll carry her wherever the fuck I want and it doesn’t have shit to do with you. Don’t let yo’ mouth talk you out of your ride and crib,” I tell her and her eyes pop, getting big as fuck. “We straight?” I ask, and she nods, but that’s not good enough. “Nah. You like to hear yourself talk. Open yo’ mouth and answer me.”
After sucking her teeth and rolling her damn eyes again, she says, “We’re straight, Kassir.”
Satisfied, I grab Kassan’s hand and we journey to the Gravity Zone setup. Tyriq, a member of DP and one of our Ballerz, is on the first one, bouncing and shooting with a few kids. This nigga has had a ball in his hand since he was knee-high. He’s a beast on the court and a D-Ville celebrity. Not only is he a street baller, he also plays for CFU. This is his junior year and he’s slated to go first round in the draft next year. Hopefully, the Royals pick him. If anybody deserves it, Riq does.
When we hop in line, he spots us and walks over. After greeting me, he leans down to Kassan and holds his fist out. “What’s up lil, K,” he says.
“Nothing,” he answers before pounding Riq.
“I see your retros. You came to ball?”
“Yes and Imma win too,” my lil jit says confidently.
“You gon’ beat me?” Riq asks.
“Yes,” Kassan says, then he looks up at me. “Can I play, Daddy?”
“Yeah. Go school him on balling,” I encourage and Kassan smiles big as hell.
“I got him, fam, if you need to go handle that,” Riq says before extending to his full six foot nine height.
Handle what?I think as I glance back. Mano’s ass is standing to the side of the Pancake House truck, motioning toward me. I just turn back around. His disrespectful ass ain’t even worth a second of my time. Besides, he clearly hasn’t learned his lesson. My son is right here; therefore, his ass shouldn’t be.Fuck nigga.
“I don’t need to handle shit with him. You and Kassir ball out. Imma chill right here,” I tell him.
