“Yeah, hindsight is 20/20. This is all happening for a bigger purpose. I don't know what, but nothing just happens. There’s a method to God’s madness.”
Cali gulped away the ache in her throat. “I’m gonna go before I start crying. I’ll call you later. Please keep your ears tothe streets for me. And if someone asks, you haven’t heard from me.”
“Okay. When I pull myself out of this hole, I’ll see what the tea is.”
“Bye.”
Cali pressed end and wallowed for the umpteenth time. Her grief wouldn’t allow her to enjoy a normal day.
Jovanis sat inside his whip, listening to Boosie’sMind of a Maniacas the rain pattered against his windshield. Parked in the driveway of his home, he was terrified for what awaited him. His rage had affected the wrong person. Not able to control how incensed he had been caused him to hurt the most important person in his life.
“Shit,” he cursed, wishing he could go back.
Initially, when he was told about Noble and Irish’s love affair, he didn’t believe it. Irish didn’t move sloppy like that. When she dated in the past, she always chose men that weren’t in close proximity to Jovanis. Learning that Noble, of all people, was her lover made him livid. He couldn’t deny the envy. She’d upgraded, got with a man that was over him. Jovanis’ manhood couldn’t take it. Noble was with his wife/best friend. He didn’t deserve her. Irish was such a gem who brightened everyone’s life. She was genuine, valuable, and a great friend to have. A man like Noble didn’t deserve that. Irish was his and he couldn’t fathom losing to him.
Reaching in the passenger seat, Jovanis grabbed the bouquet of flowers. He then got out and walked to the trunk. Once open, he grabbed the shopping bags then walked toward the house. When he entered, he noticed the mess he’d createdhad been cleaned. Just the thought of his tantrum filled him with shame. He sighed and continued down the hall to the bedroom. Knocking once, he waited for her to grant him access. Jovanis knew Irish was there because her car was parked in the driveway. He knocked once more and when he didn’t get an answer, he opened the door.
The room was dimly lit from a candle that sat on the nightstand. Surprisingly, Irish was up with her back toward the headboard and the covers up to her neck. One look at her reddened eyes evoked so much guilt to seize Jovanis. Look at what he had done. He had hurt the person he cared for the most, and he wasn’t sure how he would fix this. He sat the bags down on the bed and extended the flowers toward her. Irish snatched it from his hands and threw them on the floor.
“After putting your hands on me, you think you can come in here with gifts and flowers and think everything is okay? You should be in fucking jail!”
Jovanis was startled by her rant. Irish rarely raised her voice so hearing her curse him out had caught him off guard.
“Irish, I’m sorry, baby.”
“Fuck your sorry. You weren’t sorry when you were hemming me up and you weren’t sorry when you destroyed my home. I don't want anything from you! Leave!”
Jovanis stood dumbfounded since he didn’t know how to digest Irish’s rage. She had every right to feel enraged. He had in fact roughed her up and ruined the living room. On top of that, he went radio silent for days, not even offering an immediate apology. Jovanis was dead wrong and figured he had to make things right.
Sliding his hands inside his pocket, he sighed. “You right about everything. If I can take it all back, I would. I spazzed outthough. When I heard about you fucking with Noble, I lost my cool, Irish. I never thought you would choose him to fuck with. Then, you hid that shit from me. You know me and you don't even rock like that.”
Her grimace immediately softened. Irish picked at her hands before shaking her head.
“…It wasn’t intentional,” she confessed.
“What wasn’t intentional? You fucking him or you telling him my business?”
“I told you he knew already.”
He angled his head. “But you confirmed it.”
“Listen, I don't know how he knew but you're not about to blame me for him knowing. We rarely discussed you. You weren’t a factor in our relationship.”
That stung worse than Noble knowing he was gay. Jovanis had become so territorial of Irish over the years. He had made a huge investment into her, promising to take care of most of her needs. Learning she had allowed a man like Noble to penetrate her heart evoked envious feelings to arise.
He advanced toward her and took a seat on the edge of the bed. “Why him?” That took a lot of courage for Jovanis to ask but he needed to know why it was easy for her to fall for Noble.
“I don't know…” she mumbled, taking her time to answer him. “I had always noticed him and how handsome he was. Whenever we were around him, I used to fantasize about him. Well, when we first had a conversation, it was easy and flowed. He let me know that he knew about your sexuality and I denied it. I went to bat for you, but when I realized that he knew what he was talking about, I couldn’t deny it anymore.”
“Fuck.” Jovanis shook his head, wondering how Noble knew about his extra-curricular activities.
Irish grabbed his hand. “That was the first and only time we ever discussed you.”
Jovanis wanted to believe her, but he wasn’t sure. Maybe he didn’t have Irish like he thought he did.
“How the fuck I’m supposed to move on with this man knowing my business? He could out me, Irish, and then what?”
“Noble isn’t like that.”
