Antonio gave a weak smile and shook. “Antonio Steele.”
“Yo, I know who you are, man,” Dedrick chuckled. “That play in the big game in the fourth quarter with like seventeen seconds to go was major.” Dedrick looked at Jackie with a sly grin, no doubt wondering about the nature of her relationship with Antonio.
“We work together,” she blurted out, even though no one had asked.
“Right.” Noticing the onlookers, Dedrick motioned toward another door. “Let’s step inside here for some privacy.”
All four of them entered the empty room. It was givingLaw & Ordervibes, with a metal table and two chairs. Was this an interrogation room? Jackie cut her eyes at PJ, who was in the hot seat.
“So,” Dedrick continued. “Looks like we got an issue.” He looked at PJ. “You want to tell them, or should I?”
PJ sucked his teeth and folded his arms. “Man, it wasn’t nothing.”
“If it was nothing, your ass wouldn’t be in jail,” Antonio snapped.
“Can I talk?” PJ asked, annoyed.
“He’s right, Antonio,” Jackie said gently. “We don’t even know what happened. So, tell us, PJ? What went down to land you here?”
“I went out partying with some folks I know. I had been drinking a little. I was on my way home, and I admit, I was speeding. And I got pulled over, that’s all.”
“So, it’s a DUI,” said Antonio. “That’s a misdemeanor, right?”
“Not so fast,” Dedrick said. “There were controlled substances in the car.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Jackie could see Antonio’s nostrils flaring. He was gripping the back of the metal chair, his dark knuckles going ashen. She tried to subtly put a hand on his wrist, but he moved out of her way.
“It was just a little weed. And some percs,” PJ said. “The percs wasn’t even mine. They were hers.”
“Hers?” Jackie narrowed her eyes. “Her,who?”
PJ looked at his father, then back at Jackie.
“Who was it?” asked Antonio through his teeth. “Either we find out now or later.”
“India Inkwell,” Dedrick answered. “She was in the car with PJ, high as a damn kite.”
“You can’t be serious,” Antonio said. “Of all people to be caught up in some shit with! That girl is a magnet for bad press. Seriously!”
“Man, it ain’t even like that. We just cool. I mean, we hook up sometimes…but we cool. Just friends.”
Jackie felt her temples throb. “Oh lord. And where is India now?”
“She got bailed out a while ago. Some dude she knows,” Dedrick shrugged.
“Figures,” mumbled PJ.
“Right now, I really don’t give a damn about India,” Antonio said. “We need to be focused on you. What were you thinking? What about your endorsements? Your career just started! You have a televised Christmas Day game in a few weeks! Do you want to miss that because of something so reckless?”
Jackie cut her eyes at Antonio. “Ant, he knows that. Trust me. And it isn’t your job to remind him of that. It’s mine.”
“Sorry.” Antonio stood and walked to the corner of the room, trying to calm himself. Jackie could tell he was trying to remember the breathing exercises from Mexico to center himself.
“I just went a little too hard last night. That’s it.” PJ slumped in his chair.
Dedrick held up his hand. “I’m going to need you to not just brush this off, PJ. You are lucky that India copped to the drugs. But we are still talking fines, a misdemeanor. Possible probation. Your blood alcohol level was right above the legal limit.”
“I’m sure you had more than that in your system,” Antonio gestured toward PJ. “You look a fucking mess. What if the league drug-tests you?”
