Page 23 of Spending Forever With You

“Same page. Quick and painless.” She smiled while I was now thinking about ways to get her name on the house and the bank accounts.

“Perfect. Now, the trust fund is a different story. Unfortunately, once it’s signed over, your grandfather put a clause that it can’t be touched until the child is eighteen. Meaning, yes, it goes to you two name wise and on a legal level, but it can’t be dissolved or withdrawn from. Are we good there too?”

I nodded while Hollis confirmed verbally.

“Yes. All good there too.”

“Okay, good. Then that’s all I have for you two today, unless you have any questions for me.” Hollis scooted back in her chair, letting me know we were done.

“Whenever you get everything for me just call and schedule an appointment,” Skyla said as Hollis already headed out of the door.

“She’s running late for work,” I lied, hoping to reassure her that we were good.

Whether she believed me or not, I didn’t know, especially since I turned to follow Hollis.

Once we were in my truck, Hollis let me have it.

“How the fuck are we going to pull this off, Luke? You adding my name to anything or me to you will drag this out or worse⁠—

“I know, I’ma handle it. All I need you to do is to take this and start acting like a wife would and spend unnecessary money on stuff for the house. Also, we need to officially move you in the house. What are you doing right now?” I passed her my bank card.

“Again, with this. I don’t think I need to do all that. We just need to prove my residency on paper, not in person.” Hollis’s mouth was moving but she quietly tucked the card into her purse.

“The way Jimmy is playing with these extra ass rules, we don’t know that. Shit, Skyla might pop up one day waiting to discuss something and she’ll see you don’t live there. I’m—we’re not taking any chances. So pack what you need and keep your condo as your office until this is over.”

She kissed her teeth as she folded her arms over her chest, pushing her boobs up in her V-neck shirt, giving me a view of the small tattooed L and heart on her right one. I cleared my throat, bringing her attention to where my gaze had fallen. Of course she shifted, fighting to pull the shirt up as if it would erase the fact that I knew she still had me on her body.

“Don’t get too excited. The tattoo shop ran out of black ink when I went to get it covered by a snake wrapped around a thorned rose.” Hollis’s neck rolled, only making it harder for me not to laugh.

“Girl, just admit you wanted to keep me close to your heart so you don’t sound crazy as hell for that lie.” I chuckled louder. “Ol’ lying ass. The shop ran out of black ink.” I mocked her as we entered her parking garage.

“You’re getting too comfortable too damn fast. I ain’t moved in yet, nigga. I can stay my ass right the fuck here and have my lawyer finish the filing process today and be divorced from you by midnight. Don’t play with me,” she threatened as I parked in a visitor spot, ignoring her and getting out to open her door. In true fashion of wanting to be far away from me, Hollis took off toward the elevator. I jogged to keep up with her power walk.

Once we were alone on the elevator, I hemmed her ass against the wall as we rode up.

“Too comfortable, too fast. Hershey, naw. That just don’t make sense. I can’t be too comfortable in a spot that’s been mine since the beginning of time. Shit, still holding down the position with my first and last name, tough.” I used my thumb to lightly graze the exposed tattoo, smirking as I watched her glare turn deadly as she swatted me away.

“It’s not your spot anymore. You gave it up when you didn’t fight for us. And don’t fucking touch me. We’re definitely setting up some boundaries and rules in this shit for your safety because you gon’ make me fuck you up, Luke,” Hollis snarled as the doors came open on her floor. We stayed there for a second longer until I snorted, stepping out of her way so she could get off first.

I walked further into her condo this time, taking in the space that my wife had made a home and immediately noticed the color pink had completely taken over. I knew it was her favorite color and that she had always wanted to decorate with all the shades in our home.

“Anyways, I’ma call my home girl Nas. She’s a lawyer and will have a way for us to prove this since we have no major, legal ways that say we’ve been married.”

She broke me out of my thoughts as she tossed a suitcase on her bed before going for her phone.

“Wait, Nas who? And can we trust her with this? We don’t need this getting out.”

“I just said she’s my home girl. Yes, we can trust her. I trust her way more than you. Besides, you remember quiet little Nasira who used to come around back in the day. She’s a lawyer now and ain’t so quiet anymore,” she said as the line began ringing. A voice I vaguely remembered came on the line.

“Hey, Nas.”

“I swear you know when to call. I heard back from my colleague. I got the restraining order that Talisa Storm put on you revoked due to the reservations Bone made weeks ago. Please be careful next time.”

Hearing Talisa had a restraining order against Hollis had my brows dipping in as I squinted and my mouth curved up in confusion.

“I should have led with you’re on speaker and Luke is here with me.”

“Oh shit. Well, you know I’m not speaker friendly; so that’s on you. What can I do for y’all? Are you ready for the papers already?”