Page 4 of His Noble Heart

“You ready?” I asked as she leaned back in her chair.

“I’m full as hell.”

“I hope you ain’t too full to get fucked because that’s still happening.”

“Whatever, nigga. Let’s go.”

“The best partabout being a school social worker is summers off,” I said as I danced in my seat.

I’d just returned from a solo vacation to Barbados two days ago, and I was still on my vacation high. My sisters wanted to catch up, so we met for brunch at Onyx City Eatery.

“Having the summers off ain’t enough to get me to work with kids,” my middle sister, Talia, said.

“Especially teenagers,” Indira, my youngest sister, added.

“Y’all say that all the time but be looking mad and sad when I plan my two-week-long vacation in mid-June every year. Believe me, it’s worth it.”

“That’s true, but I couldn’t do it. I won’t even ask how your vacation was. The pictures and videos you sent us say all that needs to be said,” Talia said.

“I didn’t see a man in any of those videos. Did you at least bounce on the dick of a random stranger?” Indira asked as I shook my head.

If my baby sister didn’t do anything else, she would always say what she was thinking. She had absolutely no filter.

“You know I’m on a break from dating.”

After too many failed dates and situationships, I decided about six months ago to put dating on pause for at least a year. I was six months in and couldn’t be happier with my decision.

“Who said anything about dating?” she asked, looking puzzled.

“Indy, chill out. You know what I mean. I’m on a break from men.”

“Even foreign ones you’ll never see again?” Talia questioned.

“Both of y’all are a mess. Even though I didn’t have sex with a stranger, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”

“Are you ladies ready to order?” the server asked when he approached our table.

We’d been so busy talking, we hadn’t even looked at the menu.

“I’m sorry. Can you come back in five minutes?” I asked.

“Of course,” he agreed before walking away.

“Do y’all know what you want?” Indira asked about a minute later.

“I think I’m getting the apple cinnamon roll French toast,” Talia responded.

“I want the catfish and Belgian waffles,” I said.

“Good. I’ll eat some of y’all’s and get the shrimp, catfish, and grits,” she said.

“As long as you’re sharing too, that’s cool,” I agreed.

The server returned and took our orders. When he left, our conversation resumed.

“Y’all on my head about dating, but when was the last time y’all been on a date?”

“Sis, dating has never been a problem for me, and you know this. Somebody’s son takes me out at least a few times a month. It’s been a minute since any of them have earned a second date, but I love free meals,” Talia said.