Page 21 of Breaking the Rules

SIXTEEN

After waving at the last student of the evening, Savanhi sauntered from the door to her bags stowed behind the desk.

She pulled out her phone and smirked at the text from Noble.

After a full day together, they’d finally exchanged numbers and Savanhi shared her full name.

Proper introductions were damned weeks ago but now seemed fitting.

Deuce: Areli and I are parked, I’ll be at the door in five

“God, don’t let this be a front,” Savanhi muttered, putting her bags and phone on top of the desk.

As she straightened up, she thought about all the times she whispered prayers of actually meeting a man who knew how to be a gentleman.

In the environment she settled in, finding a man who wanted to be a man and not just a thug was hard.

And then she put herself in the belly of the beast and none of the men who came in and out were men she wanted to build life with.

With Brixx, building seemed to be far and few between.

He wanted to rise in the drug game and she just wanted more – to spread joy.

To see girls in the neighborhood aspire to something more than being the dopeman’s girl.

She was standing at the edge of more with Noble and had to come to terms that she could and did deserve more.

She was worthy of everything her heart desired.

“Savanhi.” Her name was sung from the back of the building.

Tamrah, the owner of the studio, rounded the corner and gave her that smile.

The one with the pursed lips together like her payment for the week declined or she was raising studio fees, which meant she would have to raise prices to afford it.

She braced with a look she tried to disguise. “Hey, Tamrah, what’s up?”

“First, let me say, I’ve been watching the progression of your classes, and I have to say you and your students have come a long way, and your classes have almost tripled,” Tamrah gushed.

Savanhi knew never to fall for the trap of compliments. This was exactly what people did before pulling the rug from under you. “Yeah, so much so I’ve had to add more classes.”

“I know,” Tamrah said. “That’ why I wanted to be the first to tell you, I’m selling the studio. I’ve recently got engaged and my fiancée is taking a job in Emerald City. I wanted to give you first dibs on it.”

Savanhi curled her toes in her jazz shoes. She knew that whatever number Tamrah was getting ready to say, she wasn’t going to have. Especially with the money from the club not being at her fingertips. “Okay, how much?”

Tamrah winced. “Twenty-five thousand, but we already have a buyer. They want to turn this into a sandwich spot. So, unless you can come up with the money by next week, you’re going to have to find another place to rent. There are a few places uptown, but…”

“But they don’t rent by the hour. I know,” she said coolly, even though everything in her body was firing off in distress. “Thanks for the heads up, I’ll figure something out.”

“It shouldn’t be hard. You know with your extracurricular activities. You can have that in what, a weekend?” Tamrah posed.

Savanhi tilted her head ever so slightly to the side. “What do you mean by that?”

Tamrah chuckled nervously. “Nothing, just that a few parents expressed their concerns about what you do on the weekends and whether or not it was a good influence on the girls.”

Savanhi folded her arms. “And you said?”

“You still have your classes, don’t you?” Tamrah posed. “If you want to keep them, maybe you should figure out what means more to you. Shaking your ass for taken men or teaching these girls how to be actual ladies.”

“It feels like you’ve been waiting for a while to pop that off. Let me guess, your fiancé was a regular?” Savanhi posed, popping her hip out.

Tamrah’s eyes drifted from Savanhi, who appeared annoyed but cool under the pressure, to the door. Noble was there. She sensed him. It was his calmness that came over her storm. “Mm, he must be one of your regulars, too. You have a week to figure something out, Savanhi.”

Savanhi watched Tamrah stroll past her to the door to open it. She crooned, purposely trying to dig further under her skin. “Noble Paulson. What do I owe the pleasure?”

Noble’s voice came out even, professional. “Here to get my lady.”

“Oh, Savanhi is your…”

“Lady,” he spoke, making sure she understood.

“Oh really?” Tamrah continued. “You’re off the beaten path of her type. Just three weeks ago, she had someone with tattoos all over his face.”

Savanhi turned around, irritation shining in her eyes and she couldn’t turn it off.

“Good thing that was three weeks ago. I’m here now,” Noble confidently said, picking up Savanhi’s bags. “You ready to eat, Sassy?”

“Yeah, actually I could use a big ass plate of pasta right now,” she grumbled, starting to the door but he stopped her.

“You good.” It was assurance as he pecked her lips. “Aight?”

“Mmhmm.”

Tamrah stood by watching, the irritation she was imposing on Savanhi made a U-turn to sit with her. “Don’t forget what I said, one week. Which shouldn’t be too hard, considering this little come up.”

Noble escorted Savanhi to the door and tilted his head in Tamrah’s direction. “Have a good night.”

Savanhi climbed in the passenger seat, turned to blow Areli, who was on her iPad, a kiss and wink, she buckled up, and pulled in a deep sigh. Noble hopped in and maneuvered the SUV down the street toward the Italian restaurant. Noble reached over and took her hand in his.

“What you so tense about?” he asked. “This ain’t how I dropped you off.”

“Things change, people change. I need to figure out how to buy the studio, and the only way I see how to get it is go back to Tempt.”

“There’s other ways,” he stated firmly. “Tempt ain’t it, though.”

“Noble, I-”

“Deuce,” he gritted.

“Deuce,” she sassed. “I don’t know shit about business loans. I barely have established credit. I got my apartment because my brother knew the leasing manager. I know how to hustle. I don’t know any other way.”

“You see me sitting here?” he posed.

“Yes, and I’m not asking you for shit. You’re doing enough.”

“I haven’t even started doing a fourth of what I could be doing for real out of respect for your comfort. I know people. If the dance studio is what you want, I’ll help you get it,” Noble stated.

“No, Deuce. I got to be able to get something on my own. Something.” Savanhi’s sadness was pricking her eyes. She pulled her hand from his to swipe the lone tear off her cheek. “Everything is just being snatched from me left and right. Can you just take me to my apartment? I need to cry by myself.”

“You can cry with me and I’m taking you to get pasta. Areli wants to tell you about her day.”

“Deuce.”

He reached back over and grabbed her hand, kissing the back of it.

“If there isn’t anything else I can do for you, I got you.

You’re safe here. You don’t have to be tough here.

You don’t have to shake your ass for shit either.

You want the studio, we’ll figure out how to get it.

And quite frankly, that space you’re in now is too small for you, and the owner is a hater. I clocked the tea.”

Savanhi sniffled and laughed. “Areli is really doing a number on you.”

“She is. Making me soft. And I had no clue I needed to be soft. I get it now.”

“You do?” Savanhi mused.

“Mmhmm. You need soft, and I need you.” His tone was sure – rooted in confidence.

“You just be talking shit,” Savanhi quipped. “A whole lot of shit.”

“And all of it is the truth, Sassy. All of it. Now relax yourself.”

At the restaurant, the trio sat at a white linen-covered table. Each of them took turns coloring with Areli before the food arrived.

“And then, Sincere threw me into the five feet, and I popped right back up. Next time, I’m going to swim without the floaties. Do you know how to swim, Sassy?”

“It’s actually one of my favorite things to do,” Savanhi answered. “Do you know how to swim?”

“Nope, but it’s easy. You gonna teach me?” Areli asked.

“I’d love to,” Savanhi answered.

“Who taught you?” Areli asked, forking her pasta into her mouth.

“My brother. He taught me everything. How to swim, jump rope, make pancakes,” Savanhi rumbled off the child-appropriate things Zayden had taught her.

“Not so much, babygirl,” Noble spoke, only for Savanhi to do the same and make a silly face at Areli who returned a nose-crinkled one of her own. “You two. Why don’t you eat before you dance?”

“One night,” Savanhi started, after swallowing the food in her mouth. “I danced on a full stomach, and someone swore I was pregnant. I never did it again. It turned into a big thing. So it’s easier for me to just dance through the hunger and eat like this afterward.”

“Whoever said that was on some bullshit,” Noble stated.

“He was drunk and wanted his money back, but it was triggering, so I just played my position to make everyone happy.”

“Everyone but you,” Noble said with a pointed expression. “What’s going to make you happy? Besides being on your miss independent shit?”

“I need a hug,” Savanhi stated. “I need to be held. And I need to be told everything will be okay.”

“I got you.”

Back at the house, with Areli soundly tucked in her own space, Noble climbed under the cover with Savanhi. He pulled her into him, threw her leg over his, and kissed her face.

“You feel good in here,” he groaned tiredly.

“I feel good here. You feel good, Deuce. Like safe. Thank you for that.” She kissed his lips. “I don’t know who would let you get away, but I’m happy she did.”

“Don’t thank me for that. If you were still with that nigga from three weeks ago, I would’ve took you from him. Not even playing.”

Savanhi chuckled. “Considering you’ve taken me from my apartment and have no intention of letting me go, I can see that.”

“20/20 vision for the bigger picture.

“Can you see it?”

“Saw it the moment I saw you on the beach. I’ve wasted so much of my time elsewhere. I’m not wasting anymore.”

Savanhi kissed him again, this time letting her tongue swipe over his. Noble squeezed her leg and ass before pulling back. “Me neither.”

“Good, get some rest before I have you up all night. I got an early practice and training session. But trust, I’m going to eat you up soon enough. I might need my niece to be with Remi when I do.”

Savanhi giggled and slapped his chest. “Go to sleep.”

“Don’t run out in the middle of the night,” he toyed, placing a final kiss to her face. “Goodnight, Sassy.”

“Night, Deuce.”

Savanhi couldn’t remember the last time she was held so tenderly – so securely.

She sank into the warmth of his hold, listening to his breathing like it was the notes of her favorite song.

How was it that in mere weeks – days really – she felt so whole, so complete?

Feet slipping from under her and falling into a pillowy abyss of all that she was.

She found her fingers trailing his face ever so gently.

His thick brows, high cheekbones, straight, profound nose, and full lips that almost swallowed hers, but found kissing them was quickly becoming her new favorite thing to do.

Her fingers gently massaged his bearded jawline.

Every touch against his face, shoulders, and bare back made his body heavier – breathing fuller.

A soft kiss was placed to the bridge of his nose in thanks.

Thankful that, for the first time in years, her nervous system was calm and her being was protected.