me & tomfoolery

Same Coin pt. 4 | Devin Booker Short Story

Three Months Later

Devin was surprisingly in his hotel room while his friends were out partying. It was Wednesday night before a game and they were in Miami of all places. He had been busy all week and really didn't have time to relax before the showdown against the heat.

OBJ
Man your girl is out here in the club.

The girl in question? Laila. They weren't together in the slightest but his friends made jokes about them all the time. They had grown closer over the last few months and they were connected at the hip in group settings, never spotted alone. But they spent a lot of time alone.

Devin called Odell to see what exactly was going on and why wasn't she still in Arizona. She hadn't mentioned coming out there at all.

"Fuck is she doing?" Devin couldn't see fully and it that was a trigger for him in itself. "Dancing with some football player. He took a shot out of bra and everything. What you want me to do man?"

"Yeah, I'm on the way. Get her out through the back."

Devin wouldn't dare walk in through the front or have to drag her out that way either. He would pull up in the back, have her placed in the car and bring her back to his hotel for her to cool off.

"Odell why the fuck are you dragging me out here?" She saw Devin's unenthused face as soon as she landed her Giuseppe heels on the concrete. "Awe shit."

"Awe shit is right. Get in the car." Devin gave Odell the head nod as a sign of appreciation and practically tossed Laila into the backseat of the town car.

She didn't dare to say anything but seethed with disdain as the driver pulled into the private entrance of the hotel's parking lot. The pair took the service elevator up until reaching his floor. Along the carpet were classic bohemian designs. Laila focused on them as she walked in an unnatural line. Devin's annoyance wouldn't allow her the small window of fun. Grabbing her arm, he pulled her along to the door of his suite, opening it quickly.

"Don't touch me!" She huffed as she stumbled to get out of his hold. "Why am I here?"

"Cause you wanted to act up in the club on a Wednesday. Shouldn't you be at home getting ready for work?"

"I'm grown Devin, I do what I please." She tossed her heels to the side and sat on the couch. Devin placed his keys in the kitchenette area and opened the fridge to get her a bottle of water.

"You so grown, then what made you think it was bright idea to have somebody take shots from that tight ass shirt you got on? In a public place at that."

Laila wasn't thinking at all. She had gotten a call from her aunt saying that her mother wasn't doing so well and needed to go back into the hospital. Once Laila laid eyes on her she couldn't take it and booked the first flight to Miami. None of her friends were there yet and she partied her pain away with whoever was around.

"You gone say something? Huh?" Laila knew if she spoke her words would come out weak and she was anything besides that. Devin blinked a few times before completely snapping out.

"Say something Laila, what the fuck were you thinking? That was irresponsible! Now say something happened to you? Nobody out there had your back. If it wasn't for O, I would have no idea you were even here. And you out here running the streets acting like a fucking hoe or something. Pissing me off."

"Devin fuck you okay! I don't need your help. You do not have to worry about me." She didn't realize she was crying and shaking until Devin had his arms around her. "Whoa, whoa, wait calm down."