Chapter 8 #2
“Don't put so much pressure on yourself, Cali,” Cecilia told her. “You're human, we all make bad decisions.”
“I know, I just… I wanna make you guys proud.”
“We’re already proud of you,” Douglas assured.
“Are you sure, Dad? I know I’ve disappointed you the most.”
Douglas drew near to Cali and placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Listen, you’ve made me very proud. What father can brag about having a daughter who is a software engineer?
You're extremely intelligent and beautiful.
I don't hold your mistakes against you and neither should you. All that other stuff is water under the bridge, okay?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“Now, let’s go pick you out some furniture then get you a car.”
“Can I get a Porsche Panamera?” she asked, hopeful.
His lips pursed as he cut his eyes at her. “Don't push your luck, Calia.”
Bria chuckled. “You tried it.”
“I definitely did.”
Noble hiked the stairs just as the front door opened. Danira appeared, wearing a zebra print muumuu with a wine glass in her hand. She smiled at him when he reached the top step.
“What happened this time?” she asked, wearing a smirk.
Noble chuckled. “Let me in.”
Stepping to the side, she allowed him access inside her home. The aroma of food floated in the air as Noble went to take a seat on her leather couch. Solange’s Binz played in the background while a candle flickered on the coffee table. Danira took a seat in the chair and crossed her legs.
“So, what’s up, Noble? How can I be of service to you?”
His elbows were on his knees and his fingers were interlocked. It was going on month two of Irish’s depressive state and Noble wanted to save her. His Pumpkin was a fighter, trying her best to battle grief head-on but at times, she lost the fight.
“I need you to tell me how to help my girl out. She’s been grieving and… I don't know. I want to make her feel better.”
Danira’s head slightly reared, showcasing how his statement had caught her off guard. She was a therapist and a damned good one. If there was anyone who could give him tips on how to deal with Irish, it was her.
“Wow, um…” She placed her glass on the table. “I didn’t expect you to come on her behalf. Who is she grieving?”
“Her best friend. He got killed right in front of her.” The thought of that always made Noble’s jaw clench. He couldn’t wait to make Tuck pay for his sins.
“Wow, that is really traumatic. So, the thing about grief is that it never goes away, Noble. It’s a constant battle every day to keep one’s sanity. A smell or a song can trigger a crying spell at a moment’s notice. The best thing you can do is just be supportive.”
“I have.” He was frustrated. “I hate seeing her down. You know how I am, Nira. I like to take all of my people’s problems away. It’s fucking me up that I can’t take hers. She tries to be good but I see through it. It’s eating her up on the inside.”
Danira went to sit next to him. “Noble, you can’t solve every problem. Some things have to play out on their own.”
That was easier for Danira to say but she hadn’t witnessed how somber Irish had been. A woman, who was once filled with so much peace and joy, held permanent gloom in her eyes. Plus, she was carrying their child, and he was certain the baby was affected by her mourning.
“I’m trying but it’s hard to watch.” He turned to her. “You know what I mean?”
Danira bobbed her head, eyeing his lips. “So, you're really serious about this girl, huh?”
Noble’s brows dipped, wrinkling the space between them. “I thought I made that clear when I first came to talk to you.”
“Yeah, but what’s so different about her? You’ve had many women in your life, including me that were great candidates, so what makes her so special?”
Noble looked at the burning fireplace. Honestly, he couldn’t put into words how much she meant to him.
“She’s just different.” He shrugged.
Danira playfully poked his arm. “I get that, but in what way?”
“Shit, in every way.” Noble traveled into his thoughts.
“She’s a light to everybody in her life, and she’s loyal.
She’s got a good heart, and she’s selfless.
But to me I just… I don't know, Nira. It’s hard to describe this feeling because I’ve never felt it for any other woman in my life.
She’s one of my top priorities. Making her happy is the main objective when I wake up.
I wanna take care of her every need because she deserves it.
I just love everything about her. She’s one of a kind. ”
He looked at Danira whose eyes were clouded with water.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don't know.” She reached for a tissue on the table. “I wish that was me instead of her.”
Noble groaned, immediately regretting coming to talk to her. “We talked about this shit already.”
“Yes, but did we really give our relationship our all before we walked away?”
“You walked away!” he bellowed, startling her. “I didn’t do shit.”
“But you didn’t fight.”
“I don't fight nobody to stay in my life,” he countered, growing irate. “You wanted to leave, and I respected that. I even gave you my blessing to move on. Danira, you wanted to end the relationship, not me.”
“And what about now?”
“What about it?”
“Can you see us getting back together? We’re both adults now. We’re able to think without those hormonal teenage emotions. Things could be perfect between us now.”
Right away, Noble shook his head. “No, they wouldn’t.”
“Noble, just think about it,” she whispered, climbing on top of him. “Think about our bond.” She went in for a kiss but he turned his head.
“Aye, watch out.” He moved her off his lap and stood. “I thought you accepted that our time was in the past and should be left there. Why the fuck you doing all this extra shit?”
“Because I miss you, and I think we were meant to be. It’s taken years for me to figure it out, but I have, and I want us to work it out.”
“So, you want me to cheat on my pregnant girlfriend with you?”
Danira eyes expanded. “Pregnant? She’s pregnant?”
Noble and Irish hadn’t told anyone close to them about their new arrival. In spite of this, he needed to paint a clear picture to Danira that what they had was dead.
“Yes, she’s pregnant. This ain't no fling, Danira. Me and her are locked in for life. So, let go of that get back together bullshit in your head. I came here thinking you would help me out but you still stuck in the past. I think it’s time to end this friendship ‘cause you don't know how to handle it.”
Noble headed for the door, and Danira was right on his heels. “Noble, wait. I apologize.”
He turned around just as he arrived at the front door. On his face was an impassive expression as Danira peered at him.
“I didn’t mean to let my emotions get the best of me. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable but what I feel is real. I, at least, wanted to let you know what it was between us. That’s all.”
His frown softened as he cupped Danira’s chin. It had to be agonizing experiencing a love that had been buried years ago. Although he didn’t share the same sentiments as her, he didn’t want to be totally dismissive. After all, they’d managed to share a friendship for the last fifteen years.
“Let it go, Danira. I’ve moved on and you should, too. I’ll always love you for being my first but it’s not the kind of love you're looking for. You deserve to have someone who’s crazy about you. I’m not the guy. I’m already crazy over another woman.”
She nodded as her head fell forward.
“I gotta go. Take care.”
Noble’s words were spoken in finality. This would be his last visit to Danira. She was in the deep end of the pool of second chance and Noble refused to get wet. He had a woman he adored waiting on him and he couldn’t go backwards. Not even for Danira.
“So, how’s it going out there?”
Irish stared at her phone screen while FaceTiming Cali. It had been one week since she’d been in Diamond Falls, and Irish couldn’t wait to get a more detailed update on her move. They’d texted the first three days and now Irish wanted all the tea.
“It’s so nice here. It’s really the East Coast. The row houses, boardwalk, and busy atmosphere is so different than home.”
“I bet it is.” Irish simpered, laying back in the bed. “So, how’s the job working out?”
“It’s cool. It has a much more laid-back atmosphere than my last job, which is why I chose to work from home a lot back then.”
“Mm-hmm.” Irish pursed her lips. “Your ass wasn’t even working from home. You were working that nigga.”
Cali chortled. “Bitch, I was doing everything but working. But that’s the past so let’s move on.”
Irish chuckled. “Yeah, okay. Is there any Black people at your job?”
“Yeah, it’s a couple. It’s this one girl who seems cool. She don't act like no square or anything so we’ll see. Maybe we can go hang out or something. I haven’t presented the idea because I’m trying to feel everyone out.”
“That’s smart. You gotta make sure she ain't weird.”
“Exactly. So, what’s been up with you?”
Irish’s chest inflated, thinking about her current mental state.
“I don't know, Cali. Some days, I’m good and feeling like I’m getting better.
Then, I wake up sad, like I’ve just realized that Jovanis is gone…
” She paused for a moment. “I feel like I’m going crazy some days.
I just want to get to the last stage of accepting that he’s gone.
Not to mention, I’m still traumatized. Zavier is still taking me everywhere but what if the person who killed Van, comes back for me? I think about that every day.”
Nothing made Irish happy except when Noble was in her presence. Even then, somber thoughts battled for her attention. Her sadness came in waves like the sea, moving her from contentment to misery without giving a proper warning.
“That’s normal. I hear about how people mourn their loved ones for years. Grief don't ever go away so don't rush it. Just go with the flow.”
Her bedroom door opened and Noble walked inside. Irish’s lips stretched into a grin as she sat up. He was dressed down in a crisp white T-shirt, red designer shorts, and fresh Air Force Ones.
“Oh, damn, Noble must be there. I see all those damn teeth in your mouth,” Cali complained, causing her to laugh. “Call me tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
Noble kneeled down and kissed her on her lips. “I missed you, Pumpkin.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I missed you, too.”
Pulling her up, Noble held her while kissing her on the lips. “Did you go to your warehouse?”
She nodded, gazing into his eyes. “Yes, I was very productive today.”
Irish had gotten tired of weeping, so she went to the warehouse to help Ivory out with shipping and customer service inquiries.
“Good, you need to get out.”
He sat down on the bed with Irish still straddling him. She lifted his shirt and dragged her fingers along his abs.
“Where were you today?”
“Taking care of business and picking Kenji up from school. Why? You needed me?”
“I always need you.” She leaned down, kissing his lips.
His manhood stiffened right away.
“Kenji said he wanted a sibling. It took everything in me not to tell him that one was on the way.”
“Aww,” Irish cooed. “You think he’s going to be happy? I mean, it won’t come from his mother so it’ll probably confuse him.”
“No, he knows me and his mama is done.”
Irish had been slowly getting to know Kenji. Noble brought him to her home to visit and she’d bond with him. Honestly, when he came, he took her mind off the grieving that had her in a strong chokehold.
“You gotta bring him over. I promised him we would make cupcakes.”
He smirked. “I will but you need to focus on that.”
Noble made his dick jump in his shorts. Irish bit her bottom lip and lifted her body. Reaching inside, she grabbed his erection and pulled it out.
“You sure you wanna go for a ride?” she teased.
“I told you I figured you out. You won’t get me no more.”
Simpering at his determination, Irish pulled up her silk nightgown and lowered her pussy on his dick.
“Mmm,” she moaned, tipping her head back.
Sex was another temporary fix to halt her mourning. Noble was so generous with the dick that whenever she was in need, he would pause his day to come give her a release.
“Papa, you feel so good every time,” she cooed.
Sliding the straps of her gown off her shoulder, Noble exposed her breasts. Squeezing her sensitive nipples, she circled her hips, ensuring that he touched every piece of flesh inside her center. Without warning, Noble flipped her on her back and placed one of her legs in the crook of his arm.
“I thought you could handle it,” she taunted him.
“You talking shit?” he asked, drilling into her.
Irish wanted to retort but his dick had filled her pussy to the brim. Noble covered her lips with his. Sloppily, they kissed as he stroked her flesh with a precision that only he possessed.
“Fuck, you dangerous, Pumpkin,” he growled, slowing down his strokes. “You trying to turn me into a simp.”
Irish wanted to laugh but his thrust had her in a spell. Her mouth was parted, eyes closed as her legs trembled in ecstasy. The first wave hit her like a tsunami. Her back arched with her nails digging into his chocolate skin.
“Oh, baby, shit!” she whimpered.
Noble pulled out and he planted his face between her thighs. His tongue rode her wave further intensifying her orgasm.
“Papa, stop,” she whined.
Irish wanted him to do anything but stop.
He sucked her clit then plunged his thick tongue inside her dewy center.
Before she knew it, her second climax had arrived, causing her to grip the sheets between her fingers.
Her teeth clenched as ripples of pleasure gushed through her center.
Noble found his rightful place, wedged in the middle of her thighs.
His dick plunged into her pussy that was now reminiscent of an ocean.
“Fuck, Pumpkin, this pussy gets better every time I’m in it,” he confessed, kissing her lips.
Irish devoured her flavor, swiping his tongue. Noble’s strokes were slow until he picked up speed. Her legs were pinned back, providing him with deeper access. Within minutes, his muscles locked up as he buried his face in the crook of her neck.
“Got damn,” he grumbled, pulsating inside her flesh.
After he’d released himself, Noble looked up at her. “I usually can go for another round but that pussy put me down.”
Irish cackled as he climbed off her then kissed her stomach. She loved when he did that or rubbed her belly until she fell asleep.
“Let’s take a shower.”
“Whatever you want, Papa.”