Page 106 of Cash

Jules sat next to him, Erasmus on the other side of Jules, and Junior went back to the couch.

Brick cleared his throat. “You still have, uh, a meeting or something today, right?”

“Uh-huh. At seven.”

“And after that?”

“After that, I’m sendin’ these two handsome fellas on their way back home and my fuckin’ vacation starts.”

“Can’t fuckin’ wait!” Junior called out through a mouthful of food. He at least swallowed before continuing, “Not that I ain’t been enjoyin’ the fuckin’ mosquitoes the size of fuckin’ rats and shit, but you know, it’ll be good to get back.”

“Enjoy your vacation,” Erasmus told Jules, and he smiled that weird little smile of his.

Brick peered over to see what Erasmus had ordered since he hadn’t yet seen him eat or drink anything, and he was curious what someone who played with human ears might enjoy.

Apparently it was smashed avocado and tomato slices on toast.

“Thanks, Raz.” Jules beamed at Brick. “I plan on it.”

Brick’s heart skipped a beat, and he reached under the table to squeeze Jules’s leg.

Jules smiled so sweetly that Brick’s heart promptly tumbled again.

After finishing breakfast, Brick went back upstairs to take a shower. The hot water felt awesome on his sore body, and he groaned and grunted as he stretched beneath the spray. He didn’t stay too long since he knew he had to log in for work soon, and he resolved to spend tonight over at Jules’s place so they could soak in that big tub.

He got out and got dressed, electing to wear fitted khakis and a pale lavender button-up shirt with an art nouveau style pattern of twisting violet roses. He liked the bold lines of the flowers, and he grabbed a pair of purple socks to match. He found himself wearing his black slippers again and decided he should just get a new pair.

As he came down the stairs, he ignored the vivid memory of the man crashing down these same steps to his death.

Well, at least, he tried to.

When Brick reached the bottom, he found that he couldn’t get the picture out of his mind, and he stood frozen with his hand on the end of the railing. He was overcome with an eerie numb sensation, his mouth was dry, and he was unable to tear his eyes away from the floor. His foot was right where the body had been, and he was getting a little dizzy.

Erasmus wasn’t in sight, Junior was busy watching television, but Jules had been in the kitchen and was quick to notice something was wrong.

“Baby? You okay?” Jules came over with a fresh cup of coffee and put a firm hand on Brick’s shoulder.

“Yeah, sorry. I think?” Brick blinked a few times and tried to will the awful feelings away. “Just, uh… could we stay at your place tonight?”

“Yeah, of course.” Jules rubbed Brick’s back, teasing softly, “Just wanna get back in that big tub, huh?”

“Ha! You’re a mind reader.” Brick managed a little smile.

“Seriously. You all right?”

Brick nodded. “I am. I just got a little weirded out for a second.”

“Wanna talk?”

“Maybe later.”

“Later.” Jules kissed his forehead. “You look sexy as fuck, by the way.”

“Oh yeah?” Brick grinned. “Even better than the pajamas?”

“Pajamas are easier to get off.”

“Fair.”

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