Chapter 8
Eight
What the fuck am I doing?
As soon as Noble read Irish’s last text message, the fog had cleared up right away.
He’d been thinking about her so heavily since their last outing but with Rio being out of commission, Noble had to tend to business.
That didn’t mean she wasn’t living on his brain every second of the day.
But he had to think logically, and she was another man’s wife.
He was violating every bro code known to man.
He was the general and had to think bigger than his desires.
Nah, I gotta tell her we need to chill…
His manhood wouldn’t allow him to move like this. Jovanis was a close associate and although they weren’t friends, he still had respect for him. Noble went to text Irish when he saw another text.
Daysha: I need you to get Kenji for the next two days after school. I have to work late.
This was another thing Daysha did to piss Noble off. He had no problem getting his son but her late-night notices irked him. Again, he let her get away with it because of the position he’d put her in.
Noble: Ok.
“There go Wilde’s crazy ass now,” Vic told him.
Noble looked up to see his brother, Wilde, bopping inside.
With Zayd being the youngest and Wilde being the middle brother, he made sure his presence was known at all times.
His need for attention had been one of his biggest flaws.
Instead of Wilde making shit happen, he’d rather draw unwanted awareness to act like he was handling his business.
“Where the fuck you been?” Noble asked him as they slapped fives.
“Shit, a nigga been living.” He grinned, before shaking up with Nuke and Vic. “What’s the mothafuckin’ word?”
“Fuck you mean?” Noble grumbled. “You would know the word if you were around. You know Rio got into an accident, right?”
“Yeah, I heard. How’s he doing?” Wilde asked, taking a seat on the opposite sofa inside the lounge.
“Not good. Zayd had to take over for him.”
Wilde’s eyes turned into slits without warning. That was the thing about the St. Anthony Family. They had the warmest eyes until anger made an entrance and turned them into demon orbs.
“Zayd?” Wilde questioned. “You gave that nigga the job over me?”
“Calm down,” Nuke warned.
“Yeah, before you piss me off,” Noble added, angling his head.
Exhaling and swallowing deep, Wilde asked, “So, you ain't even think about me, bro? You just gave it to Zayd without him proving himself.”
Vic chuckled. “My man, you ain't been around to prove yourself. How you gon’ say some shit like that?”
Every part of Noble wanted to pass this position down to Wilde, but he had no discipline. Life was actually an amusement park for him. Meanwhile, Zayd showed up and took his role seriously. There was a two-year age difference between the two, but Wilde didn’t hold a candle to Zayd.
“If you been around, you would see that Zayd been stepping up way more than your flaky ass. You too busy chasing pussy and trying to stunt. You already know how I’m coming about this shit. You either earn it or get left in the fucking dust. The decision is yours, my nigga.”
Wilde’s jaw tensed as he glared at Noble. This could go very bad, considering they both possessed menacing tempers. Noble being the oldest sibling could control himself while Wilde had no self-control.
“Fuck it. You right.” He sighed, sitting back in the chair. “I’ve been slippin’ but I’m ready to get back on my post.”
Noble smirked, not quite buying his speech. He was a show-don't-tell-type of man, and Wilde would have to make him a believer.
“Nuke will get you right.”
Noble glanced down at his vibrating phone, remembering he was supposed to text Irish to cancel.
Irish: Send me the location.
This was the perfect time to cancel their plans, but his interest wouldn’t allow him to do it. Noble texted her the location then stood.
“I gotta make a move. I’ll holla at y’all.”
They said their goodbyes before Noble got inside his truck and drove downtown.
Drake’s Poundcake was the soundtrack for this particular ride.
Noble pondered his position, wondering which road it would lead him to.
If he was smart, he’d take the exit and avoid Irish.
Noble had always been intelligent but damn, she made his decision-making so difficult.
There was this yearning for her that he’d been nursing ever since he laid eyes on her.
When she wasn’t in his view, he could manage his desire, but when she popped up, peering at him with those earthy eyes, Noble felt a weakness.
It was one he hadn’t possessed since his first love.
That puppy love had him by the balls but at age thirty-three, this was something he couldn’t explain.
Noble drove into the lot, got out the truck, and passed his key to the valet.
He then stepped inside and paused his stride when he noticed a pair of toasted brown legs on ample display.
His gaze started from her pedicured toes then stopped at her ass that was barely covered in her shorts.
Irish turned her head, uniting her eyes with his.
Damn…
This pumpkin spice woman locked his attention whenever she was in his view.
There were no words spoken. Just intense eye fucking until Noble walked to the elevator.
Irish followed suit and boarded on with him.
As soon as the doors closed, he grabbed her soft hand and pulled her toward him.
A scent comprised of bergamot and ginger swarmed his nose as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
“Yo’ ass flew here, huh?”
Twisting her lips, she retorted, “Flew here is a stretch. I drove at regular speed.”
I’m projecting, baby. It was me who flew here…
“Yeah, a’ight,” he murmured just as the doors chimed open.
Wanting privacy, Noble invited her to his condo that was in the city.
If anything, ever went south with them, he knew she’d never be able to come up without access.
His forever home was in the suburbs and since that was where he mainly stayed with Kenji, Noble wasn’t ready to take Irish there.
“Hmm, it’s nice and clean in here,” she noted, looking at the pristine condo that was kept in tiptop shape.
“So, you think I’m a dirty nigga?”
Tittering, she answered, “No, I don't.”
This condo was barely occupied by Noble so there wasn’t much to clean when his cleaning lady did come by.
“You want a drink?”
“Sure.”
Noble went into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of Don Julio. He grabbed a few juices from the fridge and began making their drinks. Between mixing, he watched Irish walk around his open-floor living room looking at the pictures on the wall.
“You have a kid?”
“Yeah.”
He walked over to the coffee table and sat the glasses on top. He then joined Irish as she gazed at the pictures of his family.
“Your son looks just like you. How old is he?”
“Six.”
Irish turned to face him. Their eyes met, creating a spell that cast over the both of them.
“Where’s my drink?”
His gaze zoomed in on her lips. They were embellished with a peachy gloss that made his mans below harden.
“Over here.”
Grabbing her hand, he led them to the couch where they took a seat. Passing the drink to Irish, she tasted it right away.
“This is good.”
“Thanks.”
Noble grabbed the remote and turned on the recessed fireplace. The flames gave the room a subtle orange hue, creating a relaxing mood.
“Can you turn on some music?” she asked.
“Tell Alexa what you wanna hear.”
“Hmm,” she pondered. “I’m in a 90s kinda mood. Alexa play Intro Come Inside.”
Right away, the sultry tone of the trio softly filled the room, generating the perfect ambiance for two people who shared an intense attraction with each other.
“How you been, Noble? I know things are probably hectic with Rio being in the hospital. How are you holding up?”
Clearing his throat, he took a sip of his drink before answering her. “I’m good. Just hoping Rio pulls through.”
The thought of him being on the verge of death made Noble’s stomach sour. With the life they led, he never thought a car accident would be the way he left this earth.
“I hope so, too. I was at the hospital with Cali earlier and it’s just so much for her.”
He eyed her. “So, y’all are friends for real?”
Irish chuckled, rumpling her brows. “What’s ‘friends for real’?”
“Real friends. Not the kind that be having secret animosity with each other.”
“Oh, no.” She flicked her hand. “We’re real friends. That’s my girl, so I’ve been making sure I go to the hospital to be with her. I don't want her to feel like she’s alone so I’m there.”
Irish sipped on her drink while Noble silently consumed her presence. She was a dream to stare at, uniquely made with a personality that was addicting. He sensed she would be trouble for him. Good trouble though. The kind that he would gladly get into if it meant her being in his world.
“When is the last time you’ve been in love?” she blurted out.
Noble didn’t need to mull over her question for long. It was one that didn’t require heavy lifting for his mind.
“It’s been years.”
“How many?”
“Probably like fifteen.”
“Fifteen?” her ginger brows hiked. “That’s a long time.”
“I know. What about you?”
A deep exhale flowed from her mouth. “Whew, believe it or not, I don't think I’ve ever been in love in the sense of a romantic love. I’m loved by people, but I haven’t experienced the kind of love that lives deep in my bones.”
Noble could tell. There was a deficiency with Irish. He couldn’t explain how he knew. Maybe he was well versed in women and knew when one hadn’t been loved correctly.
“How come you ain't never been in love? That nigga, Jovanis, blocking you from being loved by another man?”