Page 33 of Breaking the Rules
“You want me to keep waiting on you or pick you up and put you in here?”
Savanhi cleared her throat, rolled her eyes, and waltzed over. “I can get in on my own.”
Noble smirked devilishly. “And out.”
Savanhi rolled her eyes and climbed into the SUV. The moment she sat down, her fatigued body sank into the buttery leather. This tiredness was starting to rest on her heavier than before. She was going to chalk it up to the uptick in her schedule.
“Ms. Vanhi, you hungry?” Areli asked after Noble closed the door and rounded the hood of the velvet ruby-wrapped Escalade.
“Are you asking for another snack?” Savanhi asked as Noble got inside.
“Noooo. Unc-Unc is going to feed me. He can feed you, too,” Areli replied.
“I think he wants to enjoy his time with you without me tagging along,” Savanhi replied. “Let’s do a rain check.”
“Don’t tell her that, she doesn’t forget a damn thing,” Noble rumbled as he backed out of the parking spot.
“Noted.” Savanhi spoke, looking at the time on her phone. Thirty minutes until the next bus. “You can drop me off right on the corner.”
“I’m dropping you off at your car. I ain’t that type of nigga,” he shared in a tone only Savanhi could hear. He waited for her to give him another set of directions.
Savanhi pointed to the bus stop. “Right there. Thanks.”
Noble looked around because he knew she wasn’t pointing to the bus top. “Hell nah.”
“What’s the problem?” Savanhi hissed in a hushed tone. “I took the bus here, I can take the bus home. I’m a big girl.”
“I’m not debating that. I just told you I ain’t that type,” he matched her tone and then looked over his shoulder. “Babygirl, where are we taking Ms. Vanhi to eat?”
“Noble,” Savanhi buzzed.
“The Shaking Shack!” Areli erupted in a cheer.
“Aight, the Shaking Shack it is,” Noble said, pulling off from the bus stop. “I can’t believe you. What’s going on with your car?”
“Do we need to get deep into each other’s business?” Savanhi sassed with a squint of her eyes.
“Yeah. I’ve been all in your business,” he retorted.
Savanhi rolled her eyes. “And I’m starting to regret that.”
“You got a mouth on you,” Noble replied with a strained chuckle. He had to remind himself that his niece was in the back seat.
“I know I do. What’s the problem?”
“I don’t have a problem with it, but you might take issue with the results,” he replied.
Savanhi rolled her eyes and turned her attention out of the window. Every so often, she would steal a glance and let the sight of him gripping the steering wheel with his right hand cause her body to heat.
“Ms. Vanhi, what are you going to get? I’m getting the nuggies and purple punch and the playground. I love their playground.”
“She had me take her there three times before I left,” Noble added.
“I’m not sure yet, Areli. But I love their purple punch too.”
At the Shaking Shack, Noble found a table for them, took their orders, and walked over to the order window. Savanhi lowly watched his every move. They were all intentional. How he kept his eyes on them and ordered. How, if Areli needed anything, he jumped to get it. He reminded her of Zayden. Always looking out, always nearby. Always a protector. Now, her trying to do that on her own felt like an overwhelming task.
They ate their respective meals without sharing much with one another but tuned into every word Areli spoke. She filled heruncle in on all the things her and Remi had done while he was away.
