Page 38 of Beacon Grove Chronicles 1: Hassan & Sylvia

“Yes, sir.” He pulled out his phone and checked with his mama and we climbed out of the car while he waited on the answer. We got seated and ordered by the time Sisi hit him back.

“She said yes.”

I nodded because I knew Sisi had noticed his appearance but didn’t want to make him feel bad. “Bet. I text Cass and he let me know that we can swing through and take priority whenever we get there.”

“I’m not a Beacon.”

“Nah, but you rolling with one. Those privileges extend to my people. You saying you not my people?”

“No! I mean, I am.” He’d damn near shouted that no but was quick to play it cool when he remembered himself.

“That’s what I thought. Let’s grub and then head out to see him. He already said he can’t wait to meet you.”

He pointed to himself so innocently I had to wonder what the fuck was wrong with that nigga Dave. “Meet me?”

“Yeah.”

“How does he even know me?”

“You think I don’t be talking about you with my people? C’mon man. You gotta know me better than that.”

Dorian grinned again and the light coming in the window dimmed in comparison. “That’s cool.”

“Bet. Let’s grub before I gotta hear his mouth later.”

“Maybe we should bring him something to eat.”

That was thoughtful as fuck cause I sure as fuck hadn’t thought about feeding Casanova’s ass but the kid had a point.

“You right. I’ll ask him what he wants and we can take it to him so he don’t have nothing to say. Good thinking, D.”

His face lit up and he didn’t bother trying to do that cool teenager shit. It let me know that he needed to hear praise from a male figure more often and I was happy to be in that position for him. “Thank you.”

The food was sat down between us and I tossed him hand sanitizer since it was clear he wasn’t thinking about germs.

“No problem, man. After your cut we gotta make sure your mama and your sister are taken care of too. We can’t be good if the women in the house aren’t, right?” I was happy that he was thinking of Cass but he also shouldn’t take his mother and sister for granted and I needed to impress upon him they came first. I was sure his bitch ass daddy wasn’t going to.

He was nodding but eyeing the pizza like a starved man. “Yes sir.”

I smiled and handed him a plate because I knew he wasn’t going to hear shit else I had to say until he got his stomach right.

“Bet. Let’s eat.”

“You sure he’s good?”

One thing I admired most about Sisi was she was a good ass mama. That stemmed from her being a good person but those kids and their mental was always at the front of her mind.

She was pacing in front of me and I was getting a headache from watching her move back and forth in front of me.

“Sisi, he’s good, baby, I promise. We talked. He got edged up and chopped it up with Cass. He looked fresh as shit and had his chest poked out. Trust me, it was a good day.”

I was leaned back on my elbows at the edge of the bed enjoying the view. We’d had dinner delivered to her and Selene while we were at the barbershop and by the time we made it back both kids were winding down. Dorian kept talking about hanging out with the men at the shop and Cass had spoken to him about earning some pocket change by sweeping up in the shop when he didn’t have practice. That made his day and I swore Casanova was his new hero.

Fuck nigga taking my shine.

Sisi stopped pacing and let her shoulders drop but her face was still tense. “I still have to address what he said about his dad.” She was already in her night clothes and the way I knew she was naked up this sleep shirt had me ready to take her down.

“No we gone address it cause he got the youngin’ fucked up. Wasn’t nobody out there waiting with him and I ain’t about to let that shit slide.” I was getting angry thinking about that shit all over again. When I looked up Sisi was looking starry eyed and I wondered what the fuck was up.