Chapter 5 #2
Irish sat in a daze, mulling over her encounter with Noble for the umpteenth time. What was she thinking? Confirming Jovanis’ sexuality to him was a great offense, and Irish felt like she had betrayed her best friend. He’d entrusted her to his secret, yet she failed to protect his true life.
But Noble already knew…
Irish attempted to justify her betrayal, but she knew Jovanis wouldn’t accept it.
“Irish?”
Checking out of her thoughts, her gaze landed on Jovanis who was seated across from her. So far, they had been to the mall and were now grabbing lunch.
“You good? You been quiet all day.”
Clearing her throat, she nodded. “Yeah, I’m cool. I just got a lot on my mind.”
“You wanna talk?” he asked while spreading butter over his waffles.
For the first time in their history, Irish couldn’t talk about this with him. He would be crushed to know that she had given confirmation to someone outside of their two-person circle.
“No, it’s not really anything important.”
He peered at her with his heavily lashed eyes. Jovanis had eyelashes that women would kill for.
“Since when has that stopped you from dumping on me? You know we’re each other’s dump truck.”
She smirked just as her phone signaled a text message.
Cali: I need to talk to you in person. Are you busy?
Irish: I’m having lunch with Jovanis. I’ll call you as soon as I leave so we can meet up.
“Who dat?” Jovanis asked.
“Cali. She wants to meet up later.”
Chewing, he said, “Now back to what’s on your mind. Tell me.”
Jovanis was always pushy with Irish. It was so easy for her to stay in her head and overthink every problem. Jovanis was a solution-based guy so he often pushed her to open up so he could fix it.
“Well, honestly.” She stalled, trying to navigate the conversation from what she truly wanted to confess. “I’m lonely. I’m ready to find my forever man and it just doesn’t seem like I will.”
His thick brows rumpled. “Why you say that?”
“Van, how do you expect me to find someone and build something real when I’m legally married to you?”
His eyes narrowed as he sat back in his seat. For a few agonizing seconds, he remained silent while staring at Irish.
“So, you wanna divorce?”
“No.” Shaking her head, she answered, “I’m not saying that.
All I’m saying is that I want something real.
You have something real, and I love that for you.
I just get tired of not having someone next to me at night.
I want to be wined and loved on too.” She chuckled.
“I’m thinking about the long term, wondering how it’s going to happen when I’m tied to you. You understand, right?”
Jovanis’ gaze cast down to his lap while nodding.
This may have been sudden for him, but Irish had been thinking about her love life for a long time.
There had to be a dead-end street to this setup.
A means to completion so Irish could get the most out of life without having to sacrifice her happiness for his discretion.
“Yeah, I understand you. You so fucking dope that it’ll be selfish of me to keep you locked in this shit. I hope you’re not trying to replace me though. Me and you are forever, Irish.”
A knowing look surfaced on her face. “Like I don’t know that.”
Reaching over the table, he grabbed her hand.
“You know I love you. I want the best for you. If you meet somebody and you want to go all the way with that nigga, I promise I won’t interfere.
Just give me a heads-up. I don’t want you to be lonely.
I want you to find someone that brings out the best in you.
I want you to fall so deep in love that you feel like you’re drowning and don’t wanna be saved. ”
Irish grinned, swooning over his words. “Your wordplay has always been sickening. You should’ve been a writer.”
Jovanis waved his hand dismissively. “I’ma fucking hustla. Fuck a writer.”
“Whatever.” She playfully rolled her eyes. “You’re the bestest friend a girl could have.”
“Even though I pushed you in the pool and you had just got your hair done for eighth grade graduation?”
Irish’s smile turned into pursed lips as he burst out laughing. “Don’t bring that up. I had to beg my mama to get my hair done again because of you. Do you know how long I had to hear her mouth?”
“My bad.” He snickered. “I wasn’t shit for doing that to you.”
“You damn right.”
Irish cherished moments like these. Where she and Jovanis could trap themselves into their bubble and talk about anything they wanted.
Or they would reminisce on their youth when their bond was established.
Life back then was hard. Like a horror movie that she never wanted to watch again.
Every day, she thanked God for bringing her out of darkness.
Life wasn’t perfect but it was better than what she had once dealt with.
“What’s on the agenda today?” he quizzed, walking her to the car.
“I’m going to meet up with Cali and possibly get my hair done.”
Jovanis eyed her mane. “Yeah, get that carrot top did.”
“Shut up.” She chuckled.
“Aye, let’s go to the movies. Just me and you.”
Nodding, she replied, “Okay, which theater?”
“Parkland so I can order me some food.”
“Your greedy ass,” she jested. “But I’ll look up the showtimes and see what’s playing. Then, I’ll let you know.”
“Yep.”
When they approached her car, Jovanis gave her a hug and kissed her cheek.
“I’ll holla at you.”
“Bye, Van.”
He walked toward his car while Irish got inside hers.
Before she drove away, she texted Cali asking her to meet at her small warehouse.
Sounds of Monaleo Putting Ya Dine blasted in her car as she drove out of the parking lot.
Feeling full of her meal and excited for her time with Jovanis, Irish rapped along with the lyrics as if she had written the verse herself.
It took about thirty minutes for her to arrive at the warehouse.
When she pulled in front, she noticed Cali’s Porsche parked near the door.
Cali never requested to meet up on short notice so Irish knew something was off.
Strutting toward her car, she got inside and immediately smelled the scent of marijuana.
“Oh, this must be an emergency if you’re smoking,” Irish noted.
Cali scoffed. “This shit ain’t doing anything for me except wrecking my nerves.”
They had become friends over the years due to their husbands working in close proximity. Cali was a fun girl who loved to hang out and enjoy her life. Irish was the same, and when they found out their shared similarities, they bonded.
“What’s going on?”
Cali exhaled deeply, looking forward while Irish waited in great anticipation.
“I’ve decided that I’m leaving Rio for Braye.”
Irish’s ginger brows hiked while gawking at Cali, who avoided her eye contact.
“Are you serious?”
She finally faced her. “Yes, I can’t lose Braye. He’s tired of being on the side, and I’m honestly tired of not being with him. He’s who I want, so I’m going to officially request a divorce.”
There was an eerie awkwardness that invaded the car. Not even the sounds of the radio could compete with the stillness that had engulfed them. There was so much Irish wanted to say but she wasn’t certain of Cali’s mental state.
“I know you probably think I’m crazy but I’m following my heart.”
“But Rio loves you, Cali,” she stressed. “I need you to put that into your perspective.”
Cali pushed out a deep breath, slightly shaking her head. “I know and a part of me loves him too, but I love Braye more.”
Irish shook her head, rummaging through her thoughts, hoping to coerce her into some common sense.
“Okay, look, I know this thing between you and Braye is passionate, but Rio is your husband. He loves you so much, and I think you should consider him in this moment. You’re going to break him, Cali.”
“Irish, I’ve been considering people my entire life. When am I going to consider myself? What about what I want? Or what my heart desires? I want Braye. He makes me feel like I belong to him. He makes me feel like a woman.”
“And Rio doesn’t?”
Cali seesawed her head. “In a way, yes, but not like Braye.”
“Cali, I just… I really need you to think about everyone involved. You exchanged vows with Rio, and you promised to love him for eternity.”
“I didn’t mean them,” Cali confessed. “I was only fulfilling a duty. Rio was chosen for me. I didn’t get a say so and now that I’ve actually felt the love that Braye gives me, I don’t wanna be without it.”
“This is selfish.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” Cali countered. “Don’t you get to be with a man you love, Irish? How come I can’t?”
If Cali only knew the lonely nights that plagued Irish.
Or how hollow she felt knowing that the only love she had truly experienced was Jovanis’ platonic version.
Irish secretly envied Cali. She had a man that loved her wholeheartedly.
She knew because Rio lost his way every time he gazed into Cali’s eyes.
He honored her in the streets and respected her when she wasn’t with him.
If she only knew how much Rio truly cherished her, then she wouldn’t have felt the need to rip his heart from his chest.
“Please don’t try to talk me out of this, Irish. My mind is made up,” Cali requested as her gaze fell to her lap.
“Okay, I won’t talk you out of this, but I will ask if you’ve actually thought this through. What if things don’t happen the way you plan? What if you’re not as compatible with Braye as you think you are? Have you thought about all the what-ifs?”
“I have,” she muttered. “I’ve been thinking about all of it lately. I know I’m taking a huge risk, but Braye is worth it.”
Irish wondered what it was about him that made Cali lose all of her self-control. How was his love any different than any other man walking St. Parklynn?
It gotta be the dick…
“Listen, I know this is a bit much but all I need from you is your support. I know what I’m doing is wrong, but I could use an ally in my corner, and I want that to be you, Irish.”