“It’s about time you got here,” Audrey said, clearly irritated.

“Audrey, what the hell are you doing here?” he asked, thoroughly surprised.

“Going against everything I believe in to help a friend out.” She tossed him the envelope.

“Marlene sent you?”

“Who the hell else do you think would’ve put the bail money up for your ass? Rhonda?”

“But how did she even know where I was?”

Audrey shook her head as if even talking to Paul was a task. “She’s a lawyer, remember?”

“Shit, she must be pissed,” Paul thought out loud.

“Pissed?” She looked at him as if he were insane. “Little boy, that’s the understatement of the year.”

“Audrey, you don’t have to keep throwing insults at me,” he told her.

“You’re lucky that’s all I’m throwing at you after what you did to my friend.”

“I didn’t do shit to Marlene,” Paul insisted. “I know she’s probably mad at me for getting arrested, but it wasn’t my fault. That bitch Rhonda lied to the police,” he tried to explain.

Audrey just shook her head. “You don’t get it, do you? This ain’t about you getting arrested, Paul, it’s about you being a fucking loser with the best thing that’s happened to you.”

“Yo, why you coming at me like I shitted on Mar? All I did was get locked up and you’re acting like I’ve been fucking around on her.”

Audrey slit her eyes at him. “Paul, my ear is always to the streets, so don’t even go there with me. I just don’t take the shit I hear about you and your friend Larry to Marlene because I ain’t no homewrecker, but don’t act like your ass is Ward Cleaver. You know, I used to think that you were an okay dude, but apparently you’re just as fucked up as every other nigga running around trying to find his dick.”

“Fuck you, Audrey. You don’t know me to judge me,” he said angrily.

“I don’t have to know you, Paul, I know your type,” she said. “Marlene has been trying to reach out to you, but you’re too caught up with your silly-ass baby’s mama to see the writing on the wall.”

“Audrey, I’ve had a very trying couple of days and I really ain’t got time for riddles or games. If you’ve got a contact number for Marlene, give it to me.”

“She doesn’t want to hear from you,” she said flatly. “Marlene is going away for a while to try and rinse you out of her system.”

“Away? Where?” he asked frantically.