Page 62 of Some Kind of Forever
I clear my throat, trying to lighten some of the huskiness I know has settled there. “Nice to see you again, Mr. St. Clair. This is my girlfriend, Kayla. Kayla, this is Maggie’s dad, William.”
“Nice to meet you.” Kayla holds her hand out to shake his.
“Likewise,” he says dismissively, holding the tips of her fingers like a used napkin.
“I’ll…give you two a minute,” Kayla says, moving my hand off her hip and walking back into the house. The last place I want to be is stuck out here with this asshole, but he was the biggest seed funder of EdTechU and remains a current shareholder. So I’ll suffer through it for the sake of networking.
“Your dad tells me you’ll be joining the new sales team in San Francisco. I think that’s the perfect place for you.”
“Uh, yeah… Thank you.” I nod, not sure why he’s cornered me out here. The fact he’s been wanting to talk to me gives me pause. He’s a tall, dark-haired man with a permanently pinched look on his pallid face. The coldness radiates off him as he stands with his hands clasped behind his back like he owns the place, making it unbearable to be near him for too long.
“I’m going to speak openly here, Chase.” He brings his steepled hands forward, exerting misplaced power over this conversation. “I know my nephew likes to immerse himself into the urban lifestyle, and there’s nothing wrong with that while you’re young. We’ve all done it. I think Hunter’s a little too far gone to be saved, but I wanted to give you some friendly advice.”
“About theurbanlifestyle?” I ask with a slight edge to my voice. I’ve known William to be less than politically correct, but I really hope he’s not steering this conversation in the direction I think it’s going.
“Yes, well, urban culture seems to be a popular trend these days. I don’t blame you for getting wrapped up in it. College years and all of that.” He waves his hand in the air, as if the action will clear away the offensive notesin his message.
“You keep sayingurban. Are you talking about Black culture?”
“Oh, Chase, I wouldn’t be so crass as to use that term.”
“Well,William,you really should say exactly what you mean…” I’m not in the mood for this right now. I’m still irritated with having to leave early, I’ve got my girl waiting for me inside, and now this bastard wants to insert himself into my business like he knows the first thing about me.
“I’m encouraging you to get it out of your system while you’re young. Have your fun with the ethnic girls now, for as long as you need to. And then, when you’re ready to settle down, you and my Magnolia will make a worthy pairing.”
I grind my back teeth together and remind myself to breathe. “You’re being serious right now?” I huff, running my hands through my hair to try and dissipate the rigid rage creeping up my spine. “I don’t need any of your advice, William.”
He places a hand on my shoulder, gripping a little more firmly than is necessary. “There’s no need to get upset. I’m trying to help you. Give you a leg up. Walking into the corporate world with the right woman on your arm will only help you climb the ladder more quickly. My Magnolia?—”
“There’s not a snowball’s chance in hell thatyour Magnoliaand I will end up together.” I spit the words, glaring into his face, ready to haul his ass to the ground.
He doesn’t drop his hand from my shoulder, staying right inside my personal space. My fingers flex, and I flatten them against my leg to keep from curling them into a fist. It’s offensive that this towering waste of space thinks we can relate about anything, and the red haze seeping in to cloud my vision is urging my logic to the backseat. The more he says, the harder it is to keep my feet from propelling me forward. The longer he talks, the bolder his vile words become, and I’m livid this man thinks he and I have any kind of understanding.
“We’ll see about that. I can be persuasive when I need to be.” He finally takes a step back, clasping his hands behindhim. “I understand there’s a certain novelty to the colored girls, especially if they can cook, but it doesn’t last. Whenever it fades out with this one, my Magnolia will be waiting. You understand?”
Before I realize what’s happening, I’m in his face. “Say one more thing, you racist motherfucker, and I swear you’ll be tasting every single one of your goddamn veneers.”
“Whoa, hey…” Hunter grabs my fist, stepping between us and moving me back toward the railing. I must have missed the door opening twice because Mom is out here too.
“Really, Chase, the thug act isn’t becoming. I expect that out of Hunter, but never from you. Don’t let that Black girl ruin the good head on your shoulders.”
I lunge again, and Hunter pushes me back, stepping to his uncle.“You might be family, but I won’t hesitate to shut your mouth for you if you won’t shut the fuck up.”
“That’s enough!” Kendall booms from the door. “Boys, go for a walk.” We don’t move, watching as he saunters up to William, leans in close, and sneers a few words before turning around and pointing to us. “Go. Cool off,” he says, before strolling back into the house.
Hunter pushes me toward the stairs leading to the beach, but not before I hear my mom saying, “William, you disagreeable son of a?—”
“Bruh, since when do you get into fistfights with old men?” Hunter asks, his hand on my shoulder like he’s worried I’ll try to make a break for it.
“You didn’t hear what he said… He’s foul. Disgusting.”
“I heard enough, and you know he’s like this. Why’d you let him rile you up?”
“Did Kayla hear any of it?”
“Naw, your mom is the stealth queen. She grabbed me when she saw what was happening outside. Then she had Avery get my dad. Last I saw, Kayla and Artie were busy bonding over music.”
“Good. I don’t want her to hear any of that shit.”
