Page 15 of Breaking the Rules

“Can I have an extra one?” Areli bargained more than she asked and Savanhi could appreciate it.

“Of course, never work for free,” Savanhi shared. “Put your bag by mine.”

“Uh, I’ll keep it,” Areli replied, moving the bag she had hanging off her arm like an old woman closer to her body.

“For snacks or…”

“I’m strwapped,” Areli whispered. “Just like my mommy.”

Savanhi’s brows rose as she squatted in front of her. “Oh. Do you mind if I see it?”

“Nope. Mommy never leaves home without it,” Areli said, unzipping her purse and opening it for Savanhi to spot the bright pink water gun, fully loaded.

She covered her mouth to stifle laughter and hummed. “You know, your mom might be on to something. Keep it close to ya. Barney might roll up on us.”

“Clock it,” Areli said with a head nod and followed every move Savanhi made.

Almost fifteen minutes later, a knock sounded at the door. What Savanhi saw when she looked up damn near stole her breath away. Areli leapt up and down.

“Unc-Unc!”

“That’s your uncle?”

“Yep,” Areli shouted, taking off toward the door. “Deucey!”

“Hold on, let me open it,” Savanhi objected in a nervous voice. Unsure why.

Yeah, their night together still played in her mind, and at times her body reminded her of what it felt like when that spot was hit with precision. She even hated to admit that on the nights she couldn’t sleep, she tried to find it herself to no avail.

She opened the door for him and stepped back. His eyes on hers like they’d been star-crossed lovers in a different life. It seemed like every time she saw him, the gaze was more intense.

“Unc-Unc, I watched you on TV last night. Big win! Remi gave me candy for it,” Areli shared, ending the stare down with a leap into his arms and a tight squeeze around his neck.

Now, with his eyes off of hers, Savanhi could breathe without feeling like air was in limited supply.

She could also appreciate how damn good he looked under full fluorescent lighting.

Tall, muscular body clad in a white Ameechii tee, jogger shorts, fresh sneakers.

His hair was freshly cut and tapered along with his beard.

Skin moisturized, diamonds in his ears shining.

The few necklaces he wore were tucked underneath the collar of his tee.

The same three she pulled and held on to when he had her legs pinned over her head.

“Shit,” she grumbled, and quickly moved over to her things stowed in the corner. “Get it together, Vanhi.”

“How much I owe you for being late?” Noble’s voice rumbled, making her core quake.

She steadied herself before looking over her shoulder at Areli hanging off his thick neck. “Nothing, I should be paying Areli for her protection.”

Noble balanced his attention from his niece to Savanhi.

He was mesmerized. A common reaction to being in her presence.

That wild, big, wavy hair flipped to the side and brushing over her shoulders.

She was free of the extensions she wore in his first encounter with her.

Those large eyes danced as she was trying to avoid his eyes. Impossible at this point.

“She kept you protected?” Noble questioned with a slight furrow of his thick brows.

“Babygirl keeps that thang on her. And it’s my favorite color so extra points for her. Areli, I’ll see you in a couple days.”

“Uh uh,” she sounded off. “Grand Slam fest. I’m going with Unc-Unc.”

Savanhi made note of the huge baseball event the Royals were hosting this year, examined him again, and nodded. “Ohh, have fun.”

“Can you come?” Areli asked. “You’re fun.”

Savanhi laughed, flattered by the compliment, but shook her head no. “I’ll be here dancing.”

She threw her bags over her shoulder, a silent signal she hoped Noble caught on to. She needed to get out of his space before her imagination kicked up. Noble, in three strides, closed the space between them and took the bags from her possession.

“We’ll walk you to your car,” he spoke evenly. It wasn’t an ask, it was a gentle demand. “You got everything?”

Savanhi attempted to reach for them, but Noble moved toward the door. “Um, yeah. But I can take those. I’m good.”

Noble flashed her a look that read he was taking them, and that was the end of the conversation. Savanhi tucked her lips, not wanting to go back and forth in front of Areli. She turned off the lights, followed them out, and locked up.

“Where you at?” he questioned.

“That way,” Savanhi pointed down the block where the streetlights were starting to pop on two at a time. She was hoping that he would let it go and let her walk to the bus stop in peace.

“Aight, get in. We’ll drive you down there.”

“Noble, it really isn’t necessary. I’m packing too. I’ll be fine.”

He moved toward the SUV with the dealers’ plates still on it. With ease, he secured Areli in her seat, opened the door for Savanhi, and placed her bags in the trunk. Savanhi stood stuck for a moment. Noble, waiting by the passenger door, looked at her and her uncertainty.

“You want me to keep waiting on you or pick you up and put you in here?”

Savanhi cleared her throat, rolled her eyes, and waltzed over. “I can get in on my own.”

Noble smirked devilishly. “And out.”

Savanhi rolled her eyes and climbed into the SUV. The moment she sat down, her fatigued body sank into the buttery leather. This tiredness was starting to rest on her heavier than before. She was going to chalk it up to the uptick in her schedule.

“Ms. Vanhi, you hungry?” Areli asked after Noble closed the door and rounded the hood of the velvet ruby-wrapped Escalade.

“Are you asking for another snack?” Savanhi asked as Noble got inside.

“Noooo. Unc-Unc is going to feed me. He can feed you, too,” Areli replied.

“I think he wants to enjoy his time with you without me tagging along,” Savanhi replied. “Let’s do a rain check.”

“Don’t tell her that, she doesn’t forget a damn thing,” Noble rumbled as he backed out of the parking spot.

“Noted.” Savanhi spoke, looking at the time on her phone. Thirty minutes until the next bus. “You can drop me off right on the corner.”

“I’m dropping you off at your car. I ain’t that type of nigga,” he shared in a tone only Savanhi could hear. He waited for her to give him another set of directions.

Savanhi pointed to the bus stop. “Right there. Thanks.”

Noble looked around because he knew she wasn’t pointing to the bus top. “Hell nah.”

“What’s the problem?” Savanhi hissed in a hushed tone. “I took the bus here, I can take the bus home. I’m a big girl.”

“I’m not debating that. I just told you I ain’t that type,” he matched her tone and then looked over his shoulder. “Babygirl, where are we taking Ms. Vanhi to eat?”

“Noble,” Savanhi buzzed.

“The Shaking Shack!” Areli erupted in a cheer.

“Aight, the Shaking Shack it is,” Noble said, pulling off from the bus stop. “I can’t believe you. What’s going on with your car?”

“Do we need to get deep into each other’s business?” Savanhi sassed with a squint of her eyes.

“Yeah. I’ve been all in your business,” he retorted.

Savanhi rolled her eyes. “And I’m starting to regret that.”

“You got a mouth on you,” Noble replied with a strained chuckle. He had to remind himself that his niece was in the back seat.

“I know I do. What’s the problem?”

“I don’t have a problem with it, but you might take issue with the results,” he replied.

Savanhi rolled her eyes and turned her attention out of the window. Every so often, she would steal a glance and let the sight of him gripping the steering wheel with his right hand cause her body to heat.

“Ms. Vanhi, what are you going to get? I’m getting the nuggies and purple punch and the playground. I love their playground.”

“She had me take her there three times before I left,” Noble added.

“I’m not sure yet, Areli. But I love their purple punch too.”

At the Shaking Shack, Noble found a table for them, took their orders, and walked over to the order window.

Savanhi lowly watched his every move. They were all intentional.

How he kept his eyes on them and ordered.

How, if Areli needed anything, he jumped to get it.

He reminded her of Zayden. Always looking out, always nearby.

Always a protector. Now, her trying to do that on her own felt like an overwhelming task.

They ate their respective meals without sharing much with one another but tuned into every word Areli spoke. She filled her uncle in on all the things her and Remi had done while he was away.

“You struck out round one,” Areli said.

“First inning,” he corrected. “I know, I was in my head.”

“Why, Unc-Unc?”

“I just missed you too much,” Noble replied softly, pinching her cheek. “But I came back, though. I get credit for that?”

“You did. Good job. No more outs, okay? I put a new doll on it.”

Savanhi laughed at Areli’s comment. “You’re gambling? Already?”

“Win is a win, right Deucey?”

“Right,” Noble returned with a chuckle.

“Can I play now?” Areli asked after taking a big gulp of her drink.

He nodded. “Yeah, wipe your hands off and leave your strap at the table, babygirl.”

“Don’t let nobody get you,” Areli shared, following his directive before prancing off in her bright pink dance outfit.

“She’s hilarious. Your hands are full,” Savanhi stated, watching Areli move into the play area. Anything not to look into his eyes.

“So what’s up with your car, or is the bus an all the time thing?”

“Well, typically my brother handles all my car troubles, but he wasn’t available today so the bus it is until I can get whatever is wrong with it fixed,” Savanhi shared. “Anything else you want to know before we don’t do this anymore?”

“You’re hellbent on that, huh?” Noble questioned, gently turning her face to him. “I got her. You look at me.”

Savanhi swallowed a gulp. “I’m not hellbent, I’m just learning to honor my boundaries. I haven’t been the best at that.”

He grunted. “Me neither.”

“Yep, so rules keep me in check.” Savanhi quietly spoke. “So you’re a baseball player?”