Page 28 of Spending Forever With You

Yes, Luke had told me things I would have to do, but they sounded like suggestions, or maybe I put them in that box, half-ass listening. With Kay now repeating the same words, they sounded like demands.

“Well, I won’t make this one to play WAG with the others. Unfortunately, I have work. I’m getting ahead of the game before anyone else can tell lies about my life.”

She smirked.

“It’s funny Deacon knew you would be here doing just that. I guess after all these years you can say he still knows some things about you.”

He doesn’t know shit about me. I was no longer that girl.

Not anymore.

“Doubtful.” That was my last word just before Kay left me there alone again, giving me nothing but space and time to finish this piece.

I rubbed my temples, hoping to ease the stress building behind my eyes, praying I didn’t get a migraine. It was day one and I was already regretting my decision to even get involved.

“Oh my gosh, Holli, this is nice. Deacon has nice taste. I mean, I know you said the stay was temporary but I… we could get used to this type of living,” Callie said as we walked through the house. She and Cami came over to my mini housewarming party. It was just them since the girls were still out of town living their best lives. Once I got my piece submitted, I turned on DND and made one call to her. Within the hour she and Cami were ringing the doorbell.

I chuckled while I carried the bags from Redmond’s.

“I know, right? I didn’t know what to expect the inside to look like, but it wasn’t this. I’ve been having a fucking ball snooping too,” I said, admiring the décor as we made our way to the kitchen.

“Hell, I didn’t know either.”

“I still have rooms to go through, but so far, besides my damn apartment upstairs, the living room is my favorite.”

“Ooh, Auntie Holli, he has a theater in the basement with the best snacks too!” Cami added to the conversation, causing me to turn and face Callie who wore a dumb expression.

She tried to laugh, correcting Cami.

“Girl, and how would you know? We’ve never been here before. You might be getting confused with one of daddy’s other friends.”

“No. Mommy, it was here. You remember he had the chocolate caramel candies that melted with the popcorn and the hot chips and we watc⁠—”

“Cami!” Callie tried to hush her, placing a hand over her mouth, but the betrayal damage was done.

“Don’t listen to her. You know kids be confused about dates, places, and people. Anyways, this is nice. How long are we here for? Do I have time to pick out my room or don’t get too comfortable?”

I shook my head with a playful smile as we reached the kitchen, with me placing the bags of food on the counter.

“Uht uht, ain’t no need to silence the truth. I already know you betrayed me years ago. You can make it up by you and Derek writing statements for us, saying we’ve been a loving couple for years now. And he does have a spare room upstairs but don’t get too comfortable. The lawyer assured us that once we get everything in, the process should move fast. I’m looking to be back in my condo by the end of next week.”

“Damn, that’s too bad. Can you imagine our birthday in the backyard? I’m talking about the pink luau one you always wanted to have,” she asked while gazing out the back patio doors as if she could truly see our thirty-first birthday party back there. I didn’t have to look to know his space was kickback ready with the built-in grill and pizza oven and family size gazebo. He even had an in-ground pool with a mini swim up bar that let me know every function I threw in the summer would be lit.

What functions?

Exactly, none. I just told her not to get comfortable and yet here I am daydreaming about the same shit.

I ignored her, instead making plates for us.

“Can you focus? The statements?”

“Oh sure, we can do them. Now you focus. Since when don’t you want to throw a party? Between our birthday and a ‘my wife just moved in party’, we need to do something in this space.”

“This is the only party I’m throwing in this man’s house. Meanwhile, to change the subject, I was told I have to start attending the games and be amongst the other WAGs.”

“Oh my gosh, it’s official, huh? Do you have a jersey yet?”

She was talking fast, her tone full of excitement, which had me frowning in disgust as I pushed their plates toward her so she could get Cami situated.