Chapter 7 #3
Irish exhaled. “He’s been maintaining but I know it’s eating him up.”
Jovanis and Rio were close and had come up together in TLM. He didn’t speak much about Rio’s condition, but Irish knew him well enough to know that he carried a lot of pain on behalf of his friend.
“You bitches are so lucky.” Rozalin lightened the mood. “Where is my good man at?”
“Shit, he probably was that short guy you turned away last night at the casino,” Shay joked.
“Girl, ain't nothing wrong with a short king,” Ivory teased.
“Listen, at five foot ten, I’m not settling for no damn short man. Tall kings only,” Rozalin protested.
Irish snickered. “The tall kings are basketball and football players. Oh, and wrestlers.”
“So, you know what that means, right?” Clarice asked, “Either become a shooting guard or get in the ring. I’m sure my mama got some outfits you can borrow.”
Rozalin chortled. “Bitch, fuck you!”
After more engaging fun shade, Irish and Ivory were finally finished. Ivory had gotten a sleek ponytail while Irish opted for a silk press and trim.
“You really got a silk press in this Florida heat?” Ivory quipped. “You're a brave girl.”
“It’s been cool lately.”
“That means nothing. You know the humidity comes like a thief in the night.” She laughed. “Where you headed next?”
“I gotta go to the hospital to see Cali.”
“Aw dang, tell her that I’m praying for the both of them. I’m going to meet up with my friends. Are you still going to cook my red beans and rice later?”
Playfully, Irish rolled her eyes. “Yes, girl. Now stop sweating me.”
“You're the best sister ever.” Ivory wrapped her arms around her neck and kissed her cheek, “I’ll meet you back at the house later.”
“Bye and be safe.”
The two parted ways, and Irish headed to the hospital so she could sit with Cali for a few hours.
Later that evening…
“You can’t fuck with me, Ivory. I told you I’m surgical with this shit,” Jovanis boasted.
Irish smirked at him as she placed a dish in the dishwasher.
He and Ivory were engrossed in a game of Connect 4.
They had ate a meal of red beans and rice, fried chicken, and cornbread and were now having family time.
She loved Jovanis’ relationship with Ivory.
He treated her just like his little sister and even spoiled her like one.
While she wiped the stove down, Irish couldn’t get her mind off Cali. The visit earlier was another sad one with Rio not showing any signs of improvement. Couple that with Cali’s misery and guilt, Irish had to do a lot of consoling during the visit.
“Surgical my ass. Boom!” Ivory celebrated with a shoulder bounce.
“Damn.” Jovanis studied the game, trying to see where he’d gone wrong. “Yo’ ass got lucky. Run it back.”
Glancing at her Apple Watch, she shook her head. “No can do. I’m headed to a kickback but tomorrow, I got you on the rematch.”
“Who’s kickback are you going to?” Irish asked.
“Jacinda is having one at her house.” She grabbed her small Chanel bag that Jovanis had gifted her for Christmas. “It’s not going to be a lot of people. Just a few of the people we used to go to high school with.”
“Aye, Iv, don't make me have to show out. Be safe, a’ight,” he warned.
“Always.” She grinned. “I’ll be back later.”
“Bye, girl.”
Irish finished the kitchen while Jovanis packed up the game and took a phone call.
She retreated to her bedroom where she fell back on the bed.
Irish was beat but wasn’t ready to call it a night.
Her thoughts drifted to her latest obsession.
Noble had been silent on his end, not bothering to reach out to her.
Irish would’ve felt wounded but with Rio being in a coma, she was certain Noble had more important things to tend to.
“What you about to do?” Jovanis asked, standing at the foot of the bed.
“Why?”
He wiggled her big toe, inciting a laugh from her.
“Stop, you jerk.”
“What? I can’t mess with your feet?” He grinned at her.
Jovanis was so charming with his broad white smile, slanted eyes, and thick brows. His skin was a toffee tone with locs that were blonde on the ends. He was a head turner, but he only had eyes set for the same sex.
“No.” She kicked him away. “I’m not doing much. Why? Are you trying to sneak out and be with your boo thang?”
Angling his head, Jovanis countered, “What I tell you about that shit?”
Tittering, Irish shrugged. “Let’s call him what he is.”
He flicked his hand. “Let’s not do that.”
“How are you holding up?”
He laid down next to Irish, swarming her with his aquatic scent. “I’m trying to stay busy, but I hope my nigga pull through. He don't belong in no fucking hospital.”
“I know… Cali’s distraught. I tried my best to keep her in good spirits but she’s not doing too well.”
“I bet.” Jovanis turned to her, exploring the depths of her eyes. “You doing good?”
“Yeah, why?”
“‘Cause I gotta make sure you okay. I don't want you slippin’ away from me, Irish.”
There were things constantly running a loop on her mind. Like a CD that had been scratched, Irish thoughts were stuck on things she wouldn’t let go of.
“That won’t ever happen.”
Jovanis pulled her body to him, and she rested her head on his chest. Her reverie journeyed back to the past when they would be laid up, talking about their hopes to escape their current nightmares. Back then, their friendship was their only escape.
“You know I love you more than any person in my life.”
She smiled. “Same here, Van.”
“You really my lifeline, Irish. I don't think you understand how many nights your words kept me going.”
She lifted her head and gazed into his orbs. “You provided that for me, too.”
“I’m not scared of anything in this life except losing you.”
Irish’s brows rumpled. “Hey, what’s on your mind?”
Shaking his head, he revealed, “Shit is crazy right now with Rio being in the hospital. Then, watching Cali crumble makes me think about our situation. I know Rio still here but it’s a chance he’s not going to make it. I think about what if I were to lose you. How would I go on with you?”
“Van, don't think like that. I’m here and I’m not going nowhere.”
He glared at her. “You don't know that, Irish. God could give you your walking papers right now. What if a man came and loved you so good that he persuaded you to leave me behind? It’s some shit we don't have control over, and I’m realizing that now.”
Irish caressed the side of his face. The love she held for him was a bottomless abyss. It was endless without a boundary in sight.
“I’m here and I can say that with my chest. We’re locked in for life. There isn’t a circumstance, a man, an act, or a disaster that could rip me away from you.”
She leaned over and kissed his cheek. To be so open with a person was something Irish cherished with her friendship with Jovanis. They could talk about any subject without judgement and still possess the same love they started with.
“I’m holding your red ass to that,” he joked, lightening the mood.
Before she could respond, his phone rang. He answered it while she rolled over and checked her phone. Her eyes widened when she saw what was on the screen.
Noble: You busy?
Irish: Not at the moment. Why?
Noble: Come fuck with me.
Irish swiftly sat up.
Irish: Send me the location.
Noble: Give me twenty minutes.
Irish: K.
She stood, sliding her feet into her house shoes before walking to her closet to grab something to wear.
It had been a week since she’d spent time with Noble, and she wanted to look on point.
She reached for a white cropped collar shirt, denim Milano Di Rouge shorts, and red Manolo Blahnik open-toe heels.
“Where you going?” Jovanis asked, stepping into the closet.
“Out for a lil’ bit.” Opening her drawer, she grabbed some accessories.
“With who?”
Irish contemplated if telling the truth would be worth the risk. Jovanis would surely lose his shit if he found out she was going to meet Noble, so she chose to conceal the truth. She could date freely but there were some men who were off limits—Noble was one of them.
“With some of the girls. We had planned to step out earlier at the salon.”
“Oh, a’ight. Well, I’m about to make some moves but I’ll be back.”
Glancing over her shoulder, she replied, “Okay.”
Jovanis stepped behind her and gave her a warm hug before kissing her cheek.
“Be safe, Irish. Call me if you need me.”
“I will.”
When Jovanis left, Irish hurried to the bathroom so she could shower and mentally prepare for her time with Noble.