I walked back inside to see Noni staring right at me. Bali turned around with a frown on her face, but I could tell it wasn’t one of anger. It was one of curiosity. When I got to the table, I sat and lowered my head, taking a deep breath.
“What happened?” Noni asked.
I shook my head as she and Bali stood. I glanced at them as they stood over me. They wanted to talk privately. I shook my head again. “I can’t, y’all. I don’t know if he wants y’all to know.”
Noni sat, her face red and looking like she would cry or go off at any moment. It was hard to tell whether they were sad or angry at times. I pulled my phone from my pocket and texted him.Noni wants to know what’s wrong with you, man. You want me to tell her?
Him: How does she know something’s wrong?
Me: She saw us at your truck. I gestured for her to keep going inside the diner.
Him: Naw. She don’t need to be worried about that, man.
Me: Well, damn. What am I supposed to tell her?
Him: You’ll think of something.
I looked up to find the two of them watching me, along with Mythic, Ashanni, and Maui. I was saved by Aunt Chrissy when she set our food in front of us. Everyone’s attention went to the fried chicken and boudin balls.
“I’ll be back with your personal preferences, babies.”
I didn’t know how she remembered what everybody always wanted, but she did. They grabbed a plate from the stack on the table and began eating while I just sat here, trying to figure out if there was anything I could do. It had to be a competitor that reported that shit. It didn’t last but a couple of minutes.
“Carter, you’re gonna have to tell us something. You looking like somebody died.”
I looked up and saw my baby staring at me. Closing my eyes, I huffed. “Man, y’all can’t say shit. He’ll never forgive me. Theonly reason I’m going to say anything is because y’all may be able to think of a way to help.”
I looked around the table at my family: my brother, two sisters-in-law, my fiancée, and cousin. I knew they all had my back as well as Red Squared’s. “He got disqualified from competing in nationals, and he lost his sponsors.”
Everyone remained quiet, and when realization hit Noni, she said, “Oh my God. Carter, is it because of what happened?”
I only nodded as she burst into tears. My eyebrows lifted. I had never seen her cry that way. Bali hugged her tightly as she stared at me. “Someone reported the incident.”
I nodded again.
“Hating ass muthafuckas. I’m pretty sure it was a competitor. With Red out of the competition, he’ll probably have a better shot. White fuckers.”
“Bali, how do you know the person is white?”
“How many Black steer wrestlers are going to nationals?”
I remained quiet.
“My point exactly. A bunch of racist MAGA fuckers.”
I slowly shook my head. There were some Brazilians that competed as well, but I didn’t feel like going back and forth with her about it. Their race and ethnicity didn’t matter. All that mattered right now was that somebody reported the incident, and my brother couldn’t do what he loved.
“So, we need the committee to overturn their decision. I don’t give a damn if I have to pay for everything. This is my fucking fault!” Noni said, then started crying all over again.
CHAPTER 16
NONI
“Iruined his career . . . his reputation! Shit!”
I was pacing back and forth across my kitchen floor. Carter told us what happened, but now I understood why Red didn’t want me to know. He didn’t want me blaming myself, but it was indeed my fault. I pushed him to do what he did. I couldn’t even eat my food. I went back to work and tried to finish my day and still ended up leaving early.
“Noni, you have to calm down. You’re gonna make yourself sick,” Maui said as she rubbed her pooch.
