JAYLIN
2
I was mad as hell! I specifically went to St. Louis to kill Felicia's ass for the hurt she'd cost my family. She was lucky that all she caught was a major beat down from me. Every blow that I gave her was worth it to me, and if it wasn't for this elderly white woman who entered the elevator and screamed, Felicia very well might be dead. As soon as I left the building, the police were scattered outside, waiting for me. You would have thought that I robbed a bank or murdered a police officer the way they aggressively wrestled me to the ground and cuffed me. I didn't resist, not one bit, because I knew there would be consequences the moment I decided to make my way back to St. Louis. The only thing I didn't know was that I'd be stuck in this hellhole of a jail cell for hours.
When I called my attorney, Frick, he had the nerve to remind me that he was Felicia's attorney, too. Now, I'd been the one who introduced them, and it was because of me that he became her attorney. Basically, I told him that if he didn't get his ass to this jailhouse to get me, I'd make sure he was out of business for good. He hesitated but then said he was on his way.
That was many hours ago, so I spent those hours thinking about my wife, Nokea, and my kids. The last person I wanted to call was her. When I left, she knew how angry I was. She begged me not to go and told me it would all work itself out. Of course, I didn't listen. The only thing on my mind was killing Felicia for causing Nokea to lose our baby. Nokea didn't deserve any of this, and whenever anyone hurt her, they hurt me.
Felicia had no idea that the tape she mailed of Scorpio teasing the shit out of Shane and me took Nokea's and my child away from us. Not only that, but the hurt I saw in Nokea's eyes when the doctor told her she might not be able to have any more kids from the bad fall she'd taken, it was a look I'd never forget. All I wanted to do was protect her. And through my own mistakes in our marriage, I failed. A huge part of me was angry at myself for bringing this bullshit to my home. It very well could've been prevented, but because of Felicia's stupidity, I wasn't sure if Nokea would ever truly forgive me.
I stood with my hands in my pockets and lightly tapped the back of my head against the wall with my eyes closed. My torn suit jacket was folded across my arm, and my white, wrinkled shirt with missing buttons revealed my chest. All of my expensive jewelry had been placed in a plastic bag, and the officer took it, along with my wedding ring. I opened my eyes and looked at my ring finger. I rubbed my finger around the tanned line from my wedding band, thinking deeply of Nokea. I wanted to go home so badly. I wanted to hold her in my arms, and I wished like hell that none of this had happened. I thought of my kids, and my throat started to ache. I knew they were missing me, just as much as I missed them.
My eyelids felt heavy, so I closed my eyes to fight my emotions. Shortly after, the brotha who was in the same holding cell with me cleared his throat.
“What are you in for?” he asked in a feminine tone.
I ignored him, keeping my eyes closed.
He cleared his throat again. “Pretty boy, did you hear me? I asked what you were in here for.”
I slowly opened my sore red eyes and stared at him. Then, I spoke calmly. “None of your motherfuckin' business. Now, don't say shit else to me.”
The faggot fool started fanning himself. “Whew, it's getting awfully hot in here. I just asked you a simple question. You don't have to get all ugly about it, wit yo fine self.”
I eased myself away from the wall and slowly walked in his direction. I tossed my Brooks Brothers jacket over my shoulder and placed my hands back inside of my pockets. As I neared him, he smiled. I stood a few feet away from him, sniffing myself.
“Do you smell that?” I asked.
He took a few sniffs and put his hand on his hip. “Smell what? I don't smell anything, but I sure as hell see something I can work with. Besides, what is it that I'm supposed to be smelling?”
I sniffed myself again, leaned my face close to his, and spoke sternly. “Pussy. If you get a tad bit closer to me, you might get a whiff of some good-ass pussy I had last night. I wear it quite often because I crave the fragrance. More than anything, the scent is to remind assholes like you not to approach me in such an offensive way. Now, I'm gon' go back over there and mind my own business. If you don't want to get fucked up in here, I suggest you not say shit else to me, all right?”
The brotha folded his arms and tooted his lips. No sooner had I turned and walked away than he opened his mouth.
“Wooo-whew! That backside sholl look good to me!”
I tried, but I couldn't control my anger. Before I knew it, I had him by his collar and had pulled him up from the bed.
“Did you hear what the fuck I said? I will kill you, fool!”
Just then, three officers came rushing into the holding cell. They couldn't wait to rough me up again, and one of them slammed me hard against the wall. He held his black stick close to my face and yelled, “You'd better calm your ass down, boy!”
I breathed heavily. “You'd better get that stick away from my fucking face. And as for being your
boy,
if you touch me again, I'm gon' show you what getting your ass kicked from a man feels like.”
He continued to hold the stick close to my face and smiled. When I heard a whistle and turned my head to the side, it was Frick. He calmly strutted in, dressed to impress with a leather briefcase by his side. His salt-and-pepper gray hair was neatly combed back, and his black-framed glasses covered his olive green eyes. He walked right into the cell and stood next to the officer who held the stick next to my face.
“I promise you that the NAACP would be here in an instant.” He grabbed the officer's shoulder and squeezed it. “Mr. Rogers and I know of many important people in very high places. Trust me, you don't want this situation to get ugly. Put the stick down and allow my client and me to leave peacefully. His bond has been paid, so if there's nothing further, we'd like to go.”
The officer lowered the stick and mumbled something underneath his breath as he exited. It sounded like he called me a nigga. It was confirmed when Frick rolled his eyes and the faggot fool covered his mouth.
“Nigga?” I said, as Frick already had his hand on my chest to hold me back. “You son of a bitch! I should kick your racist ass for disrespecting me! You are lucky that we are on your turf and not mine!”
The officer turned around. “Is that a threat?”
“It sounded like one to me,” the faggot brother weighed in.
Frick stood face-to-face with me and pointed his finger. “Jaylin, don't say anything else to incriminate yourself. There's a better way of handling this, but I need you to keep your mouth shut. He's working you, man. Don't you get it? All he wants to do is pick a fight with you, and believe me when I tell you that in this fucking place, he's going to win. Now, get your jacket off the floor and let's go.”
I knew what Frick said was right, but as usual, my anger got the best of me. I snatched my jacket from the floor and followed behind Frick as he left the cell. As soon as the officer closed the bars, the faggot rushed up to them.
“Good-bye, handsome. I ain't never seen a light-skinned man as fine as you, and I regret not being able to twirl my fingers through your trimmed curly hair. Wait until I tell the boys what I done missed out on! Damn!”
I turned, but again, Frick told me to ignore him. I was able to maintain my composure, until I asked for my bag of jewelry and everybody seemed to be suffering from amnesia.
“Are you sure you gave it to them?” Frick asked.
I didn't respond but gave Frick a devious stare. All jokes aside, somebody was about to get fucked up. I wasn't sure if it was going to be Frick for not believing me or the officers, who for damn sure knew where my jewelry was. Aside from my expensive Rolex, my diamond and gold cuff links, and my gold roped bracelet, the simple gold band Nokea gave to me on our wedding day was priceless.
I looked at Frick with hostility in my eyes and rubbed my goatee. “Within thirty seconds, I'm about to catch a major case. Please, call my wife and tell her that I love her and my kids.”
Frick looked away and slammed his briefcase hard on the officer's desk. He opened it, pulled out his cell phone, and placed it up to his ear. He frowned at the officers, who seriously thought the shit was funny.
“Fellas, I really tried to work with you on this one. Calling my client a nigger is one thing, but property theft is another. I seriously hope you all have other employment opportunities.” Frick held the phone closer to his ear. “Uh, Mandy, get me to the mayor's office. Tell him I'm on hold and that I need to speak with him pronto.” He paused and then yelled, “Yes! Right now!”
Within seconds, the mystery bag somehow showed up. Frick snatched it off the officer's desk and handed it to me.
“Does your wife have any idea how insane you are?” he asked. He then closed his phone, turned to the officers, and gritted his teeth.
“Please, stop the nonsense. It's cops like you all who give good cops a bad name. If you can't handle your fucking job on a professional level, then give it to somebody else who can.”
Frick grabbed his briefcase, and on that note, I smirked and followed behind him. When we got outside, it was a bit chilly, so I slid back into my torn jacket.
“We need some one-on-one time, Jaylin. Not tonight, because it's rather late. Anytime tomorrow will work better for me.”
“Tomorrow is fine with me. Besides, I need to go somewhere and clear my head for the night.”
“Can I drop you off somewhere?”
“Naw, my rental car is not too far from here. I can walk.”
“Okay, but be careful. I wouldn't want any of these men to get after you,” he joked, referring to the faggot in jail.
I could barely laugh because there was still so much anger inside of me. “I know you said that we'll talk tomorrow, but my case with Felicia doesn't look too good, does it?”
“Jaylin, I'm not prepared to talk about it just yet. I need to make some phone calls tonight and see what options I have. She's been calling me all day, and I know she's going to want me to represent her. Thing is, the police have a tape that makes you guilty as hell. I'm not sure what I can do to get you out of this mess, but I will put forth my best effort.”
“Hey, do whatever. You got hella connections, and I know you'll do whatever it takes.”
“Yeah, like I did inside. The dial tone on my phone was so loud that I thought the fools heard it. It's not like I couldn't have called the mayor, but I'm sure he was probably at home, resting.”
We both laughed, and after a few more minutes of small talk, Frick jetted and so did I.
SCORPIO
3
Shane was worried about Jaylin, and so was I. I really didn't know what was going on, but when Shane told me that Jaylin was coming back to St. Louis, I knew it was serious. Shane also said that Jaylin was upset with Felicia, but a part of me knew he was upset with me, too, for seducing him and Shane that day. Hell, I didn't know Felicia had cameras in Davenports, and I damn sure didn't think she'd send a CD to Nokea. How stupid was that? But, I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when she saw her loving husband lust for me once again. And the kissâI bet it tore her apart! Nokea needed to know, like everyone else, that Jaylin and I would always have a connection. Maybe it was just sexual, who knows? All I knew was, for now, Shane had my heart, and maybe, just maybe, he'd do what it took to keep it. In the meantime, I had every intention of watching my back, because an angry Jaylin always meant trouble for me.
As usual, Jay's was packed to capacity. My stylists, Bernie and Jamaica, had customers lined up and waiting. Since Deidra always seemed to have the fewest customers, I sat in her chair and waited for her next customer to come. I looked at my watch.
“Deidra, Traci should have been here by now, right?” I asked.
“She's always late. If she was going to be this late, I could have scheduled somebody else in her place.”
Jamaica laughed. “Deidra, please. Traci ain't gon' show up. The last time she was here, you fucked that poor woman's hair up! Had her looking like an old man with a tangled and tinted weave.”
Everybody laughed.
“Screw you, Jamaica,” Deidra said. “Traci already looks like a man, and if anything, my style enhanced her looks.”
“I doubt it,” Jamaica said. “Everybody who sits in that chair gets up with a frown on their face. That's with the exception of Scorpio. She over there fantasizing about something, and if I look up one more time and see that smirk on your face, I'm gon' be forced to smack you. Ain't nobody got no business grinning as much as you. If he was that good to you, then you need to tell us about it.”
“I'm not telling you nosy hoochies nothing. Y'all talk too much, and I have learned to keep my business to myself.”
Jamaica cut her eyes at Bernie. “You mean Bernie talks too much. She's the one who told us about Shane sucking you dry in a limousine. Said heâ”
Bernie quickly cut her off. “Jamaica, your mouth is gon' get you a stiletto up your butt. You might have gotten rid of that thuggish gangsta boo who used to knock you upside your head, but don't think I won't pick up where he left off.”
“Whatever, but when all is said and done, didn't you tell everybody about Shane and his freak? Don't be mad at me if the
National Enquirer
wants to use your mouth to spread the word, instead of letting the news be known through a newspaper.”
“Freak?” I said, folding my arms in front of me. “And, just who are you calling a freak?”
Jamaica placed her hand over her mouth. “Ooooh, Miss Boss Lady, did I accidentally call you a freak? I'm sorry. I meant to call you a ...” She paused and stood with her hand on her hip, as if she was in deep thought. “Damn, what did I mean to call you?”
I stood up, smiling as I walked over to her. “Think real hard. And before you answer, remember, it's gon' be a sad day when all of your customers come in here and don't find you here.”
“That's right, Scorpio!” Bernie jokingly yelled. “Check that hussy and throw that B out of here for disrespecting you!”
I turned to Bernie and pointed my finger. “She ain't the only one I need to throw out of here. Both of y'all need to be thrown out of here, and y'all are so lucky that I got much love for y'all.”
“Awwww,” Jamaica whined and held out her arms. “We didn't know you loved us, boo. Come give me a hug.”
I cut my eyes at Jamaica. “You are ridiculously silly.”
She dropped her arms. “And, you are still a freak. Now, gon' back to your office and do some work. I'm trying to finish my customer's hair, and you out here interrupting me.”
“Please,” Jamaica's customer said. “In less than an hour, I'm supposed to be getting ready for my date. I wish you'd hurry up and stop playing around so much.”
“Oh, no, you ain't rushing me to go on a date that will end up being a waste of time. I will toss your butt out of this chair and scream for the next person waiting. Be patient, all right? Just like Deidra being patient for Traci, who obviously isn't going to show.”
Deidra, Gena, and Jamaica started going at it again, so I chuckled and walked back to my office. All in good fun, Jay's had a way of relaxing me, and I truly enjoyed my career.
When I got back to my office, my desk was rather junky, so I sat at my desk, sorting through papers. Almost immediately, my mind got preoccupied with thoughts of Shane and then JaylinâJaylin and then Shane. I wondered if Shane had gotten in touch with Jaylin yet. Curious, I called Shane.
“Hi,” I said.
“Aw, hey, what's up?”
“Sounds like you were waiting on another call. Didn't you see my number on the caller ID?”
“No. The number came up unknown. I thought you were Jaylin. I still haven't heard from him, and I'm a bit worried.”
“Well, if I know Jaylin like I think I do, he's probably somewhere rethinking his visit to St. Louis. Maybe he didn't come, after all.”
“No doubt, he's here. I went to Davenports, and the police told me he'd been arrested.”
“Arrested? For what?”
“I don't know the details.” Shane paused. “Listen, let me call you back. Better yet, why don't you come over tonight?”
“Shane, I've been spending a lot of time at your place. I do need to go home sometimes, you know?”
“Yeah, I know. But, when you're away, I be missing you. I can't help it if you spoiled me. Besides, I want to go somewhere and chill tonight. Have a few drinks and get a bite to eat.”
“That sounds like a plan. I'll see you later.”
By 9:00
P.M.
, Jay's was almost cleared out. Yasing was up front, wrapping up her last pedicure, while Bernie, Jamaica, and I sat in the Jacuzzi room connected to my office, drinking wine.
“This is so relaxing,” Bernie admitted, with her head dropped back on an adjustable lighted pillow.
“Are you talking about the wine or the jets massaging our bodies?” Jamaica asked. “The water feels good, but this wine taste horrible. Scorpio, where did you get this shit from?”
“Girl, please. You don't know good wine when you taste it,” I said, sipping from the glass. The wine left a sweet taste in my mouth and made me slightly tipsy.
Bernie opened her eyes and dabbed her face with a white towel. “I have to agree with Jamaica, Scorpio. That wine is not hitting. After a day like today, don't you have something strong for us to drink?”
I laughed and got out of the hot tub so I could get Jamaica and Bernie something strong to drink. Before going to my liquor cabinet, I dried off with a towel. I wore my hot pink bikini and pulled my wet hair back into a ponytail. Afterward, I covered myself with a cotton robe and made my way up front. Yasing's customer had left, and she was cleaning up her workstation.
“We're in the back, Yasing. Would you like to join us?”
“Oh, no. Yen waiting for me, so I gotta go.”
“Okay. I'll see you tomorrow, and be careful on your way home.” She nodded, and I went over to my liquor cabinet. My eyes searched the numerous bottles of alcohol. The Alizé and Hpnotiq looked doable, so I reached for both bottles. Just for the hell of it, I grabbed three strawberry coolers. Yasing was still cleaning up, and before I headed back to the hot tub, I asked her to lock the door on her way out. She said that she would.
Bernie and Jamaica were cracking up.
“What in the hell is so funny?” I asked, taking off my robe and returning to the hot tub. I gave both of them a wine cooler.
“Girl, I can't stop laughing about Traci not showing up,” Jamaica said. “Deidra was mad as hell, but she seriously needs to rethink her career.”
“I agree,” Bernie added. “She my girl, but Deidra can not do no damn hair. Scorpio, when are you going to be honest with her? You know her customers be leaving here jacked up.”
“First of all, y'all need to stop talking about Deidra, and she ain't even here to defend herself. Secondly, I don't care if Deidra can do hair or not. As long as she pays for her rental space, her inability to do hair is no concern of mine.”
Bernie poured the Alizé in a glass and sipped from it. “Better. Oh, so much better than that cheap wine. But, how can you say that Deidra's problem isn't yours? Don't you realize that how she performs is a reflection on Jay's?”
“I agree,” Jamaica said, guzzling the Hpnotiq from the bottle. “I'm not requesting that you let her go, but send her butt back to hair school or something.”
She and Bernie laughed again.
I ignored both of them and downed the wine cooler. “You two are entitled to your opinions, but Deidra ain't going nowhere. So drop the subject, and we need to hurry up with the drinking so I can get to my manâ”
I paused and looked at Jamaica and Bernie, as their eyes were locked on the glass behind me.
“Don't move,” Jamaica whispered underneath her breath. She rubbed her long braids back with her hand.
“Whatâ”
“I said, don't move. Whatever you do, do not turn around.”
I sat still and nervously looked at Bernie. She had a blank expression on her face, and her eyes remained focused on the glass mirror. “Bernie, what's ... Who's out there?”
“Uh, one fine-ass man. I ... I think it's Jaylin,” she whispered.
I snapped my head to the side and could see him from the side of my eye. I took a hard swallow and put my glass on top of the hot tub. He walked into the steam-filled room and stood with his suit jacket in his hand. His wrinkled white shirt hung out of his pants, and several buttons were undone. I couldn't help but notice his fiery red, glassy eyes and didn't know if he was tired or drunk. Either way, I had to admit that Bernie was rightâhe was one fine motherfucka! Jamaica must have felt the same, and even though we were all speechless, Jamaica soon spoke up.
“May I, myself, help you in any way, shape, form, position, or whatever it is you'd like for me to do?” she asked.
Jaylin didn't say a word. He stared at me, and I could see the frustration on his face.
I quickly spoke up. “Bernie and Jamaica, please give me a minute or two alone with Jaylin. It's obvious that he has something on his mind.”
Bernie and Jamaica started out of the hot tub.
“No need to leave, ladies,” he said. “We can all listen to what I came to say, all right?”
As Jaylin started to undo the remaining buttons on his shirt, Bernie and Jamaica eyeballed me and eased back into the water. All three of us watched as he removed his shirt and tossed it over to a chair. He stepped out of his shoes, and once he reached for the button on his pants, I stood up.
“Jaylin, I don't know why you're here, but whatever youâ”
Jamaica pulled on my arm. “Girl, would you sit down and listen to what the man has to say? You gon' ruin it for all of us.”
“Smart woman,” Jaylin said, continuing to lower his pants. And once they hit the floor, he stood naked in front of us. His tanned body was flawless. The ridges on his six-pack were tight, the muscles in his arms and legs were bulging, and his dick! Have mercy on meâI hadn't seen or felt his dick in quite some time. The thickness and length made my mouth water, and seeing it brought back good memories.
Jamaica picked up the bottle of Hpnotiq, gulping it down faster. When Jaylin walked around the hot tub and sat between her and Bernie, Jamaica was all smiles.
“I am sorry,” she said, placing her hand on her chest. “But, I have never, ever, ever had a man this fine and with a ... a thing like that sit next to me. Is it real? It couldn't be.”
“Ask Scorpio. She knows better than anyone,” Jaylin bragged. He faced me, and Jamaica and Bernie moved in closer to him. “Why everybody so quiet?” he asked. “Before I got here, I'm sure you ladies were full of gossip.”
Nobody said a word until his left arm rested on Jamaica's shoulders and he lifted his right arm. He turned to Bernie.
“Do you mind if I use your shoulders to rest my arm?” he asked.
I couldn't believe that Bernie scooted even closer to him and gave him permission to rest his arm on her shoulders. He smiled and looked over at me.
“Now I'm comfortable. How about you, Scorpio? Are you comfortable?”