Page 3 of Kassir and Rebel
“And say what? I have a key and alarm code,” he rebuts.
“But I put your ass out,” I snap back. “You have no right being in my damn apartment. If you don’t leave in ten minutes, I swear I’m calling.”
“When I get my ring, I’m out.”
“What ring?”
“My frat ring,” he says and I just roll my damn eyes.
“You could have waited until I got back.”
“I’m not waiting three weeks for my ring.”
“Cameron, we are over. You have to accept that and move on. When you get your ring, make sure you get anything else you so happen to have left. This back and forth is over. And leave my damn key when you do,” I say and he just walks away from the main camera. My eyes stay glued on the screen until he goes to my room, grabs his ring, dramatically slams my key on the table by the door, then leaves. Remotely, I set my alarm then log into my profile and change the code. “Bastard,” I utter as I shake my head.
Cameron and I were together for three years, living together the last eight months. A month ago we ended things on what I thought were mutual terms. I was wrong.
He’s having a hard time letting go, and for the past three weeks, he has been dropping by grabbing items he accidentally left behind. He needs to move on; I have. Between his late nights, wandering eyes, and too many “spam likely” calls, I was over it, over him. I let one man break my heart and I refuse to allow another to do the same.
So caught up in my head about Cameron, I didn’t even realize the driver had stopped. We’re in Brunswick Meadows outside of Teaira’s townhome. As the driver gets out, I gather my bag, throw, and travel pillow, then exit too.
“Thank you,” I say as I grab the handle of my luggage. Teaira’s door opens as I journey her way and my bestie stands in the doorway with a big ass smile on her face. As soon as I reach her, she pulls me in for a much-needed, tight hug. “Where’s the tequila?” I ask.
“Get in the damn house first,” she scoffs playfully as she reaches for my bag. When she turns to walk in, I follow. “All it took was Miss Chandra getting married to get yo’ ass back in Diamond Falls.”
“Can you believe it? Getting married at sixty,” I say, smiling at the thought.
“Listen, she gives me hope. May love find my ass too.”
“Chile. You can have it. Love don’t live here anymore,” I huff as I close her front door.
Chapter 3
Kassir
As Niecy, my head barber, finishes my beard treatment, Makai, my newest barber working on Kassan, nods at me for approval. When I nod back, he places the slightly warm towel on Kassan’s face. My son wants to be just like me in every way.
“You’re going to have a beard like your daddy?” Niecy asks Kassan.
“Yeah,” he announces.
“He’s so cute,” she says before tapping my shoulder.
She’s done; so I sit up. When she unbuttons the cape from my neck and removes it, I stand and brush my hands down my shirt to catch any missed hair. Then I turn to the mirror and run my hand down my trimmed beard. As usual, Niecy hooked me up.
It’s Saturday and my barbershop Fadez is crowded as fuck. Each chair is occupied. As the owner, I have a standing appointment with Niecy every other Saturday and she always gets me right. She’s my only female barber in the shop and she’s the coldest I got. Hiring her when I first opened Fadez two years ago was one of the best decisions I made. Besides occasionally maintaining my own beard, I have no barbering skills.
Fadez was an investment, a means for legitimizing me and my money, and something I can build on. When I opened it,I had Kassan and needed something to pass on to him. I also needed something to pull me from the streets somewhat.
I don’t trust my shop, my lineup, or beard with no one else other than Niecy. She normally cuts Kassan too but she has to leave early today so I let the little DP, Makai, hook Kassan up. He’s fam, so I trust him.
“Thanks,” Niecy says when I hand her a bill. This transaction, although smooth today, didn’t used to be this simple. When she first started with me, her stubborn ass refused to take my money. But I made it very clear that when services are rendered, payment is required, even for the boss. It took a few months but she accepts my payments now without talking shit.
“That’s it, Lil K,” Makai says as he removes Kassan’s cape.
When Makai holds the large mirror in front of Kassan, he nods at his reflection then smiles. “Thank you,” he says before hopping off the chair.
“You good?” I ask.
