Page 85 of Breaking the Rules
“Let me guess, manicures are on the top of her list?”
“Hair appointment, actually. She needs a deep condition and refuses to let me do it without theatrics, so I’m strapping her to a chair,” Savanhi said with a giggle.
“She’s been acting like she got some damn sense. The temper tantrum she threw before I left was unreal.”
“Deuce, she misses her mother. No matter how much we occupy her and love her she still wants her mother. We’re going to have moments like that, and instead of getting beside ourselves, we’ll lean in and love her more.”
Noble stared at the screen before a smirk pierced his cheek. “You’re going to be great at this.”
“You are too. Go finish getting ready. I’ll see you soon,” Savanhi coached, blowing kisses toward the screen. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
The call ended, and Savanhi quickly headed home. Bursting into the garage door, Savanhi spotted the bags staged by the door. “Everyone ready?”
“Yep! Off to surprise Unc-Unc,” Areli said with a jig and a wiggle.
“And what are you going to say to your uncle when you see him?” Remi asked, rounding the corner.
“Sowwy,” Areli started, earning a raised brow from Savanhi. “Sorry, Deucey, for kicking you because I was mad. I made him a card too. I covered it in pink glitter.”
Lawryn came in from the dining room dusting the residue glitter off of her. “Oh, he’s going to love that. I’ve been vacuuming all morning and still haven’t gotten it all up. How was the appointment?”
Savanhi thrusted her barely there baby bump in the air. “Cleared. I’ll be in the double Dutch competition.”
“No, you not!” the trio chimed, hands on hips, face screwed up and peering at Savanhi.
“My cousin baby is not going to drop out on the ground!” Areli protested, prompting Remi and Lawryn to chime in.
“Mmmhmm, yeah. She’s right when she’s right,” Remi buzzed.
Lawryn added. “Areli got a point.”
Savanhi rolled her eyes. “Noble got y’all in a group chat?”
“And what if he does?” Areli asked.
“You can’t even read,” the women fired off and falling into a fit of laughter.
“Come on y’all, the JoyRide will be here in ten minutes,” Savanhi stated, but no one moved.
“Did you tinkle, Sassy?” Areli quizzed.
“Did you?” Savanhi sassed back.
“I wasn’t the one smoochin’ and got a baby,” Areli shot back.
“You got a point,” Savanhi said, heading down the hall to the half bath.
Within an hour the group of women was landing in Emerald City dressed for the game and ready to cheer for Noble. This game kicked off the Family Day celebration leading into the weekend. When Noble ran out of the dugout, he wasn’t expecting to see Areli standing in his spot with a new hairdo, nails, and his bedazzled number on her jersey.
Noble ran to her and scooped her up while Savanhi watched from the sidelines. “Babygirl!”
“Miss me Unc-Unc?” Areli asked, showing all her teeth and squeezing his neck.
“You know I do. Where is Sassy?” he quizzed, looking around the crowd, finding Savanhi glowing in a crop top jersey, her growing belly on display in a pair of cargo jeans. “Found her.”
Savanh waved and blew a kiss and mouthed, “out of the park, baby. Out of the park.”
