Somberly, she turned around and went back inside the bakery. Deciding that she’d had enough of the outside world, Cali packed up her things and headed back to Bria’s. She wanted to crawl back into that dark hole and let depression swallow her again.
Thirteen
Jovanis sat on top of his Chevy, pulling at the hairs on his chins. He was in Havenwood—his old stomping ground, posted up with some of the members from TLM. As frustrated as he was, he couldn’t go home and sulk. That would propel him into a tailspin, and he didn’t feel like crashing out. Irish had been MIA for days. He called, texted, and even checked her location to no avail. Jovanis wouldn’t have been worried if he didn’t learn that Noble was off the grid, leaving Rio and Zayd in charge. That meant she was with him, and he couldn’t understand why she insisted on disrespecting him.
“Aye bruh, let me see your phone,” he asked one of the younger TLM members.
After passing him the unlocked phone, Jovanis dialed Irish only to be greeted by the voicemail. He then dialed Ivory, hoping he would have luck with her.
“Who is this?” she answered with much sass.
“It’s me, Jovanis.”
Smacking her lips. “What do you want?”
He hated the rift between him and Ivory, but it was his burden. He shouldn’t have been aggressive to Irish, knowing how much Ivory loved her sister.
“Why you still mad at me, Iv? I apologized and you still giving me hell.”
“Because you tried to hurt Irish.”
“No, I didn’t. I was a little bit rough, but I didn’t mean that shit.”
“And what about the living room, huh? It took us days to clean it up.”
“I know.” His voice fell somber. “I know, sis. I was fucked up for doing that. I promised you I would never do that again. Since when am I not good on my promises?”
Jovanis had been present for Ivory since she was two years old, attached to Irish’s hip. He made sure to do for her whenever he did for Irish. She had become his little sister over the years. When they moved out of Havenwood, Ivory came with them. It had always been the three of them, and Jovanis regretted the interruption in their relationship.
“Since you tried to choke my sister. I don't know why you're mad at her when you two have an open relationship.”
“Who told you that?”
“She did, of course. Which is weird because why would you let someone date your wife and how could she let someone date you?”
Her young mind wouldn’t comprehend the bond he and Irish had.
“What else did she tell you?” he questioned, hoping Irish hadn’t betrayed him again.
“That’s it. She said you had an open marriage. So, I don't understand why you were so mad that you had to yoke her up.”
“Because… of the person she decided to fuck with.”
“Noble?”
He shook his head, hating the sound of that man’s name. “She told you that too, huh?”
“Yeah, but she didn’t mean to do it, Van.” Her voice had softened, eliminating the wrath she possessed minutes ago. “Sometimes, you can’t control who you fall for. It just happens organically.”
He was the ambassador for falling for the wrong person.
“I ain't mad about it,” he halfway lied. “I need to know if you talked to her.”
“Yeah, she finally responded to my text yesterday. She said she’s okay but didn’t tell me where she was.”
“You keeping it a buck, Iv?”
She chuckled. “Yes, even though I don't owe you anything since you're the opp. She didn’t tell me. Is she okay? Should I worry?”
