Still, he sounded, looked, and acted like the Walter I’d always known; like the guy I’d played ball with that afternoon; like the man who’d seen more ass than a toilet. Besides, wasn’t I the one who’d been licking his leg not too long ago? Yes, I had been “distracted.” But then again, licking a man’s leg and being ass-fucked by a stripper are not exactly the same thing.

“Mum’s the word on this, right?” I said.

“Niggah, we shouldn’t even have to have that convo. But you got a big mouth, which is one reason I never put you down before.”

“Like I can’t be trusted.”

“Like you’re CNN. I only tell you shit I want known. In this situation I expect you to tell lots of niggahs everything. Shit, I expect you to be a big man in every gym or bar in the Apple. Just leave my motherfucking name out of it. Aiight.”

“No doubt. By the way, that girl Robinette is talking like she expects to stay.”

“Yo, Dwayne, you got to take her. She wants to be my girl. Now, she’s talented for her age—”

“Which is?”

Walter ignored my question and just said, “I just don’t wanna be alone with her right now. That girl’s trying to get ahead in life. You never know what ideas she might get about how to do that. Tonight was cool. Two weeks later I’m in the motherfucking Post. As long as you guys are all in it with me, I’m safe. You feel me?”

“I got you, dog. You have the most to lose.”

“And you have the most to gain, so keep my name out of it and we’ll be stacking paper for a long time to come.” He held out his fist, and I met it with mine.

We looked up and saw that a Titans wide receiver was being tackled by the Rams linebacker one yard short of the goal line. The gun sounded. The Super Bowl was over, and bettors all around the nation were scrambling for their phones. Back in the bedroom I began searching for my shoes and socks, all the while keeping an eye on Robinette, who had emerged from the bathroom and was sprawled lethargically across the bed.

“Robinette,” I said, shaking her. “Robinette.”

“Yes,” she said in a sleepy voice.

“We’re all getting ready to leave.”

“Oh.”

No movement, not even an effort. Sonja and Beatrice, now dressed, walked in. Beatrice placed her slender hands on her hips and surveyed the situation. “Why don’t you take a quick shower?” she suggested. “I got this.”