Page 19 of I Love to Hate You
Simon’s expression changes, hardening as he turns to face the entrance. “Get out of here with all of that, Kendrick.”
“What are you talking about? If I can’t land a job after I graduate—which plenty of people don't—then I need something to come back to. I need to be able to eat, bro.”
“You’re gonna be fine.”
“We don't know that, though, Simon.”
“And what if I get locked up?” Simon asks, making my muscles ice over. “You see? Even after all of that schooling, you're still not thinking straight. You get too caught up in how easy it looks. Me? I know better. I’m aware of how this game could end for me. I could be dead or in jail before you ever have a chance to walk across the stage at your graduation. I do what I do because Ihaveto. There’s no way out for me. There’s no yearbook with my face in it, let alone a degree with my name on it. So I do what I gotta do by exercising the options I’m given. You have better options, so stop trying to fit into a life you’ve outgrown. How long do you have until graduation?”
I sigh. “Not even two weeks.”
“Did you pass that one final yet?”
“Nah, but it’s coming up soon, though.
“Good. Focus on that. Keep your head on straight and make sure you reach the finish line, all right?”
Admittedly, I’m as stubborn as they come, but I manage to nod my head. “Yeah.”
A few minutes goes by with Simon and I doing nothing more than making fun of people. We forget about the troubles ailing Strawberry Mansion and the drama surrounding my life at Temple U, and give all of our attention to the innocent people walking through the food court. It’s a nice break from it all, and I try to cherish the moments like this because I know Simon is right. We never know when something might happen that could take him away. So I don't bring up the future again. I stay in the moment and let time pass with our laughter.
“Look at this dude over here,” Simon says, gesturing to the entrance with a nod of his head.
I follow his gaze and immediately know who he’s talking about. “Oh, my man has to be rich. There’s no way he’s pulling her without being rich.”
“How old do you think he is? Eighty?” Simon quips.
“You’re probably not too far off, but his girl looks our age.”
“I’m not even mad at him, though. His sugar daddy game is strong, and I respect that.”
I laugh as the sliding doors part again. “You have to respect a great grandparent with strong sugar daddy vibes. When I get that old … shit.”
Simon turns his gaze from the odd couple to me. “What’s the matter?”
At first, I’m not sure if I’m seeing correctly. I even lean over to get around a woman blocking my view, and when I do, I realize I’m not confused.
“You remember that girl I was talking about? Maya?” I say, still watching the door.
“Yeah. Why?”
I let out an exhale as the picture becomes perfectly clear. “She just walked in.”
Fifteen
~ KENDRICK~
“Damn, bro, that’s her?” Simon asks in astonishment as we stare at the door. “Who’s that she’s clinging to?”
My eyes fall from Maya’s face down to her hands, and sure enough, I see she’s clutching someone pale with a backwards hat covering messy blond hair that refuses to hide beneath the cover. Yellow strands stick out in all directions, but the hat and hair are not a surprise because they match his entire vibe. His T-shirt is oversized and hanging off his frail body, as are his black sweatpants. I’m not one hundred percent sure he’s not wearing pajamas, and everything about him stands in complete contrast to Maya.
On his arm, she’s eye candy—a trophy wife shrouded in elegance and intimidation, and seeing the two of them together fills my vision with question marks. While he’s draped in sleepwear, Maya is rocking tan cargo pants that are tight on her hips and thighs, with a lace, black top that puts the skin on her stomach on display. Her hair falls in wavy curls to the side, cascading like a waterfall over one shoulder, and her black heels tie it all together. Every man she passes takes a second to glance at her, even if their girl is next to them, but the guy Maya is with doesn’t seem to notice or care. Not that I give a fuck, but if she were mine, I would never allow such disrespect.
“I guess it’s her boyfriend,” I finally reply to Simon, who’s staring just as hard as every other guy in the food court.
“Him?” Simon jokes, pointing with his thumb as Maya and her boyfriend go strolling by, oblivious to the attention she garners. “Hey, bro, I know you said you don’t like this girl, but she’s fine as fuck. How the hell is that her boyfriend?”
I suck my teeth. “She’s all right, I guess, and I have no idea how that’s her man. It makes sense now that they were sitting together in that marketing and advertising class. I didn’t realize they were together.”
