“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 kiss—I 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 he—”
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 Jaylin—Jaylin 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 man—”
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.
“What—”
“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 right—he 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 you—”
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 me—I 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?”
I shrugged my shoulder. “I guess, but what is this about Jaylin? Why are you here?”
“Truthfully, I came here to curse you the fuck out for what you did to me at Davenports. You knew that I was a married man, Scorpio, but you continue to play your games and fuck with my head. Once again, your games have not only cost me a bunch of hurt, but you’ve hurt my wife, too. Don’t you have any regrets? And when you get around to it, I need an apology.”
“No, I don’t have any regrets, and you won’t get an apology from me. As a matter of fact, you’re the one who should have regrets. You walked out on me, remember? Yes, I made some mistakes, but you made plenty of them. Don’t be upset with me for pursuing what was initially mine. You made me many promises, and since you broke them, you can’t blame me for what I did.”
“Uh, maybe we should go,” Bernie suggested. “I think Jaylin and Scorpio need some privacy.” She looked over at Jamaica.
“And, I think I’d like to stay and listen. Besides, Jaylin don’t want me to go anywhere, do you?” Jamaica asked.
“Please, feel free to stay,” he said.
Doing the appropriate thing, Bernie got out of the hot tub. Jaylin checked out her well-fitted body, and she covered herself with a towel. On her way out, Jaylin asked her to cut off the lights. She put us in the dark and left.
I was getting irritated with Jamaica. Now wasn’t the time for her to be bullshitting. “Jamaica, again, would you mind leaving me and Jaylin alone? Please.”
“Yes, I do mind. Jaylin hasn’t asked me—”
“That’s right, baby,” he teased. “Stay right here. And, while you’re at it, why don’t you move a little closer to me.”
I felt the water shift around. Soon after, Jamaica laughed and Jaylin snickered. There was silence, and since I couldn’t really see what was going on in the water, I quickly sat up.
“Since she won’t leave, whatever else you came to say to me, say it to her. I’m out of here.” I stood up.
“Girl, sit down. Even though I don’t want to leave, I’m not about to hook myself like you’ve apparently done.”
I felt the water move around and could hear Jamaica whisper. When I heard lips smack, I got upset. “I know you didn’t just kiss him, did
you?”
Jamaica stepped out of the hot tub. “Calm down, would you? If you must know, I kissed his cheek. He ain’t your man, so why are you so worried about it?”
Jaylin agreed, and soon after, there was a loud thud in the room. By her loud voice, I knew that Jamaica had slipped on the wet floor.
“Ohhh,” she whined loudly. “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up! I think I hurt myself.”
I rushed out of the hot tub and turned on the lights. Jamaica was already in Jaylin’s care. He picked her up, holding her in his arms.
“Ohhh, I think it’s my back. Would you mind carrying me to Scorpio’s sofa so I can lie down?”
By the smirk on Jamaica’s face, I could tell she was full of shit. I could have killed her, but I let her continue on with her charade. I opened the door, and Jaylin carried her over to the sofa. I couldn’t help but take a look at his naked, all-so-beautiful, muscular ass. He laid Jamaica on the couch, and as he leaned over her, she touched his chest.
“Thanks, sweetie. My ankle feels a whole lot better.”
I couldn’t help but to bust her out. “You mean your back, right? I thought it was your back, or is your ankle hurting, too?”
“B—both,” she said, reaching for her ankle and rubbing it.
I took a deep breath and could have choked Jamaica. She was taking all of the attention away from me, and I truly wanted to know what else Jaylin had to say. I pranced back into the Jacuzzi room, and just as much as I admired Jaylin’s body, mad at me or not, I was sure he got pleasure out of looking at mine. After all, it was and would forever be his weakness.
I bent over to let the water out of the hot tub. As the water slowly went down, I removed my bikini and reached for my cotton robe. Before I could cover myself, Jaylin came in and closed the door behind him. His eyes searched my naked body, and my eyes returned the favor. Once I allowed him to get a good look, I put on the robe but left the front of it open.
“You see, this is what I’m talking about,” he said. “You put forth every effort to tempt me, and you just don’t give up, do you?”
I pulled my head back in disbelief. “Excuse me, but you’re the one who came in here and got naked. And, for what? I didn’t quite understand your purpose, and the only person who seemed enthused by your presence was Jamaica.”
Too Naughty Page 2
