Page 20 of Spending Forever With You

This whole situation was causing a tension headache. I knew the smart decision would be to say fuck it and let their family figure this out without me while I pushed forward with refiling for a divorce, but the house full of bad memories also overflowed with good ones Ray’s ass wouldn’t appreciate.

Jimmy didn’t even live in it anymore, so I was sure the only reason for having it was for us. Now here Luke was with plans to sell it. Back when we were together, we had dreams of growing old there.

What, now you want to live in it with him? What else is he going to do, Hollis?

I stared at him. He was dazed, probably in the same place as me mentally.

“Once this is done, I’ll file for the divorce myself this time, freeing you from me forever.” That revelation had me rubbing my temple as my eyes fluttered. I had to pause Nas on the damn papers.

Fuck!

There was a pregnant pause before I spoke again.

“What do you need me to do?”

“We’re going to have to prove that we’ve been a happy married couple for the attorney. Like living together and all⁠—"

“Nope. You lost me already. That’s a hell no. Why the fuck would I want to live in your fuck pad that all your hoes pass through. Married couples can live separately and happily.” I shook my head.

“First off it’s not a fuck pad, and two, hoes don’t pass through. And third, me and my wife will never live separately. Once we can prove that this shit is legit and we sell, you can go back to the towers.”

“Yeah, but you see that separate part includes the happy part and I’ma kinda need that to pretend to be your loving wife.”

“Holls, again, once this is done, we go back to you hating me for whatever reason. I know you said you don’t want the money but I’ll pay you to do this for me on top of the whatever we get from the sale.”

This is a bad idea, Hollis.

It probably was, but it was the house.

One location that changed both of our lives.

Yeah, for better and fucking worse.

We not only got married there in the backyard, but we lost our virginity in the garage in that fucking car Jimmy also left us.

Going down memory lane wasn’t on my list of bullshit for the year.

Fuck year…ever! I couldn’t do this.

Yet my mouth went against my head, deciding to lead with my heart as I spoke again.

“I don’t want any money from you. How pretend do we have to play? Because I have a life, Luke.”

“Live together, as I said before. Meetings with the attorneys over Jimmy’s will, let me be a good financial provider. To make it real, we’ll need to go shopping and blend you into the fuck pad. And the media has to start seeing us together. I’m talking, my games and everything. Anything else will come as we do this, like one main account for us.” I laughed but it was full of sarcasm.

“Yeah, I’m only doing this for Jimmy, but the moment that house is secured, the papers will be waiting for you to sign.” I held out my hand to seal our verbal agreement.

“Deal.”

He looked at my hand and I could see the fight in his eyes on whether or not he would shake. And once he did, I understood why. The current came through my skin, going straight for my chest, pumping it back to life.

All fucking bad, Hollis.

“Deal. Now can you go order my food? I want two shr⁠—"

“I know what you want, Holls.” That was all he said as he got out the truck, going inside the late night Chinese food spot, another of our shared memories. No lie, this man and I were everywhere in this town.

I snorted at him even remembering a food order from years ago. I sat there pondering what I had just agreed to, pulling out my phone to text Nas.