Page 47 of Breaking the Rules
“Her and my dad got locked up when I was two. We went to live with my granny. When she had a massive heart attack, it was me and my brother. How about you?”
“She left maybe two months after my sister was born. Pops thought it was post-partum because she went through it with me. She just never wanted to be a mother. That, I can’t wrap my head around.”
“Me neither. I’d love to be a mother. But like in a whole family situation. Give my kids what I didn’t have.”
“I feel you on that. Kym and I had Ms. Patty, but her and pops never really made their thing a thing. Both were still married, and I feel like they were both waiting for their spouses to come back. Trauma bonding.”
Savanhi groaned. “We might have some of that too.”
“Similar upbringings but I’m not bonding with you off that fact that life is fucked up. I’m bonding with you because as fucked up as life is, I want some beautiful shit.”
“You think you’re going to get that from me?”
“I know I am. And before you ask how, it’s because you’re guard comes down in layers. Every one that falls, shows me something different.”
“Humor me,” Savanhi softly hummed. “What have you seen?”
“Night one on the beach, you wanted to feel security. Blocking me at the club, you want purposeful, meaningful attachments. Last night, assurance. Today…you let that independence go for a second because you trusted me, and thenthe joy. The joy is my favorite part. That’s that shit I want to tap into.”
“Tell me how you’re going to do that.”
Noble rumbled in tired laughter. “If I tell you, watching you break all those rules you made because you encountered bitch niggas won’t be as beautiful.”
“I hear you,” Savanhi muttered, her body becoming heavier against his.
A kiss to her forehead and repositioning underneath her, he slipped his fingers into her hair and drifted off too. Noble felt like he was out for only a minute before he felt the squeeze and release of his nose. He pulled an eye open to find Areli’s hair braided into two braids and dressed in full swim.
“Wake up, Deucey, we’re ready.”
Noble grabbed her as he sat up. “How long was I sleep?”
“Forever,” Areli hummed. “Hurry up, Sassy has to get to the studio. You like my hair?”
“I love your hair,” he assured, kissing her face. “I’m getting up.”
“Hurry up,” Areli spoke, squeezing his neck and roaming down the hall where Savanhi was putting on her shoes.
From his relaxed position, he took her in. The natural beauty she held, the confidence she was rediscovering. The security she longed for. They were all dancing around her. Savanhi turned her head, finding his eyes on her. A soft smile crept over her lips. The gesture sent his nerves into a disarray, like he was in high school with a crush. This was more than a crush, more than something to take the edge off. Savanhi appeared in his world at the worst time with everything he needed, and all he had to do was care for her, and she’d grant him access to everything he was void of.
She moved from the mirror by the door and closer to where he was still laying. “You slept good?”
“I needed that, you?”
“Needed it and I’d like to request that again,” Savanhi softly stated.
“With Areli spread out across us?” he asked with a brow raised.
“I don’t mind that. She comes with the package.”
“Mm,” he grunted, pushing himself up from the couch. “Let me get you to the studio before I have to give Areli some melatonin.”
She giggled and switched away. “Areli, let’s roll, pretty girl.”
Watching them take to each other was another added bonus. It solidified it all. Forget the rules, forget the restrictions they placed to keep themselves safe. This was ordained.
Noble ensured Savanhi was safely inside of the dance studio, a linger to her lips before him and Areli landed at Sincere’s.
“About time y’all got here. Fuck was you doin’, boy?” Sincere asked, carefully watching Areli enter the pool with all her floaties on.
