Back to Us: Episode 2 – Duane
DUANE
“Malik, my man,” I said as I closed the space between my young customer and me. I flashed a smile at the woman sitting beside him. “And Mom. My two favorite customers.”
She blushed while Malik wore the biggest smile.
“Xav came into my office telling me you got a dilemma and needed my expertise.” I stopped in front of Malik and his mother. “What are you ruminating on?”
“Ruminating?” Malik asked, his eyes briefly squinting off into the distance.
I grinned. “You know the rules.” I pointed at him. “If you don’t know what a word means…?”
“I ask or I go look it up,” he finished.
“Aight.” I tapped his chest playfully, and he chuckled. “And I can tell you, but if I tell you…?”
“Then I don’t get a discount on my purchase today for being proactive and guessing what the word means then going home to look it up after I leave.”
“Exactly.” I clapped my hands once. “Now, you guessed the meaning of the word panache correctly the last time you were here and got your little discount for that day. Let’s keep that fun going, partner.”
He nodded, his smile still in place.
I gestured at him. “What do you think ruminating means?”
“Hmmm…” His eyes were scanning the floor beneath his feet before he focused on me again. “Thinking?”
I smiled. “Yes, very good.”
Malik pumped the air a couple of times, making his mother laugh.
“Good job, Lik,” she whispered.
“Aight, cool. So, you got 20% off whatever you want today. What’s up?” I pointed at the two sneaker boxes on the floor. “What you trying to decide on?”
I was at my home away from home—The Sneaker Vault. My sneaker store in Rose Hill, NY. Though I decided to go away to school in the South after graduating high school, no matter what I did down there, I couldn’t quite make a home.
“I can’t decide if I want to get the Yeezys or the Jordans this time,” Malik said.
I held my arms out wide at my sides. “Well, you’re talking to the right one. Let’s break this down.” I pointed at the Jordans box. “First, we’ve got the Jordan 1 Retro High OGs in Black and Red—the Breds.” I made a gesture of a chef’s kiss. “An absolute classic.”
Malik snickered.
“These have been a staple since ’85—way before your time—but the colorway is iconic, little homie. MJ rocked these during his rookie season. They’ll never, ever go out of style.”
Malik peeked down at the box. “Yeah, I love the story behind those. But what about the Yeezys?”
“First, good eye on these. The Yeezy 350 V2s.” I whistled while shaking my head. “This colorway, ‘Zebra,’ is one of the most sought-after designs. I can’t keep them on the shelf, and a lot of out-of-town visitors drive all the way to Rose Hill just to get what we have in stock.”
“Word?”
I nodded. “Word.”
Talking sneakers was my forte. I’d always had an affinity for them, starting when I was a kid growing up in Brooklyn. By the time I moved out to Rose Hill as a teenager, set to start my freshman year in the middle of the school year, I brought so many sneakers with me from Brooklyn, I had to sell some. And that started my love of selling sneakers—from Rose Hill locals to sneakerheads online to the brick-and-mortar store I opened down South. But ultimately, I moved the business back to the one place that always felt like home: Rose Hill.
“The Yeezys are comfortable, versatile, and a conversation starter.” I crouched down to pick up the left shoe. “I mean, look at them.”
“Oh, I’m looking,” Malik said.
I laughed, returning the sneaker to the box.
Malik reminded me a lot of myself when I was sixteen—eager for a new pair of sneakers every time one dropped. I had a deal with my parents: If I kept my grades up, I could have as many sneakers as I wanted.
Malik had the same deal with his mother, which was why they were always in my store whenever he got straight As on his report card or aced a big exam.
“Ye really changed the game with this silhouette—it’s sleek and futuristic. But…” I leaned in slightly, checking around to make sure no one else was listening. “Between you and me, if you’re thinking long-term value, the Jordans are a safer bet. Feel me? They’re timeless and will always have a place in sneaker culture.”
“Okay,” Malik’s mom chimed in. “These ain’t cheap, Duane. No offense.”
I held a hand up. “None taken.”
“Which ones are better for everyday wear?” she asked, pressing a hand to her chest. “Because you know that’s what I’malways interested in.”
I nodded. “As you should be, Mom.”
“At this price, he’ll probably want to wear whichever one he picks to school and everywhere else,” she added. “Not just keep them in a box like some kind of trophy. Not at that price.”
I gestured at her and smiled. “I feel you, and that’s why you’re my favorite mom, Mom. You keep it real, always.”
She giggled, her caramel skin showing a hint of red as she blushed.
“That’s a great question your mom asked,” I said to Malik before returning my attention to her. “If comfort is the priority, the Yeezys win. The Boost cushioning feels like walking on clouds. But if Malik wants a shoe that makes a statement and holds up no matter how much he wears them, the Jordans have unmatched durability and flair.”
“Man,” Malik said with a sigh. “This is hard.” His eyes moved to me, attention fixed. “What do you think I should get, Duane?”
“Honestly?” I started.
“Always,” Malik replied.
I winked. “You can’t go wrong with either one. But here’s my take: If this is your first big sneaker purchase—which it is, since them grades were shining on your last report card—” I held out my hand for a dap, and Malik eagerly obliged with a smile. “Go with the Jordans.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.” I nodded. “They are a foundation piece for any collection. Then, you know, do some chores around the house, go to school, and slam-dunk some extra credit to keep them As where they’re at. Then, maybe your mom will save up for the Yeezys—they’ll be a great addition later.”
Malik’s mother nodded her approval, her attention moving to her son.
“Yeah,” Malik said, “I think I’m gonna go with the Jordans then.”
I patted Malik on the shoulder. “Solid choice, my guy.” I held out my fist for a bump, and Malik obliged. “Welcome to the Jordan family. I’ll have Xav grab you a fresh pair from the back in your size. I’ll let Tasha know to give you that discount we discussed at the register.”
“Thanks, Duane,” Malik’s mother said as I started to walk away.
“Don’t mention it.” I pointed at Malik. “Make me proud, Malik. Keep doing your thing at school. I love hearing about it!”
“Will do,” Malik replied.
“Oh.” I stopped mid-stride and turned to face them again. “Remember to keep the box and tissue paper. It keeps the value up if you ever want to resell.”
Malik nodded. “I will.”
“Aye, Xav,” I called to one of my store employees. “Grab Malik another box of the Jordan 1 Retro High OGs in his size and take it to the register, please.”
“No problem,” Xav replied, heading toward the back.
“It’ll be at the register, y’all,” I said to Malik and his mother, pressing my hands together in a gesture of thanks. “Thank you for your business, always.”
“And thank you for always being amazing, Duane!” his mother said in return.
I waved at a few of the customers browsing as I made my way to the back, headed toward my office.
I had a call to make to a community event organizer who was helping me with my third annual sneaker drive here in Rose Hill. The past two years had been a success when I decided to host it at The Sneaker Vault, so bringing it back was a no-brainer.
I was only a few steps from my office door when I heard, “Ayo, Duane, Trey’s here.”
I glanced over my shoulder before turning completely to see my friend Trey holding up an arm in greeting, his face split in a smile.
I chuckled to myself, quickly deciding the phone call to the event organizer could wait.
Trey had become a good friend to me since he started dating a mutual acquaintance of ours, Serenity. She and I weren’t exactly close—we were more like friends by association since I dated her good friend Diana all through high school.
As soon as I closed the space between Trey and me, I held out my hand for a dap, which he met before pulling me into a hug.
“I ain’t seen you in a minute,” I said, stepping out of the embrace. I glanced at my wrist to sneak a peek at the time. “Shouldn’t you be at Bellyful?”
“I’mma head there right after this,” he replied, his eyes doing a quick scan of the store. “You got a minute?”
“For sure.” I patted his chest, then gestured at one of the sneaker walls. “You here for sneakers, or…?”
“Nah, I’m here with news,” he said, grinning.
“Damn.” I leaned back to get a better look at him. “You cheesing mad hard, showing all your back teeth and whatnot.”
Trey tossed his head back, laughing.
“What news?” I asked, smiling back. “Do we need doors for this?”
Trey rubbed his hands together. “I mean… that would be nice.”
“Oh.” My brows shot up. “Okay, aight, come on.”
When Serenity and Trey started dating, his presence became a staple in Rose Hill.
Just like Malik reminded me of myself when I was younger, Trey reminded me of who I was when I first moved to Rose Hill.
He fit right in. Chilling on the streets, chatting with locals, running Bellyful solo most days—especially now that they had another location in New Jersey.
It was like he’d always been here.
We were in my office in no time, and before I could even fully close the door, Trey was already sharing his news.
“Serenity and I have set a wedding date.”
I whipped around to face him. “Stop lying.”
He chuckled. “Why are all y’all giving the same shocked reaction?”
“Because we’ve only been waiting 100 years for y’all to do the damn thing, is all.” I walked behind my desk, pulling out my chair and taking a seat. “So, when is it?”
“You gotta come to the party on Valentine’s Day to find out.” He smirked. “That’s why I’m here. To invite you to it.”
I shrugged lightly. “Party on Valentine’s Day, okay. And what if I had plans?”
“Oh, you do—plans to attend the party we’re throwing at Bellyful.”
I snorted a laugh. “Aight, man.”
“Because I know your ass don’t got no plans, D.”
I kissed my teeth. “Yeah, aight.”
“And if you did,” he added, gesturing at me, “it wouldn’t be a problem for you to bring your date. But that would probably make things a little awkward when you see Diana there too.”
I immediately sat up in my seat. “She… she gon’ be there? Diana said she’s gonna be at the party?”
He nodded, still wearing a smile. “She already confirmed with Serenity, according to Serenity.”
I leaned back in my chair, running my fingers along my facial hair. “Hmph.”
“How you feel about that?” Trey asked. “Diana being there?”
I glanced up at him to find him wearing a cunning smirk.
I shook my head. “Nigga, please get that look off your face.”
Trey burst out laughing, the sound filling my office.
Trey and I connected on a lot of things, one of which was being from the same borough in New York City. He got my inside jokes and understood references to shit only a Brooklynite would know about. Though life in Rose Hill was great, it felt good to have a little bit of Brooklyn here with me too.
“That’s crazy, ‘cause,” I began. “I haven’t seen her, technically, in years.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Trey nodded. “Serenity told me. Told me all about you two. So, I’m all caught up.”
“I bet you are.” I shook my head. “I saw Diana passing in front of the store once. Almost ran out to speak with her,” I admitted. “But it just seems like in this small-ass city, we keep missing each other.”
“Well, y’all can’t miss each other on Wednesday.” He clapped his hands once. “So, everything starts at 7 p.m. Come dressed to impress—hottest everything. We about to live it up. This is obviously an event you can’t miss.”
“Oh, no doubt.” I stood, holding out my hand for a dap, which Trey met with a grin. “Because we’ve been waiting centuries for news like this, for real.”
Trey kissed his teeth. “Make people wait three years for a wedding, and they act like it’s been forever.”
I chuckled.
“Anyway, let me head to the bistro.” He gave me a head nod. “You chill. I’ll see my way out.”
It was a good thing he did because I needed a moment to digest not only the news of him and Serenity finally making things official but also the prospect of finally seeing Diana again.
I’d been wanting to see her for the longest time, ever since finding out she was back in Rose Hill a few years ago.
Honestly, I’d been looking forward to reconnecting with her ever since I learned she’d returned, but somehow, we just hadn’t crossed paths.
I’d run into just about everyone else I knew from high school over the years—everyone except her.
That would finally change on Valentine’s Day, thanks to our friends.
I was looking forward to it… and I was a little nervous too.
“This is gonna be interesting,” I said to myself.
I tried like hell to get my head straight after Trey told me about the wedding announcement party and the prospect of seeing Diana again, but I couldn’t.
The idea of her being there stuck in my mind through my phone call with the community organizer and even as I went to check on the stock levels for the limited-edition sneakers we’d gotten in a few days ago.
No matter what I did, all my thoughts centered around one thing…
I wonder if she’s seeing anyone.
A New Episode Of Back To Us Will Be Sent And Posted Monday, December 2nd!
Have you visited Rose Hill yet? Discover the story that started it all! In Love, I Trust is part of the Rose Hill series, capturing the journeys of characters falling in love in this charming New York town. Meet Serenity and Trey before they were a couple, trading witty banter in an online comment section 🤭.
Welcome to Rose Hill.
Have you ever experienced something so amazing that you convinced yourself it was too good to be true?
Serenity Payne continues to psych herself out with love. She’s consistently dress-rehearsed disappointment with her heart since she was thirteen. For years, Serenity has lived vicariously through other people’s love lives, and doing so has made her a pessimist.
But that outcome changes when she meets Trevon “Trey” Everest online.
Trey knows what he wants from love and is confident he’s ready to have and maintain the best of it with someone special. He’s traveled the world, has a fulfilling career, and has supportive friends and family. Now, he desires a genuine love of a lifetime that’s enduring and worth the effort of building something authentic… and he’s sure he’s found it in Serenity.
But, there’s a problem.
Serenity’s pessimism challenges Trey’s optimism in the worst way, and the solution to their problem will require Serenity to do the one thing she refuses to do with men… release control and trust.
