Page 45 of Breaking the Rules
“Ms. Vanhi, you climb poles, too? I love the poles on the playground,” Areli chimed, finally securing her gloves and adjusting her feet in her princess slippers.
Savanhi cut her eyes at Noble, who muffled his laughter. The gesture earned him a gentle shove to the shoulder. “That’s not funny, Deuce.”
“What’s funny is you still fighting this. What you afraid of? Folding or getting folded?”
Savanhi bit her lip and turned her attention to Areli, who was taking practice swings with her plastic pink bat. They were in a stare down, and Noble wasn’t backing down until he got an answer.
“Both,” Savanhi softly responded as he fully stepped out of the net.
He hooked her chin, lifted her face to his, and kissed her lips slow enough to let it linger but with enough vigor that she understood both would happen, and he had no plans of being anywhere else.
“I ain’t gon’ hurt you,” he said, punctuating his sentiment with a nip to her lip. “You’re up to bat next. Get your mind right.”
Savanhi huffed. “You just be talking to me any kind of way.”
“You like it ‘cause you ain’t beat my ass or ghosted me. So stop standing in your way.”
Savanhi teased a comment and then stopped when the restless four-year-old and her get up began click-clacking to the pole to hit the button. “Areli! No, ma’am.”
Noble looked over his shoulder, finding Areli snatching her hand back and putting it behind her back with an innocent smile on her face. “What I do? Y’all was smoochin’, I was ready.”
“My bad, babygirl. Come on.” Noble turned to Areli to soothe her impatience. “Tell Sassy to put a helmet on.”
“Helmet on, Sassy, I’m hitting homers!” Areli confidently spoke. Noble placed the tee in front of the plate and turned the speed down on the machine. Savanhi stood at the net in awe of how layered he could be. She captured a few moments, but there was nothing like the realness of the moment.
Noble always prided himself on being attentive and present. Values he had in everything he did that weren’t always appreciated were adored here. They were requirements.
“Good job, Areli,” Savanhi cheered. “Knock that thing out the park.”
“Clock that tea,” Areli grunted, swinging her bat and just missing Noble’s face.
“Where’d you get that from?” he asked, jerking out of the way. “Your hair gets done, oh that’s tea. Your momma?”
“Remi,” Areli said with a shrug. “Your turn, Sassy. You can use my tee.”
“I feel like you’re being shady,” Savanhi responded in laughter. “Your tee is short.”
“You are too. Plus, I don’t want you to get hurt,” Areli assured, removing her helmet. “Help her, Deucey.”
“You’re too short to be so bossy,” Noble stated, making sure Savanhi’s helmet was secured over all her hair. “You too. Both of y’all barely clearing five feet and telling me what to do.”
“You’re the one who wants to explore. This is what happens when you pursue after I told you not to. Smart mouth, Savanhi.”
“That smart mouth don’t bother me. It’s that guard I got to knock down. I’m going to enjoy watching you get soft as shit.”
Savanhi moved to the base. “You plan on getting soft, too?”
“As cotton,” he responded, tapping her hips. “Legs shoulder length apart and bend your knees.”
Savanhi did what she was told, her body brushing against his as he adjusted her hands around the bat.
“Knock your knuckles, but don’t choke the bat. The minute you see the ball come across you swing. Too early you miss it, too late you miss it.”
“Help me with the first two,” she hummed.
Noble felt an awakening in him. He knew the moment he encountered her, she was hyper independent and equally as stubborn. Asking for help was a glimmer of light. That whatever feeling was possessing his being wasn’t misplaced.
He didn’t rebut her ask, not wanting her to clam up, say something smart, and pull away. Sure he could see Areli in his peripheral, he held Savanhi closer and used his size to maneuver her body into the swing.
