Page 71 of Stoplight
Jovanis began standing when Irish pulled him back down. “It’s okay. They're right outside. Just enjoy your night, and I’ll talk to you later.”
Irish swiftly kissed his cheek and voyaged out the section, leaving him no time to protest. She looked back, hoping he didn’t follow her. When she saw Jovanis resume his conversation, she breathed a sigh of relief and exited the club. Parked out front was Noble’s truck. Irish looked around, to ensure no one she knew was out there before she got inside.
“You're real reckless, Noble,” she scolded him, inhaling the scent of his cologne.
Leaning back in his seat with one hand on the wheel, he planted his other hand on her exposed thigh. Thank God he had five percent tints on his windows.
“Who told you to wear this?”
Chuckling, she playfully retorted, “Me.”
His onyx gaze focused on her, making Irish feel chills sprout on her skin.
“You be trying me, Pumpkin. You’ll learn soon though.”
She leaned over the middle console. “Learn what?”
Noble drew in closer to her as her stare centered on his lips. Without her having to ask, he kissed them, prompting a purr to appear in her kitty.
“You’ll figure it out. You feel like hanging with me?”
“Of course.”
Noble drove away from the club. Irish sat in the passenger seat, feeling as if she belonged on the side of him. She was comfortable as her thoughts drifted to the endless possibilities for her and Noble. He had kicked in the door to her heart, demanding everything inside. What she thought was a secret crush had blossomed into a connection that would take an army to sever. It moved way too fast, but she loved the rush. No longer did she dwell in the house of loneliness now that Noble had entered her world. Everything about their affair was exhilarating, and Irish unashamedly needed more.
While Noble drove, Irish thought of him until she realized they had driven to the suburb of Emerald Village. They pulled in front of a neon red sign that readDanger Zone. He got out first then rounded the truck to help Irish out the car. Holding his hand, the couple walked toward the entrance.
“My nigga, Noble, done made it over this way,” the guard joked.
Noble shook his hand. “What’s up with you, Kirk?”
“Shit, I can’t call it. Go ‘head and enjoy, my nigga.”
Noble shook his hand again. “I’ll holla at you.”
Irish followed him inside where the theme was clearly red. More neon red signs were on the paisley printed walls. Checkered floors with gold frame mirrors hung throughout the space. The place was quaint with vintage furniture and sconces. Noble stepped into a booth that was positioned in the corner of the room. It was intimate with velvet curtains draped on the sides.
“You always take me to the places I’ve never been. I feel like a loser not knowing this place existed,” she joked, scooting into the booth.
“Why don’t you explore the city?”
“Well, for one, I never thought to come out here to Emerald Village. My stepping grounds is St. Parklynn.”
“You gotta get out more, Pumpkin. It’s probably so much shit you haven’t seen.”
Noble’s words evoked her reverie to surface. Irish thought about all the sacrifices she had made and now that he had come into her life, she felt as if she had missed out on so much.
“Hey, Noble,” a woman greeted, showing all her teeth. She was dressed in a white shirt that revealed her bust and a short skirt that left little to the imagination. “How you been, baby?”
He smirked. “Straight. You been alright, Jazz?”
“Oh, I’m good now.” She winked at him.
Irish rolled her eyes, hating how Noble’s spell not only affected her but every bitch in the city too.
“Do you want your usual?”
Oh, he comes here often…
