PJ:It’s cool. Put up 40 tonight. Why? You need something?
Antonio frowned.Damn, can’t I just text you?Then again, Antonio did need something from PJ.
ANT:Actually, I do. Do you have Jackie’s cell number?
PJ:You don’t have her number already?
Antonio huffed in annoyance. Hadn’t he told PJ why he didn’t have her number? He simply didn’t want to be a creep and get it from the agency. He didn’t need folks like Donny DiMaggio asking questions.
ANT:You gonna give it to me or not?
PJ:Why? What you trying to do?
ANT:I wanted to check on her dog, PeeWee. He had to have surgery.
PJ:Word? He ok? Damn, she loves that dog.
PJ texted Antonio Jackie’s number. Sure enough, it was definitely a different number.
ANT:Thx.
PJ:Don’t be OD Aiight? Have a little rizz.
Antonio laughed. Did PJ know who he was? Antonio knew how to talk to women. At least, he used to. He hadn’t been on a date in a few months. He’d kind of lost interest in the whole thing. More than once, he’d gotten bored halfway through a date and made up an excuse to leave. But he knew how to talk to Jackie, specifically.
ANT:I won’t embarrass you.
PJ:Glad you told me about PeeWee. I’ll send Jackie some flowers.
Antonio blinked.Flowers? Why hadn’t he thought of that?At least his twenty-two-year-old son had some forethought and manners. Well, damn.
ANT:Cool. And can you call your grandparents? My parents. They’d love to hear from you.
Antonio watched as the bubbles appeared, disappeared, then reappeared until PJ finally responded.
PJ:Aiight. Later.
Antonio shrugged. At least he had asked. He scrolled back through the messages and found Jackie’s number.
ANTONIO:Hey Jackie. It’s Ant. Just checking on you and PeeWee. Hope he’s ok.
JACKIE:He’s still in the hospital but should be ok.
ANTONIO:Cool. Let me know if you need anything.
Antonio waited a few minutes.
JACKIE:K.
K?That was it? That was all she had to say? After all the stuff that had happened today? Even after he’d held her as she cried?
Antonio tossed his phone on the sofa and groaned.
Maybe he didn’t have rizz after all.
