Page 59 of Breaking the Rules
“Can it be a pony? A pink one? Right here?” Areli asked, pointing to her stomach.
Savanhi snickered. “Deuce will have a heart attack.”
“He has them too,” Areli huffed. “Everywhere. Some I can’t even see.”
Lawryn stood up and snickered. “She shady as hell.”
“As hell,” Savanhi started, walking arm-in-arm with Lawryn through the entrance. “This morning she told me – you’re lucky you dance because all these pancakes and kisses will make you fat.”
“Kisses?” Lawryn asked.
Areli chimed in from Savanhi’s right, ending her mini dance break to occupy grown folks’ business. “Mommy said kisses make you fat. She told me that when Tommy kissed me on the playground at daycare.”
“Who the hell is Tommy?” Lawryn asked. “I want the tea.”
“No tea, here today, gone tomorrow,” Areli stated with a hand wave and returned to her dancing and spinning to the music blasting through the stadium.
Lawryn nearly fell out in laughter. “That’s why you’re glowing. You got a man and a family, all because you listened to your big cousin. Have I ever steered you wrong?”
Savanhi raised her freshly-waxed brows towards the laid baby hairs. “Do you want to go there with me? Do you?”
“Tell me.”
“Haseem Anderson.”
Lawryn winced. “My bad. I didn’t know he was missing six teeth, had a receding hairline, or that the sister he claimed was his sister really wasn’t his sister. But I’ve been right every time after.”
“You’ve been rightthistime. And it wasn’t relationship-related, just so you know.”
“Well, either way, what a glow up, baby. Let’s slam dunk that ball.”
Savanhi cut Lawryn a look. “Stop playing. This is football, it’s a touchdown.”
Lawryn blurted in a laugh. “Bitch, it’s soccer, and it’s called a goal. Get with it.”
The day of laughter with her cousin and dance-offs in the stands with Areli was exactly what Savanhi’s spirit had been missing. She was missing joy. Day by day, it was restoring her past capacity.
“Hit it, Deucey!” Areli cheered as the fest entered the third round. “Hit it, Deucey!”
Savanhi had yet to see Noble play in an actual game. Only batting cages and today. She was enthralled and equally as turned on by him in his uniform. Gold and ruby chains hanging freely against his rich brown skin. The white jersey contrasts perfectly, sweat glistening off his skin. Every swing and hit of the bat was strong. His stance, sturdy. His personality was in his athleticism.
Everything about Noble – despite how many curveballs were thrown his way – he stood steady, on his business and knocked it out of the park. This is why he was respected the way he was, why people looked at him with stars in their eyes. Why she looked at him with stars in her eyes. Yes, she had Zayden, but Noble. He was rewiring her.
Savanhi stood with her hands on her hips. “Three more, Deuce.”
He was currently at fifteen homerun hits and needed three more to qualify him for the fourth and final round against Ganton Hills pitcher Leo Santon. Savanhi spotted the tiredness in his swing.
“Come on, baby,” she muttered. “Shake that shit off. Three hits. Give me three hits.”
The crack could be heard around the stadium. Savanhi watched the screen anxiously. Over the fence.
“Woohoo, Deucey!” Areli screeching. “Give me twooo!”
Areli was hopped up on sugar on purpose. After falling asleep on him last night Savanhi wanted Areli dead to the world and unable to interrupt them again.
Crack!
Savanhi picked Areli up so she could see the final hit. “You think he’s going to do it?”
