I stayed in bed for an hour after thinking about her call. So many questions ran through my mind. I didn’t know whether to be happy or pissed the hell off.
I eventually threw the entire call to the recesses of my mind. I started thinking about my day and the party Petey said we were supposed to be hitting up. He said it was going be off the chain. I could use a drink already after the phone call I’d just received. My cell went off again. This time it was Manny, my doorman, from the Marina high-rise. He told me that a woman dropped off a couple of things for me last night for me to get this morning. He said he couldn’t tell if she was trying to surprise me or not but she said today was my birthday and he knew I didn’t stay there every night and wanted to inform me. I asked what she looked like and he said it was the woman that was over a few weeks ago. That could be only one person especially when you factor in the only person who knew I lived there was Rayna. She just didn’t know it was a secondary home. Seeing my designer and assistants get my clothes and other personal effects in there the night before she came to give it a feeling of habitation was comical.
I thanked him for the heads up and told him I’d be over to pick it up shortly. I showered and was out the door. On my way to Marina Del Rey, the phones started ringing off the hook. Everyone was calling with birthday wishes, even my peoples who were in from out of town. There were people asking me if I was going to the party Petey told me about causing me to grow excited with each call and I made plans to hook up with a couple of heads. When I showed up to my apartment building there was a card and a rose left for me. The rose was some variation of orange. I had no idea what that meant—celebration? The card had written in it a birthday greeting with Rayna’s signature. She wrote in the card, They tell me that an orange/coral colored rose represents desire and enthusiasm.
I desire you and am enthusiastically waiting for the right time. Our time.
Rayna
xoxo
I felt a smile come across my face and apparently, Manny, the doorman saw it.
“That was an exquisite young lady over a few weeks ago. Best wishes on your birthday, Mr. Jacobs,” Manny acknowledged.
I pulled out a fifty-dollar bill and handed it to him, “Thanks, Manny. I owe you, man.” I walked out into the sun back to my car. I sent a text to Rayna, Thanks. This is thoughtful. It’s nice to have something to look forward to. Anxiously awaiting.
Rayna’s surprise gesture oddly made me forget about the abrupt call from Yazmine and look forward to the day ahead. I braced myself knowing it would be a long one. I headed downtown L.A. to meet my stylist for my birthday gear.
That night Kid picked me up at about eight p.m. We went to The Joint and had some drinks. The goons smoked trees and offered some my way. I passed. I hadn’t smoked in almost ten years. I was too old for that shit. Three glasses of that V.S.O.P got me feeling nice. It was early but there were mad people coming into the club already. Before I knew it, it was almost ten thirty p.m. We headed out to get some grub.
My goons rented a fully loaded luxury Rolls Royce stretched limo. As we were driving, I realized I hadn’t heard from Rayna since that morning. I guess she was giving me time with my goons and figured I’d see her tonight. I didn’t know how that was going to work out because I had no idea what they had planned. I did remember telling Petey that I would need time to meet up with her later on.
We ate at this spot on Hollywood Blvd called Musso & Frank Grill. One of the guys swore by the place saying he’d just taken a chick there a couple of weeks ago. He said it was a good look for me. Translation—he thinks it’s upscale.
We were about seven deep and most of those guys didn’t know how to order off the menu. They were asking for burgers and shit. It was funny as hell. We ate and drank. My dudes were on their best behavior and left peacefully.