Three hours. That's how long Cassius had sat outside the church debating on if he should go inside or wait until service was over. He has flicked the radio on and off countless times just looking for something to do, he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and sang lowly under his breath to made up songs in his head. Finally people started to exit out of the building.
He started to sweat when he realized he was going to see Riley. That's where the problem was. He hadn't thought this plan all the way through. He's here, he sees her, now what's next? He can't possibly walk up to her and start a conversation. Or can he? She might go off and start cursing him out like she didn't just walk out of church fifteen minutes ago.
Cassius started out the front window, squinting his eyes at the crowds of people. Julius came running out with two other little boys his age and Cassius jumped out the car, heading his way without even thinking twice. "Daddy!" J stopped the game of freeze tag he had joined in with his church friends and ran up to his dad that was dressed semi-appropriately for church yet he didn't even go inside. "Why are you here?"
Cassius hugged J and patted his back. "Came here for you and your brother. Thought y'all might want to go get something to eat after church."
"Cai isn't here. He stayed with mommy."
Damn, Cassius cursed to himself. A young man walking past noticed King and instantly grew excited. "King??? Is it you? Is it really you?" He exclaimed, almost having half the mind to bow down and kiss his feet. Cassius looked at him blankly, hoping he would keep his voice down because these church members could most likely snitch. "You know, when you got locked up my people said you wasn't coming back. But I knew you was man, can't no bars hold you back. Seattle needed you."
Cass simply nodded while Julius held on to his pant's leg, both of them looking at the talkative man in front of them. "I'm glad to see you. Especially here at my grandmama church and everything. Wait til I tell the big homies this." He slapped his hands together, a bright smile on his face.
Scanning him up and down, Cassius took in his red and white stripped American Eagle button downed shirts that was tucked in a pair of khaki pants with some fake gators. He was dressed like a preppy college kid until you took in the plethora of meaningless tattoos streaming out of his sleeves. The man grinned at Cassius and shook his head lightly, still in shock his "idol" was in front of him. "Man oh man... you think you could put me down with that little business you got out in Tacoma?"
"What the hell you talking about?" Cassius finally spoke, his hands out in confusion. The man cleared his throat awkwardly and fidgeted.
"Uh... the business you doing with Darius and Ryan in Tacoma.... I tried to talk to Ryan to put me on but he wasn't listening to me." And neither am I, Cassius almost said but didn't as he watched Riley's mother stare at him in shock across the parking lot.
"This your son?" He nodded down at Julius and Cassius looked back at the man before confirming. "Aww that's what's up. See I got three boys, they a hand full too. Lost my job recently and I'm just tryna make some fast money so they can eat right and be right."
Cassius was honestly tired of hearing the man speak so he decided to make his wish come true. "How bout this.... you go see Ryan again and tell him I recommended you. What's your name again, blood?"
"Elroy."
"Elroy." Cassius repeated knowing he was going to purposely forget by the time he left this church. "You look young. I know a nigga named Rome that can help you out, he manage a gym I own downtown. Go check him out, tell him I sent you."
"Oh my... thank you! Thank you! You really do make dreams come true man. You the Walt Disney in the hood." Elroy beamed wanting to embrace him in a hug but didn't want to risk overstepping any boundaries.
Elroy peered down at Julius who had been quiet the whole time, his fist still holding on to his father. "You the heir to the throne... Mind if I get a autograph? He can write, right?" He asked King the last question and King scrunched his face up, getting annoyed. "Just wait ten years from now, you gonna be my boss and my kid's boss. That shit crazy. Look I gotta pen in my mama purse. If I find her, he can sign something for me?"
"Man get the fuck outta here." Cassius spat and Elroy quickly scrammed. He wasn't stupid.
Ray was now coming his way as she ducked and dodged through the rising traffic of everyone leaving the church grounds. Because of the many moving cars, Cassius grabbed up Julius and held him in his arms. He was too old to be held but Cassius would rather hold him then him getting hit by a car.
"What are you, Satan himself, doing here?" Ray's greeting made Cassius laugh.
"Came for my boys. Where is the other one?"
"With his mother... You never get them from church. I always drop them off at your home." Ray looked at him weirdly and started to fish through her purse for her keys. Riley and Caius was meeting her and J at Red Lobster. "Did something come up or happen?"
Cassius thought of what to say for a split second then shook his head no. "I was going to take them somewhere to meet someone but since Cai isn't here. I'll just let you take him." He lied, placing Julius back on his feet. "I'll see you tonight J." He waved and nearly ran back to his car.
Where could Riley be? Where could Riley be? He drove by Ray's house and noticed nobody there so he took a quick U turn to the hotel she stayed in, but would she bring their son there? He stopped his car in front of the hotel and sat still. Please let her be here.
——
"Repeat what I said." Riley pointed her finger at Caius who sat at the edge of the bed. His feet used to swing but now his legs had grew longer and he could touch the floor.
"Don't leave the room, don't touch the phone, don't make loud noises, and I can only watch TV." He repeated in a monotone voice.
Riley smiled and pecked his forehead. "Thank you Cai. Please do what I say. I already don't want to leave you here but I'm just going a few floors down."
"And when you come back we go eat with grandma?"
"Yes." She nodded, and kissed him again. "And if someone comes in here and it's two ladies, tell them your my son. They stay here too. Okay be good for mommy, I'll be quick. I promise. Love you."
She headed for the door and Caius grabbed the remote, flipping through channels and stopping at Cartoon Network. "Love you too mama." When the door clicked close automatically locking he switched the channel again. To the station he and Julius had discovered once before when they had stayed over. When Ben 10 had left the television screen and was replaced with HD lesbian porn, he sat back and placed his hands behind his head, a sly smirk on his face.
Riley had entered the fifth floor elevator at the same as when Cassius entered one of the lobby's elevators. She waited patiently as it went a couple more floors up as did Cassius. They both got off at the same time on their designated floor walking to the room number they had memorized. They both knocked twice on room 148 awaiting for the door to be opened.
On the fifth floor, Caius jumped at the sound. He quickly pressed the "last" feature on the remote leading him back to the cartoon and got up to answer the door. "Who is it?" He made his voice deeper to try and scare any trespassers away. "Nigga open the door." He heard his father say and his eyes lit up as he quickly let him in.
On the seventh floor, Malakai stood from the bed that he would be renting for thirty minutes to spend with Ri, the natural beauty he'd seen in the ads. He went and opened the door, smiling at her when he seen her. He knew who she was. But Riley didn't remember him.
