Page 44 of Breaking the Rules
“You got the front row seat.”
The cousins talked for another thirty minutes about Lawryn’s shop, Zayden’s case, and random topics before a knock sounded against the door.
“Oop, that sounds like knock and come get it. Byeeee,” Lawryn said, hanging up before Savanhi could refute.
“Come in.”
Noble opened the door holding two bags of clothes. “I didn’t see a charge.”
“Because I didn’t use your card. I have my own money you know,” she sassed, making him grit his teeth.
“If I weren’t RSVP’d to a hair appointment,” he grumbled, placing her bags down.
“What?” she challenged.
“You know what. Wait and see. We’re leaving in forty-five minutes. Soon as I figure out how to fix her hair. I had no idea she was this bougie. Nobody but Kymber’s ass making her like this.”
Savanhi’s ears perked. “Kookin’ with Kym, is your sister?”
“Yeah, you know her?”
“From around when she had the food truck. Used to sell us plates at the club. I wouldn’t eat until the next day but it was good.”
“Kymber can cook her ass off. Problem is she was cooking and doing other shit,” Noble huffed, placing the bags on the bed and then sitting down. “I met with her lawyer the other day, someone paid her retainer.”
Savanhi smiled softly. “Angels walk amongst us.”
“They do.” Noble was in need of a change of conversation, worrying about Kymber was what kept him up at night. “Why didn’t you eat the plates until the next day?”
“Hate dancing on a full stomach. Even when I’m at the studio, I don’t eat until I’m home.”
He hummed. “When I get you tonight, we’re going to dinner. Sound good?”
“I’d like that.”
“Good, get dressed and help me with all this hair. Please. Remi is off until next week.”
FIFTEEN
“Whew,” Areli blew. “That was a good one, Unc-Unc.”
Noble, in his cut-off compression Royals shirt, sweat glistening over his skin and his helmet covering his head, was popping leather-bound balls into the back of the net back to back. Savanhi was focused on how fast the ball flew out of the machine, met his bat, and flew.
Having them sitting comfortably behind him, watching, wincing, and clapping gave him a sense of pride. Before, the crowd was what would do it. Their roar. He’d never felt the pride from the purest form of joy. The things that were broken and bruised in him were being healed. Layer by layer.
Stepping out of the box, Noble hit the button on the side of the pole to pause the machine. Like clockwork, Areli hopped off of Savanhi’s lap and trotted over to him with a pink bat, gloves and helmet. Savanhi was behind her with a bottle of water.
“My turn,” Areli shouted, fumbling over her things and walking past her uncle.
“Can I get some water first?” Noble joked, taking it from Savanhi’s hand in thanks. “You want to try?”
“I am not coordinated like that,” Savanhi spoke with a nervous laugh. “That ball was flying out of there at 100 miles an hour.”
“I can govern it, Sassy.”
“I don’t have a helmet,” she replied.
A grin spread over his face. “I’ve seen you drop from the ceiling and do that thigh clapping shit, swing back up, and flip over and spin. You can hit a ball.”
