"Let me get another shot of rum and coke" Jayden ordered from the bartender as he sat back down on his stool. He hated to admit it but right now he was jealous as hell of his friend Avery. Avery had what he needed right now. He needed someone to comfort his wounded spirit and ego and not just a warm body and soft pussy to ease his physical needs. Maybe he had been too hasty with Mia. Maybe he should have taken her offer for an ear to listen to. He could have really used a good friend at the time. Other than his mother he had never allowed a woman to comfort him; he had never allowed another woman to get close to him. It was dangerous. To allow a woman to get close to him was asking for an accident to happen and he didn't need a relationship. For the first time in his life, he realized that he really did want someone to talk to and understand his side just like what his friend Avery had with Nita. He needed and wanted someone to be there for him.
The bartender set his drink down in front of him onto a fresh napkin. Jayden slipped a ten on the counter and nodded his head.
"Keep the change." He told the bartender.
"So what's eating you?" He heard his friend asking as he made his way back in from outside.
"Nita and A.J. alright?"
"Yea… Mia's over there keeping her company." He divulged.
"For real?" Jayden tried to hide his happiness to hear that Mia was not out on some date with another dude after his behavior today.
"So what's eating you?" Avery asked not hearing Jayden's interest in Mia's whereabouts. There was a brief pause and then Jayden began.
"The old man stopped by my shop earlier."
"Your Pops?" Avery couldn't hide his surprise from his friend. "How'd he know? Did he congratulate you?" He asked altogether without giving Jayden a chance to answer.
"Dude the man acted like he didn't even know me." The disappointment was in Jayden's voice. "Man he came in their bragging about picking up a birthday present for his wife and what to buy the woman who has everything." Avery listened to his friend's words without interruption. He knew that Jayden was still hurting and dealing with issues about being abandoned by his father. He wasn't sure how long or what it would take for him to finally be able to let that go. The only thing he knew was to be there for his friend.