Page 46 of Breaking the Rules
“Lead with your hips.”
Savanhi followed his lead, trusting him, barely hitting the first two balls. “Okay, let me try on my own.”
Noble stepped back and Areli’s face was pressed against the net watching. Savanhi took a practice swing before taking the stance he’d showed her. Noble watched her like a coach to his player. The ball came out and right within her zone she hit it and gasped. Savanhi jumped up and down before wrapping her arms around his neck. Joy.
Noble placed a series of congratulatory pats on her round ass and kissed her cheek.
“I’m a professional now,” she gushed, releasing him. “Put me on the team coach.”
“Me too!” Areli added, cheering with Savanhi too. “Good job, Sassy!”
“Both of you are already on the best team,” Noble spoke, moving to the knob to kill the machine. “Y’all ready for lunch?”
“Or a nap,” Savanhi yawned, taking the helmet off. “My sleep schedule is all out of whack.”
“That’s ‘cause you’re in the guest room,” Noble muttered behind her.
“You put me there, I tend to stay in my place,” she shot back over her shoulder.
“Oh word? Bet,” Noble buzzed, removing his batting gloves. “Babygirl, we’ll have lunch at the house, nap, and then pool time at Sincere’s.”
“Oh yeahhhh, pool time,” Areli said in a sing-along voice as she skipped, leaped, and danced away from the batting area.
“To have half of her energy,” Savanhi muttered, collecting Areli’s things.
“I’d get so much more shit done, I swear. There’s like a hundred emails Carl keeps recycling to me to look over, and I just can’t.” Noble took the bag before Savanhi could drape it over her body. “Stop doing that. I can carry yours and mine.”
She bit a grin. “How many of those emails are going to add to your brand?”
“They all claim they can.”
“Mm,” Savanhi hummed. “Fitness and nutrition seem to be your niche. I mean what I do I know, I’ve only been around you for real for a full day. But I think, if my opinion matters, those are the brands you should be looking at.”
Noble reached for the gate as Savanhi took Areli’s hand upon reaching her. “Your opinion always matters. I already have the protein-packed desserts.”
“Like ice creams, cakes, and cookies?”
“Exactly that. Before my pops put a baseball back in my hand, I was pudgy. I’m like a fat kid for real with a crazy sweet tooth.”
“Ice cream is my downfall. I’ll eat half a quart in a sitting if I’m not careful.”
“There’s a freezer full at the house. It won’t fuck up your dancer curves.”
“I might take you up on that. So why not just expand that to breakfast? You know these student athletes will buy the water you sell.”
“You might be on to something. I might keep you.”
“You already said you were, unless you’re lying. Let me know now before I mess around and fall for you.”
From the batting cages to the house, through lunch with Areli, the trio ended up on the couch. Areli laid on Savanhi, and she leaned on Noble.
“She misses her mother,” Savanhi shared, rubbing her back.
“She does. She doesn’t sleep through the night,” Noble muttered.
“I don’t think any of us are sleeping through the night,” Savanhi said with a yawn.
“How long has your mother been gone?”
