“Yeah.” A thoughtful look covered his face. “We need it if we’re going to really try and give this relationship our all.”
Cali was relieved he was on the same page as her in regard to counseling.
“Come on so I can get you home. I gotta go back to St. Parklynn and handle some shit but I’ll call you as soon as I land.”
Sadness encompassed her but she would follow his lead. “Okay.”
“And block that nigga you was just with too.”
Laughing, Cali replied, “I got you.”
Seventeen
Daysha: If I knew you would withhold Kenji from me, I would’ve taken your offer to move into the condo. Noble, can you please call me? I miss my child.
Noble rubbed his tired eyes after reading her message. It had been two weeks since Noble came back from Nirvana Sky Island. Life had been good in the family sector. Irish had moved onto his property, leaving the townhouse to Ivory, who was excited to have a big-girl home all to herself. Noble had offered for her to come stay with him but she declined. Knowing how important Ivory was to Irish, he always wanted to make her feel included. Kenji was thriving at school and the baby was doing great. During their last appointment, Irish requested that they wait to see the gender once she gave birth. Noble reluctantly agreed despite him wanting to know if he would be a girl dad or boy dad again.
His street life was another story. Noble was uneasy. He was on edge because the person who had shot at him was still on the run. He sat in the empty lounge of a place he was contemplating buying. Wilde and Zayd were present as well as Rio and Nuke. They were awaiting Vic’s arrival after missing forclose to two months. Noble looked at his phone and decided to respond to Daysha.
Noble: I told you some shit was going down and you refused to let me protect you. So, I’m protecting my son instead. I’ll bring him by the shop tomorrow so you can see him.
Daysha: No, I want to be with him. I’ll just take your offer to stay at the condo. Is that cool? I’m sorry for being difficult.
Noble went to respond but the door to the lounge opened. Vic walked in, looking refreshed like his absence hadn’t raised suspicions.
“What’s up, fam?” he greeted, shaking hands with everybody.
Noble silently observed him, pulling on his chin hairs. He didn’t want to think that his friend of twenty years would snake him but anything was possible.
“What I miss?” Vic asked, taking a seat.
“Where the fuck you been?” Rio questioned, angling his head.
“Man, Moms got sick so I had to fly to St. Louis to look after her. Shit was all bad but she’s stable now.”
“Sick?” Wilde questioned. “What kinda disease her ass got that you been MIA?”
Vic chuckled. “MS. She didn’t know she had it and it got bad for her. Why y’all niggas looking at me like I’m the opp?”
Noble took note of how Nuke shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“You already know Jovanis got killed and Noble got shot at. Somebody trying to take him out and you all of a sudden disappear.” Zayd stared at him.
“Yeah, I heard but I think it’s probably that nigga, Tuck.”
“Why would it be Tuck who is trying to kill me?” Noble asked.
He had never had a conversation with Vic regarding the spat he’d had with Tuck the last time he saw him.
“I mean.” He shrugged. “That’s what I heard from Nuke.”
“Nuke, huh?” Noble turned to his cousin. “You made it seem like you only had a brief encounter with Vic?”
“Shit, I got to him while you was out of town. That’s the reason he came back,” Nuke explained.
Noble locked eyes with Zayd before reclining in his seat.
“I ain't feeling the energy in here,” Vic noted. “What the fuck is up? Y’all think I’m on some snake shit?”
