stepped inside.
âAre you busy?â he asked.
âNaw, man. Iâve been waiting to hear from you. Why didnât you call me?â I asked, closing the door behind him. We stepped down into the sunken living room, and Jaylin took a seat on the couch. I sat on the arm of a chair that was across from him.
âI didnât call, because they only allowed me one phone call. Of course, I had to call Frick.â
âWhat took so damn long? Normally, Frick have a brotha in and out.â
âYeah, well, he did get me the fuck out of there. Iâve been drinking and sleeping in my car and shit. This mess got me all fucked up, and I donât know if Iâm coming or going. I also think Frick is tripping because heâs Feliciaâs attorney, too. Iâm not sure how all of this shit gonâ work out, but if need be, I might have to call another attorney, Jonathan, to take care of this mess for me.â
âI donât think youâll have to do that. Frick has been your attorney for a very long time, and Iâm positive heâll dump Felicia and her case in a heartbeat. Besides, when it comes to him, money talks and bullshit walks.â
âYeah, weâll see. Iâm supposed to meet with him sometime tomorrow. For now, though, I need a couple shots of Rémy, some pain relievers, a phone, and a bed. Do you think you can help a brotha out?â
I stood up and slammed my hand against Jaylinâs. âConsider it done. The Rémy and phone can be found at the wet bar to your left, Iâll go get your aspirin, and the bed in my guest room awaits you.â
Jaylin nodded and scooted back on the couch. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. I walked back to my bedroom and saw that Scorpio had gotten out of bed. When I looked in my bathroom, she stood naked by the Jack-and-Jill sinks, splashing water on her face. I opened the closet next to her and reached for the aspirin.
âAre you all right?â I asked as I watched her dab her face with a towel.
She combed her long hair back with her fingers and smiled. âIâm fine. Why did you ask?â
âBecause you look a little flushed, thatâs all.â
She sighed. âHonestly, Iâm not too thrilled about seeing Jaylin. I know that a part of him is upset with me for what happened at Davenports, and if I wouldnât have ever put you and him into such a compromising position, then maybe none of this would be going on.â
I moved Scorpio between my legs and wrapped my arms around her. âThe last thing I need is for you to blame yourself for this mess. All of us could have done things differently, and thereâs no one in particular to blame. Okay?â
She nodded, and I lifted her lowered chin. I gave her a peck on the lips and told her to get dressed so we could go.
âOh, so I see those hunger pains are calling.â
âNo doubt. Music, food, and something to drink sounds awfully good right about now.â
âI concur,â she said and then headed over to the shower.
When I got back into the living room, Jaylin had dozed off. I tapped his shoulder, and he slowly sat up.
âMan, if youâre that tired, why donât you get comfortable and go lay down in the guest room?â
He held out his hand for the aspirin, and I gave them to him. âThanks,â he said as he shot the aspirin to the back of his throat. Seeing that he hadnât made himself a drink, I walked over to the wet bar and poured it for him. I handed the glass to him, and the Rémy was gone within seconds. Jaylin cleared his throat. âPlease break me off another shot. I feel as if I need to be completely put out of my misery.â
I poured him another drink. âHave you called Nokea yet?â
âNo. I donât know what to say to her. Sheâs already upset with me, and once she finds out how much more trouble Iâve gotten myself into, I really donât