Chapter 14 #2
“I’m here, Irish, you know that. You’ve been my rock through everything.
And although I shut you out after my divorce, you were still there for me when it mattered.
I’ll never forget how you showed up for me when Rio was in a coma.
I’ll never leave your side off that deed alone.
No matter where I am, I’m here for you.”
Irish pursed her lips. “Heffa, don't try to sweet talk me. I still don't want you to do this phone interview.”
Cali chortled just as the elevator doors chimed open. Looking over her shoulder, she spotted Ivory walking inside with awe in her eyes. Two large suitcases rolled across the dark hardwood floor while Ivory’s sandals created the flip flop sound.
“Hey, Cali, I’m going to call you later tonight. Ivory just got in.”
“Okay, girl.”
Irish hung up and shuffled over to the foyer where Ivory stood.
“Is this our new spot? If so, I’m in love,” she gushed.
“No, this is Noble’s place.” She grabbed the suitcase handles from her. “Did you get my toiletries and facial products?”
“Yes.” She rolled her eyes, walking toward the windows. “I got everything on your list. I don't know why you just didn’t get it yourself. It’s not like Jovanis has been there.”
Irish placed the suitcases in the corner. “I didn’t want to take any chances.”
She joined her sister in gazing at the view of the city. Their silence was comfortable as they stood next to each other.
“So, it’s real, huh? You're really leaving Van?”
Irish sighed, creating a cloud of breath on the window. “Yeah… am I a bad person?”
Ivory gave her a quick glance. “No, well, I don't think so. I mean, you're married but it was open. He left the door open for you to fall for someone else. However, I do have reservations.”
Turning toward her, Irish asked, “Like what?”
“Like what if this Noble guy isn’t a good man? What if you leave and Noble doesn’t love you like Jovanis does? You really think this guy is worth it?”
Irish’s gaze traveled back to the sky that held an overcast. Ivory’s questions were valid and with logic.
Still, Irish was ready to take some risks.
All her life she had been led by someone.
First, it was Daisy, then Emanuel came in and took over.
Once he was gone, Irish followed Jovanis around like a lost puppy.
He led them everywhere and she trailed behind, not questioning anything.
Irish wanted to make her own decisions and mistakes. She needed to learn from life. Afterall, it was the best teacher. If it didn’t work out with Noble, she would be crushed but she would have some solace in knowing she had made a decision to love him on her own free will.
“I do think he’s worth it. I feel so valuable in his life, Ivory. The love he gives me is something I've never experienced before.”
Her gasped filled the room. “Not even with Van?”
Sadly, Irish shook her head. “No, not with him.”
“Wow. That’s interesting but okay.” She cleared her throat and faced her. “There something on my mind that I want to tell you.”
“What is it? Please don't tell me you're p—”
“No, I’m not pregnant.” Ivory rolled her brown eyes. “Geez, do you think I’m a hoe or something?”
Irish held her hand up. “I apologize. You're not a hoe and I shouldn’t have assumed that.”
“Thank you,” she sassed. “Anyways. I think I’m going to transfer schools and attend St. Parklynn University in the spring. I think taking a semester off will do me some good.”
“Why? I thought you loved Miami.”
“I do but I don't know.” She shrugged, looking down at her rhinestone nails. “I feel like you're going to need me right now.”
“Oh, Ivory, please don't consider me.”
“Why not? You’ve always taken care of me. I should do the same.”
Vehemently, Irish shook her head. There was no way she could allow Ivory to put her plans on hold because of the state of her life.
The cycle had to be broken. Daisy had done that very thing and taken advantage of Irish.
Her life had to be stalled because she had her little sister to raise.
Irish had done everything to ensure that Ivory was a free nineteen-year-old without any responsibilities except getting good grades.
“Listen, I appreciate you for thinking of me, but I got this. You don't need to transfer schools because of me. Live your life.”
“I already did it.” She faced the window. “I’m not going back to Miami.”
“Ivory, please don't do this. I don't need you to be here for me. I swear.”
“Yeah, well, just in case something happens, know that I’ll be around. And no, I’m not changing my mind. It’s already done.
Irish grumbled under her breath before shaking her head. She loved that Ivory was away from their environment and in Miami. Now she would be back in the fold where things were inevitably about to get ugly. The big sister in Irish wanted to shield her from that.
“So, what’s the plan since you're not staying with Noble?” She changed the subject.
“I’m going to look for a place. He offered me this condo, but I want something of my own. Just for me until we figure this thing out.”
Ivory bobbed her head. “I respect that.”
“Yeah, I bet you do, Miss Independent.” Irish gazed at her before poking her bottom lip out. “Please stop growing up on me.”
Smirking, Ivory joked, “I thought you couldn’t wait for me to see how the real world is?”
“Listen, I didn’t mean any of it. I want my lil’ baby back.” She wrapped her arms around Ivory’s neck and kissed her, repeatedly.
“Ew, get off of me. You probably had that man’s meat in your mouth.”
“Oh, girl, I drained the shit outta him,” Irish joked.
Ivory covered her ears while Irish laughed. “Okay, I’m just playing. How about we sit and make a new plan so you can graduate on time?”
“We can do that but first, give me a tour of this place.”
“Come on, nosy.”
Ever since Noble touched down on St. Parklynn soil, he had been busy.
His first stop was to see Kenji, his second was the logistic company where he had a meeting with Lyra and Kaliste.
Now, he entered the coffee shop, skating his gaze over the busy interior.
Spotting his target, he walked toward the back where Danira blew softly over a hot cappuccino.
As soon as their eyes met, she rolled hers, making Noble chortle as he took a seat across from her.
“Don't do me like that, Nira,” he joked.
“Oh, please.” She scoffed. “You really blew me off and now days later, you're trying to right your wrongs. I really should've ignored your call.”
“I apologize.” He touched his chest. “Something came up that night. You know I wouldn’t stand you up if my situation wasn’t important.”
Pursing her lips, she retorted, “Oh, yeah? So, what was it?”
“Business.” Noble kept it short, not wanting to discuss how Irish had found her way back home to him.
“Yeah, I bet.” She twisted her lips. “Did you blow me off for some pussy?”
Noble chuckled, knowing he had stood Danira up for pussy that was so good that he gave it a nickname.
“I told you, business. Why you questioning me?”
She raised her hands, surrendering to him. “You're right. You don't owe me that, but you could’ve at least called and told me not to go wait for you. You had me looking stupid as hell.”
Twisting his lips, Noble replied, “I doubt that. I already know you caught the eye of some nigga, and he was all in your face.”
Beaming, she nodded. “You're right. I actually exchanged numbers with this guy, and we went on a date on Sunday.”
“See, I helped you out,” he boasted. “You probably met your future husband.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. I mean, he was cool, but future husband, yeah, no.”
Noble glanced at his phone to ensure that he didn’t miss the meet up with his lieutenants.
“So.” Danira rested her elbow on the table, smirking at him. “Did your heart heal yet?”
Noble’s heart was so content that he had a permanent smile on his lips.
His time spent in Jade Mountain with Irish was a moment he didn’t know he needed.
They’d emptied themselves into each other, then filled their souls back to full.
This time around, Irish was insistent on being with him.
There was no doubt, no uncertainty, or any hesitation on her part.
She’d chosen him, and Noble was ready to take complete care of her.
He just needed to figure out how he would navigate their relationship on his end.
“I’m straight.”
A knowing expression covered her lightly made-up face. “That’s it? Straight?”
“Damn, why do women want a complete breakdown of everything?” That made Danira giggle. “If a man tell you that he’s straight, believe him.”
“Okay, Noble, I believe you.” She stared at him for a while before taking a sip of her drink. Steam floated from the top as her gaze deepened on him. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot, lately. You know, hoping that you didn’t let this break up get to your heart.”
Leaning back in his seat, he wondered where Danira was headed in this conversation.
“Everything is cool, Nira. You know you don't have to worry about me. I always bounce back. Besides, shit ain't so bad on that end.”
Her mouth gaped as she pointed at him. “I knew it. You blew me off for her, didn’t you?”
Noble couldn’t hide his smile at all. “Aye, didn’t I tell you it was business.”
“Yeah, pussy business. Wow, you are really in love with this girl, Noble.”
He would never deny it but the way she said it made him ask, “Why you say it like that?”
“Because you don't do the back and forth. Once you're done, that’s it.”
That was life before his Pumpkin came into his existence.
She forced him to feel emotions that never had been a part of his character.
When they departed months before, Noble had written Irish out of his life.
It was a painful experience, but he never avoided doing the hard things.
However, something deep in the cranny of his heart wouldn’t release Irish.
She dwelled there, folding her arms like a defiant child and refusing to leave.
“Guess what song I heard the other day?” She changed the subject.
“What?”
“Luther Vandross’ Promise Me. Remember how much your mama played it back in the day?”
He snorted as she cackled. Lyra had played that song so much that he loathed it to this very day.
“Yeah, I hate that dumb-ass song.”
Danira playfully slapped his forearm. “Hey, don't say that. I declared it to be our song.”
“I don't know why.” He frowned before looking out the window. “Shit could’ve been a beautiful song if my mama didn’t play it fifty times a day.”
Danira’s smile faded. “Hearing that song made me think about our relationship. The plans we made and how they fell through. I kinda miss it back then. You know, when we didn’t know what we were doing in life. We were coasting and making plans, not knowing that none of it would come to fruition.”
Propping his elbow on the table, Noble sighed. “Yeah, we were supposed to be on kid number four by now. Oh, and you said you wanted a vacation house in the Maldives.”
She grinned so widely that her eyes turned into slits. “Wow, you remember that?”
He nodded as his gaze drifted to the wooden table. “Yep, two boys and two girls.”
When their eyes locked, he saw a hint of water resting in hers.
Life had a funny way of transpiring. People could make plans, but it was God who solidified them.
Back then, Noble was set on Danira being the one for him.
She had been the first girl to capture his heart until life broke them apart.
Now that he had experience true, deep, yearning love with Irish, what he shared with Danira just couldn’t compare.
“I regret that we didn’t work out,” she quietly confessed, diverting her gaze.
“I look back on my journey and all the relationships I've been in and… nobody made me feel quite like you did, Noble. Even in our youth, you loved me the right way.” She chuckled without humor. “Shit, you loved me so much you let me go… I wish you would’ve been selfish, though. Why didn’t you fight for me to stay? ”
Noble leaned back in his seat, carefully choosing the right words to say.
Danira was in a vulnerable state right now.
Usually, she paraded herself as a woman who was unbothered and could handle the truth.
But now, her chest was open, displaying a heart that wasn’t in perfect condition.
Noble always wanted to handle her with the best care.
“Honestly.” He pulled the hairs on his chin. “I didn’t want you to resent me for fighting for you. Even back then, I didn’t want to be the reason you didn’t pursue the life you wanted. I couldn’t have that shit on my conscience. I had to let you go. I couldn’t be the reason you stayed back.”
Danira exhaled through her nude lips. “I get it, Noble. I swear I do. I just wish you would’ve went against the grain.”
Noble didn’t speak to that sentiment. He only watched as regret remained in her beautiful features.
The conversation had become too heavy for him.
He didn’t need to travel down the memories of him and Danira when his future was at home waiting for him.
Glancing at his Breitling, he noticed it was time for him to meet with the crew.
“Look, I gotta get outta here.” Reaching into his pocket, he placed a hundred-dollar bill on the table. “Get lunch on me since I stood you up.”
Smacking her lips, she quickly scooped it up. “Yeah, I’ll be at The Fiftieth One today.”
He smirked and kneeled down to kiss her cheek. “I’ll holla at you.”
With that said, Noble continued out the door, hoping these talks about the past with Danira ceased.