“Sure,” she mumbled.
“That’s my girl. Now let’s get you ready ‘cause I got a feeling Emanuel is going to win big.”
Chills made a home within Irish’s body every time she thought about her past. If she could have had a lobotomy performed to rid her mind of those painful memories, she would have. That moment changed the course of Irish’s life. She wondered if she hadn’t gone through that what kind of woman she would’ve been. Would she be more successful without the remnants of trauma making an appearance every now and then? Would her strong bond to Jovanis even exist if that hadn’t happened? Irish wished she had a preview of her life unaltered.
The front door opened and Jovanis stepped inside. Ivory immediately scoffed, grabbed her iPad, and stood.
“Come on, Iv. You still mad at me?” he asked.
She rolled her eyes at him and continued down the hall where the slam of the door resounded through the house.
“Damn, she really ain't fucking with me right now,” he said in defeat.
“Rightfully so,” she quipped as he took a seat next to her.
They hadn’t been in each other’s presence in over a week. Jovanis had given her space, which she appreciated, but she sensed that something was on his mind.
“What about you? You still mad at me?”
“Of course, I am. I just had to order another coffee table because of your bullshit.”
Jovanis sighed before scratching through his locs that were in need of a retwisting. He then looked at her for what seemed like forever before asking, “What happened to your arm?”
Irish glanced at the bandages that covered her forearm. Whooping Shay’s ass gave her instant regret. She never resorted to violence and hated how she allowed Shay to provoke her.
“I accidentally hit it on the cabinet,” she lied.
Revealing that she fought Noble’s ex-wife would’ve surely set Jovanis off. Irish didn’t have the mental capacity to fight with him, so she withheld the truth.
“I've missed you, Irish,” he confessed. “Life’s been so boring with you being mad at me. I get why you mad but still… a nigga miss the fuck outta you.”
Irish sank further into the couch. She couldn’t say that she missed Jovanis. The only person that resided in her mind was Noble. He gave her no room to yearn for someone else.
“What you thinking about?” he questioned.
Shrugging, she responded. “I don't know. It’s been a lot going on. I need a break.”
“Tell me where you wanna go. I’ll take you.”
She quickly shook her head. “I don't mean like that. I just… I need a break from my life. I’m tired.”
Jovanis looked forward, tucking his lips between his teeth. Irish knew what she wanted to say but she didn’t have the heart at that moment. Everything within her being wanted to break the chains that she and Jovanis had locked themselves in. It was time. Their bond was cemented but there was a separation that needed to happen so she could live her life outside of his expectations.
Jovanis rotated his body toward her. “Aye, I think it’s time.”
“Time for what?”
“To have a baby.”
With pinched brows, she said, “Huh?”
“Remember we made that pact. We said when we get to our thirties and if we not in a serious relationship, then we would have a baby.”
Irish uncomfortably shifted in her seat. She recalled the agreement they’d made when they were in their twenties. Back then, they were so careless and still living in the land of imagination. Now at age thirty-two, Irish couldn’t fathom bringing an innocent being into their chaos.
“Yeah, that was back then.”
“Okay, so what’s the problem?”
