Page 16 of Breaking the Rules
“With the sitter. You might not care but I do. I promise, tomorrow morning at eleven? Tonight, let Sincere get you into some good trouble."
"I've had enough of trouble," Noble grumbled.
"I told you that girl was no good,” Kymber huffed, before a loud crash sounded off. “Damnit. I swear! Noble, I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you. Celebrate yourself. I’ll have Areli call you this afternoon when I pick her up.”
“You better. I’m not even playing. She hasn’t called me all week. I don’t like that shit, Kym,” he replied.
“I hate to see how you’re going to be when you have kids,” Kymber laughed. “Just like daddy.”
“That ain’t too bad. I’ll see you tomorrow. You need me before then, call, aight?”
“I will, love you!” Kymber ended the call, leaving Noble alone again.
The suddenness of loneliness was making him search for what he couldn’t have.
“That’s some impressive shit, huh?” Kendrick’s voice broke Noble’s growing obsession.
He turned slightly to find Kendrick to his left. “It is. All this history, to be a part of it now. Feels like…”
“A sigh of relief. How are you for real?” Kendrick posed.
Noble drew in a breath and hummed. “I ain’t walking around with a broken heart. A part of me knew I was moving through themotions with her to fulfill a timeline or whatever. The part that’s broken is my damn pride. The ego. The arrogance of it all. I’m embarrassed as fuck.”
Kendrick nodded. “I can feel that. You know I’ve never told nobody this, but Yandi lost a child and left me. Yeah, my heart hurt because I breathe for that woman but my pride. Man, that shit about killed me.”
“You and Yandi are goals for real. I don’t think I’m going to put myself in that position again. I can’t risk my livelihood for some ideas I have for my heart. That shit got to go on ice.”
“You say that now and then someone walks in and in one glance breaks all the rules you got. I give it a year.”
“Get yo’ ass away from me,” Noble joked, slightly pushing his teammate away. “Don’t put that on me. I’m cool.”
“I hear you. Listen, tomorrow night I’m going to host a dinner for you at my spot, bring your team, meet the team, chop it up. Tuesday morning, we’re back to work. We got a community day on Friday before hitting the road for ten games. All that broken pride, back it up and leave it on the road. You gon’ be aight,” Kendrick stated, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Plus, I can’t be the only one knocking that shit out the park.”
“I got you, dawg.”
“Bet. Go celebrate.”
Noble enjoyed a day around the city alone before returning back to Sincere’s spot. After a much-needed nap plagued by Savanhi’s moans and soft touch, he was up rummaging the kitchen for something to eat.
The weed smoke greeted Noble before Sincere did. “That nigga Royal!”
Noble chuckled. “Uh huh. Which means tomorrow, I’m finna get the fuck out your spot.”
“Stay as long as you need. I hit the road Wednesday to wrap this tour up. Ain’t nobody gonna be here. I heard you enjoyed the boat. My nigga.”
Noble chuckled. “Wasn’t nothing.”
“Yeah, whatever, nigga.” Sincere waved him off and added. “Got the private room at Tempt booked. We rolling at midnight. The chef is coming in a few.”
“Rap got you bougie as hell, huh? Can’t watch the regular strippers on the regular floor?”
Sincere leaned on the counter. “Honestly, it exposed me to a world beyond L.O. I mean, the city is cool, it made a fly nigga like me. But to see the world, nothing tops that. I don’t have shit else to spend my money on, might as well enjoy this shit.”
“Who was shorty with all the tattoos?”
Noble watched Sincere stifle a smile. “Lawryn. She owns a tattoo shop in The Village. Did a few of my pieces. She ain’t my usual type.”
“Yeah, ‘cause her ass seems calm. You like that crazy shit. What the fuck you doin’ with her?”
