Chapter 17
Seventeen
Irish sat inside the car, reading over the email her real estate agent had sent. Not understanding the circumstances, she dialed her number, hoping to receive some clarity.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Andria. It’s me, Irish.”
“Oh, hey, Irish. Did you get the email I sent?”
“Yes, and that’s why I’m calling.” Irish adjusted the AC. “You said the cash offer was accepted but I didn’t offer cash.”
“Oh, well, Mr. St. Anthony offered to pay with cash. It was accepted this morning.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that.”
Irish shook her head, but a smile was on her face. Leave it to Noble to buy her townhouse when she adamantly stated that she wanted to do it on her own.
“Yes, everything was confirmed this morning, so congratulations,” Andria cheered. “I know how much you and your sister wanted this home.”
“Yeah, she’s going to be excited. Thank you again for all your help.”
“It was my pleasure. I’ll be in touch soon.”
“Okay, bye.”
“Bye.”
Irish hung up and pulled down the sun visor.
She checked her makeup and inhaled a deep breath.
Her heart raced as she stepped out of the car.
Pulling down her skirt, she walked inside the restaurant and approached the hostess area.
After giving her Noble’s name, the host escorted her to the back of the restaurant where she spotted him.
His smile was infectious as he talked with two little boys.
Noble looked up at her as she advanced toward the table.
“Mr. St. Anthony, your guest has arrived.”
“Thank you,” he murmured, studying Irish as if he had never explored the depths of her body. He stood and pulled her in for a hug. “You look beautiful, Pumpkin.”
Irish grinned, feeling tingles all over her body. “Thank you.”
Noble pulled back and she faced the two boys. They looked at her, awaiting an introduction. Right away, she knew who Kenji was. He was an exact replica of his father with just a lighter skin tone.
“Aye, I want y’all to meet somebody really special. Irish this is Kenji and that’s my nephew, Amare. This is my friend, Irish.”
“Irish?” Kenji questioned. “What kind of name is that?”
“Aye, be nice,” Noble warned.
She grinned, finding him to be so adorable. “It’s a name my mom gave me.”
“Well, my mom gave me the name Amare,” his nephew proudly stated.
“My dad gave me my name,” Kenji added.
Noble ushered her into the booth then sat down next to her. She’d been nervous all morning about meeting his son. Knowing how involved Noble was in Kenji’s life, she knew if he didn’t like her, then their relationship would be nothing more than a memory.
“Why is your hair like that?” Kenji pointed, wearing a curious look.
Grabbing a menu, she responded, “I was born with this hair.”
His eyes widened. “You were born with orange hair?”
She nodded. “Yep.”
“Are you white?” Amare asked.
Noble turned his head, snickering on the low. It took so much for Irish to hold her laugh in, but she managed.
“Um, no. I’m not white. Both of my parents are actually Black.”
At least that’s what Daisy told her. Irish had never met her father. Didn’t know what he looked like or hadn’t even heard his voice. The only details she was privy to was that he was a hustler who got locked up but Daisy didn’t keep in contact with him. He’d disappeared before she was born.
“She don't even look white,” Noble said after getting his chuckles out. “Where y’all get that from?”
“Amare said it, not me.” Kenji laughed.
Amare shrugged. “I thought she was white.”
Irish leaned toward Noble’s ear and whispered, “I really hope my genes fight back.”
He smirked at her. “I don't think so, Pumpkin. The St. Anthony genes strong as hell.”
Irish immediately thought about Noble’s brothers who also looked like him. While they shared small talk, the boys colored on the kid menus. When the drinks arrived, they then conversed about the Marvel universe and Call of Duty games.
“So, I got an email today from my realtor.”
She waited for him to show some kind of concern, but he continued sipping on his soda.
“She said the cash offer was accepted. Do you know where that may have come from?” Irish narrowed her eyes at him.
Noble simpered before licking his kissable lips. “What you want me to say?”
Giving him a knowing look, she replied, “I thought I told you I wanted to do this on my own.”
Noble rubbed his hand down his waves and looked her square in the eyes. Even after all this time, his gaze still casted a spell on Irish.
“I know but I have to take care of you, Irish. It’s in my DNA to take care of the people I love. Your name will still be on the deed, but I had to make sure you didn’t worry about a mortgage payment. Let me be your man and handle shit for you.”
Irish wasn’t this hyper-independent woman who cursed men for doing for her.
Jovanis had taken care of her most of her adult life.
She loved having a man who wanted to care for her; she just needed to feel as if she had done something on her own.
Irish understood that it was a slight insecurity she needed to part ways with.
“Can you do that?” Noble quizzed. “Let me take care of you?”
Smirking, Irish nodded. “Sure, but I really don't think I have a choice in this matter.”
“You don't, especially when you carrying something that belongs to me.”
That made her smile broaden. Each time she thought about the life brewing in her body, it gave her a sense of peace.
“Irish, do your kids have orange hair?” Amare asked.
“Um, I don't have kids.”
At the moment…
Kenji gasped. “You don't have kids? All women have kids.”
“No, they don't,” Noble interjected. “Some adults don't have children, G.”
“Uncle Zayd and Uncle Wilde don't have kids,” Amare stated in a condescending tone.
“Shit, Wilde might have some that he don't know of,” Noble mumbled.
Irish snickered, bumping her shoulder with his. “Don’t do Wilde like that.”
“You don't understand that man is a menace with women. Literally me all over again.”
“I’m gonna be like Uncle Wilde when I get older,” Amare proclaimed with a smile on his face.
“No, you will be better than Uncle Wilde,” Noble corrected him.
“I’m gonna be like my dad when I get bigger,” Kenji declared.
Irish thought that was so sweet as she smiled at him.
“No, you will be better than me.” Noble smiled at him.
Their appetizers of bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers and buffalo wings arrived at the table.
Everyone nibbled and shared G-rated conversation until their main course arrived.
Irish quietly sat, listening to Noble converse with the kids.
She noticed how Kenji’s eyes lit up when Noble addressed him.
There was literally love in his eyes and that made her swoon.
She wondered if their unborn child would look at her like that.
Would she be a good mom or would the remnants of Daisy show up?
Despising how those thoughts had entered her mind, Irish shook her head.
“I’m taking them to Sky Zone after this. I want you to come with us?” Noble told her after he paid the bill.
“Okay, I’ll just follow you guys there.”
The foursome left the restaurant and drove down the street to Sky Zone. The kids went to play while Noble and Irish sat on the bench.
“He’s so sweet, Noble,” Irish admired, referring to Kenji. “You and his bitter mom are doing such a great job.”
“Yeah, that’s my boy.” He pulled on his chin hairs. “I’m trying to envision how he’s going to take being a big brother.”
“You don't think he will be sad, do you?”
He shrugged, dragging his teeth against his lip. “I can’t call it. You know, he asked me a while ago to move back in with him and his mama. I think he still wants us to be together.”
Irish’s stomach soured at that statement.
What would Noble do if his son didn’t accept her?
How hard would Kenji make it for her to be implemented in their family?
Irish wanted to be liked by everyone. She’d always been that way.
It was one of the reasons why Jovanis had slid so long on her loyalty because she never wanted to let anyone down.
Still, this was different. Irish wanted Noble more than anything and if Kenji wasn’t feeling her, she knew they couldn’t proceed.
“What did you tell him?”
“I was honest and said I can’t…” He paused for a while. “His young mind don't understand why me and his mama didn’t work out. He’s probably at school, realizing that other kids have their families and he don't.”
“Does that make you feel guilty?”
Bobbing his head, Noble confirmed a worry of Irish’s.
“Only because I wish I could’ve given him that full family unit that I used to have with my pops before he passed away.”
“Can I ask how he passed?”
“A robbery. Some nigga got mad that my pops whooped him in pool and took all his money. He ended up robbing him outside of the pool hall and killing him.”
Irish’s forehead creased as her lips parted. “Noble, I had no idea. I’m so sorry that happened to you.”
He turned to her, smiling with his eyes. “It’s cool. I mean it wasn’t cool when it happened, but I made peace with it.”
“Yeah, but you shouldn’t have had to. You should've been able to grow up with your father.”
Noble’s smile broadened as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “You know you're the sweetest person I know?”
“Sweet?” she snorted. “I used to bask in that compliment but not so much.”
“Why not?”
“Because me being sweet has let people take advantage of me. I don't wanna be sweet anymore.”
Her gaze traveled to her lap as her memory played out like a recap episode. Noble tipped her face upward with his index finger on her chin.
“You can be my sweet girl.”
Irish wished she could’ve kissed him but didn’t want to draw any attention from Kenji. Knowing that he wanted his parents back together, caused Irish to be careful in his presence.
“Or Pumpkin,” she teased.
“Nah, you’ll always be my Pumpkin. That’ll never change.”
Irish swooned at his words but quickly straightened her stance when Kenji ran over to them.