“Oh shit,” Gideon said. “PJ Dawson.” He jumped up and gave PJ a fist bump. “I’m Jackie’s cousin, Gideon. I was just telling Jackie how I’m digging these kicks. They are dope, man.”
PJ gave a shy grin. “I appreciate you, man.” He turned to Jackie. “Can I talk to you?”
Jackie sighed. “I guess.”
Gideon leaned down whispered to Jackie. “I’m gonna go. Hear the young brother out.” He gave Jackie a hug and PeeWee a rub on the head before leaving the dog park. Jackie didn’t want Gideon to leave, but by the time she started to call his name, he was gone.
PJ sat next to Jackie on the bench. “How you doing? I see PeeWee is having a good time.”
“How did you know where I was?” Jackie’s tone was icy. It was definitely the hurt talking.
“Oh, your assistant Calvin. He told me. He said it was in your calendar that you take PeeWee to the dog park at this time. I figured it was this one, close to your house.”
Jackie mumbled under her breath, “I’m actually going to have to fire Calvin now.”
PJ sat back. “Listen, I’m just gonna come out and say it. I’m sorry, Jackie. I was just upset. Hungover. Maybe high. Drug test was inconclusive.”
Jackie said nothing, simply looked straight ahead at PeeWee, who was running the obstacle course again.
PJ pushed his hands deeper into his hoodie pockets. “You’ve been rocking with me from the jump, Jackie. I’m sorry I—”
“Reduced me to your father’s whore?”
PJ dropped his head. “That was fucked up. I meant no disrespect. I just was out of it. That’s all.”
“And let me guess.” Jackie turned, facing PJ. “You’re not trying to pay my firing fee or run AMW-Elite their coins, huh? I am sure Marilyn read that contract and reminded you of that.”
“It ain’t about the money. My mom did snap on me about it, but whether I hire or fire anyone in my camp is my decision. Not my mom’s or anyone else’s. Mine. Period.”
Jackie nodded. “Got it. So I’ll have my accountant contact you to settle up.”
“No! I want you back as my agent.” PJ pulled at the sleeve of his jacket. “I really need you right now. I’m getting calls about endorsements, and with this suspension, I don’t know how to handle it.”
“Not my problem, PJ,” Jackie said. “I’m sure your new agent will help you navigate things. I already sent you the info of a publicist you should use.”
“I don’t want a new agent. I want you. I need you. We need you,” PJ begged.
“We?”
PJ sighed. “He won’t admit it, but my dad is fucking miserable without you.”
My dad?Jackie gave a slight smile at PJ’s use of the word but quickly fixed her face. “Why would your father be miserable? It’s not like I haven’t seen him. We work together.”
That was pushing it, and Jackie knew it. She hadn’t spoken to Antonio outside of board meetings. The merger was about to be final, and he’d be on his way to LA and out of her life. She had a folder full of unsent text messages and emails. She didn’t know what to say.
“Yeah, but you aren’t speaking to each other. On purpose this time—not because you lost your voice,” PJ said. “He is down bad. I don’t know if I can take much more of his sad boy antics.”
“‘Sad boy antics’? What does that even mean?”
“Yeah. That dude be playing these old school R&B mixes when he’s sad. All day long. In the car. When he’s cooking dinner. Just full of begging songs from Jodeci and…what’s the other old group? Dru Hill.”
Jackie rolled her eyes at PJ calling Dru Hillold. She couldn’t picture Antonio doing that. But she had to admit, the man had good taste in music.
“Just talk to him,” PJ said. “He was happier when you were together.”
“I’m not sure I can call whatever we were doing as being ‘together.’” Jackie did air quotes around the word.
“Tell that to Antonio Steele,” PJ said. “Seriously, Jackie. Take me back as a client. Hell, take my dad back as…whatever you all were doing.”
