Dame’s brows furrowed. “As far as what?”
“…she’s married.”
Dame’s forehead creased as a whistle resounded from his mouth.
“Married? Naw, Noble, not you. You don't move this way.”
“I know but I really fuck with her and that’s not even the bad part.”
Chuckling, Dame asked, “What else?”
“I work closely with her husband.”
“Aw naw, Nephew.” Dame planted his hand on his forehead, feigning distress.
Noble hung his head before looking at Dame. “I’m already knowing, and the worst part of all this shit is that I don't give a fuck about him.”
“Then, why you sound like you're struggling with this shit?”
“Because I pride myself on moving with integrity. I’m struggling with myself more than anything. You know me, I try to lead by example but I’m breaking all my rules by fucking with her.”
Noble tried to quiet the logical side of him that said this was a big mistake. Irish didn’t belong to him. She was legally tied to another man. Noble didn’t think he could compete with that fact, but he couldn’t let go of her. Each time they were together, all of their obstacles were nonexistent. It was just them two, trapped in their personal universe that no one had access to. Whenever Irish was out of Noble’s presence, he came back to his senses.
“Then, on top of that, she scares me.”
“How so?”
“When I was married to Daysha, I didn’t realize how much of a responsibility and sacrifice it would take to love her. Not because I was incapable, but I didn’t feel that for her, so I failed. Now, I can see myself giving this woman all that I have and that scares the shit out of me ‘cause we been dealing with each other for a short amount of time.”
“Damn,” Dame muttered. “It’s like that.”
“Yeah, and that’s some scary shit.”
“Alright.” Dame pulled on his salt and pepper goatee. “You want me to tell you what you wanna hear or what you need to hear?”
Noble smirked. “You don't never tell me what I wanna hear, Unc.”
“Exactly, so listen up. You gotta let that shit go. If it’s causing you to compromise your character, it’s too fucking expensive to have. All you got is your manhood, Noble. That’s what we’re left with when all this shit is over. The money, carsand work we put in won’t be a factor when the sun sets on our ass. Let that shit go.”
That sounded reasonable but could Noble bring himself to let go of the sunshine that had illuminated his world?
“Alright,” Dame concluded. “Let it go. It’s more females out here that will give you what you need, Nephew.”
I doubt that they will be Irish…
“I hear you,” Noble said, knowing he felt differently on the inside.
“Now come get your ass whooped in a game of chess for old times’ sake.”
Cali rubbed Rio’s overgrown wicks while kissing his forehead. She stared at him, feeling so many emotional tides wash over her. Days had turned into weeks. Weeks had turned into a month of him being in this condition. The doctor’s had been weaning Rio off the machine, making her overflow with so much hope. After much prayer and reading her Bible, Cali’s faith had expanded. She’d consumed so many stories regarding faith. Job had suffered so much loss but because of his faith, God had restored what was taken from him. Joseph had spent years incarcerated and enslaved, but his faith had made his enemies his footstool. Cali had been a cheater, planning on leaving her marriage. Initially, she thought there was no hope for her or Rio, but she had faith. She prayed that God would give her the same outcome as the heroes in the Bible.
“I know you’re in there, baby. Wake up,” she whispered in his ear.
“He hears you,” the nurse told her. “Keep talking to him.”
“I told her that,” Irish said, sitting in the chair. “I read it somewhere that people who are in comas are conscious on the other side.”
“Well, hopefully, he’ll keep hearing these prayers because I won’t stop until my boy is awake.” Ruthia sighed.
