Page 80 of His Noble Heart

Rowdy opened the door while Ramina and I looked on. I looked the boy up on the school attendance system to see what he looked like. He appeared presentable, but I was too busy to call him to my office to talk to him.

“Aww, hell nah!” Rowdy shouted. “You ain’t going nowhere with this lil nigga.”

“Oh my God. Noelani, please get him.”

“Baby, let him in so we can talk to him.”

“I don’t need to talk to him to know what he’s about.”

I shook my head and pushed Rowdy away from the door to let Kendrick inside.

“Come on in, Kendrick, and have a seat on the couch. Ramina, you sit next to him.”

Kendrick timidly followed Ramina to the couch. I sat on the loveseat, patting the spot next to me for Rowdy.

“Nah, I’m standing.”

I shook my head before greeting Kendrick.

“Hello, Kendrick. I’m Noelani, Ramina’s sister-in-love, and this is her crazy ass brother, Rowdy.”

“Kendrick and I have met,” he informed with his mouth clenched in anger.

“Oh, really? When?” I asked.

“A while back. He tried to sell me some dope.”

Ramina and I gasped.

“Oh, umm . . .” I began, but didn’t know what to say.

“You sell drugs?” Ramina questioned.

“No. Shit. I used to, but not anymore.”

“Why should I believe you?” she asked with disappointment all over her face and in her voice.

“Kendrick, let me talk to you for a minute,” Rowdy said before heading toward the front door.

The two of them went outside, leaving Ramina and I to figure out what had just happened.

“I can’t believe this. The first boy in Onyx City to ask me out is a drug dealer. This sucks.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. It does kinda suck. I don’t even know what to say.”

“I guess I’ll put on my pajamas because I’m not going anywhere with him.”

She got up and headed to her room, but before she made it, the guys came back inside.

“Hold on, Mina.”

“It’s fine, Rowdy. I don’t want to go out anymore.”

“Have a seat and let me explain a few things.”

Ramina and Kendrick returned to the couch. I knew damn well Rowdy wouldn’t let Ramina go out with a boy we knew sold drugs, so I was confused.

“What’s going on?” I asked.