“And you’ve figured all that out about the sister already?”
I sighed and got up off the bench. “I’ll catch you fellas later. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”
I was halfway to my car when Felix tapped me on the shoulder. “Yardley, hold up! I was wondering if you want to get together for drinks this week. Maybe we can hit the happy hour over at the Zanzibar.”
“I’m not ready to start hanging out with you again, man. Basketball’s one thing, but I’m not trying to chitchat over buffalo wings and tortillas.”
Felix shook his head. “That’s cold.”
“That’s not cold. That’s the way it is. Maybe, in time, I can begin to view you as a close friend again, but that remains to be seen. You have to earn my respect all over again.”
He dropped his eyes to the ground. “I understand.”
I realized that Felix genuinely felt regret, but it was time for him to grow up. If I’d forgiven him like it was nothing, he would’ve assumed that he could get away with scandalous behavior at will.
“Do me one favor, Yardley?” He stood tall and stared directly into my eyes. “Think about taking Roxie back. I take full responsibility for what happened. All I’m saying is consider it. Please consider it.”
“I appreciate you trying to be the fall guy but Roxie’s a grown woman and she knew what she was doing. After she embarrassed me in front of my friends like that, I could never be with her again. Besides, like I said, I have a date tonight and I’m really looking forward to it. The young lady’s very special and she’s someone that had me feenin’ long before Roxie ever came back into the picture.”
Felix chuckled. “Damn, it’s like that?”
I grinned. “Yeah, it’s like that.”
“So who is she? You’ve got to tell me. You’ve never mentioned having the woody for anyone.”
“Woody?” I laughed. That was a term I hadn’t heard in ages. “You’re sick, man. I didn’t tell you about Rayne because I’d assumed she was taken.”
“Rayne?”
I have no idea why I decided to tell Felix my business. Maybe I felt like bragging to someone, anyone. After all, I was excited as hell at the prospect of seeing her again.
“You know how you used to always call me and I’d be coming out of the bank?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, I was doing a little bit more than making deposits. I was checking her out.”
“So she works at the bank?”
“Yes, and after I went in there one day I was hooked.”
Felix laughed and punched me lightly in the arm. “Damn, she must be fine as shit!”
“Yes, she is. That’s why I’d assumed she was taken all this time.”
“So how did you find out she wasn’t?”
I sighed uncomfortably. “After what went down, I decided to take a chance and find out. I’d planned to do it before but, ironically, that was the day Roxie called me up out the blue and asked me to have lunch. I got hooked up with her and tried to do the right thing by not going after another woman. It’s a shame I did that, too, because Rayne and I could’ve been getting to know each other all this time. Then again, that wouldn’t have been the appropriate way to start things off, so it’s all good.”
Mike and Dwayne were still over on the court shooting layups, obviously trying to give Felix and me the space and opportunity to make amends. While that didn’t happen, I did feel a little better since I’d managed to somewhat clear the air.
“I have to jet, Felix, but you take care of yourself.”
“You, too, and call me.”
I didn’t reply to that either way. I wouldn’t be calling but I did plan on seeing him on the court the following weekend.
As I was driving away, my thoughts turned to Rayne. I couldn’t wait to see her.