Page 42 of Spending Forever With You

“Nas, no, it’s bad. The will is saying six months. I can’t stay here for that long,” she whined, causing me to clear my throat. She turned to face me with tears in her eyes.

Damn, she hates you that much?

“Yes, I’m fine physically. Trust me, Luke is crazy, not stupid, but I have to go.” She hung up.

“Damn, Holls, you make a nigga sound bad. Is six months that long to be around me?” I asked, taking a seat next to her but not putting my feet in.

“Yes…no.” She blew out a frustrated breath as she dropped her head, rubbing her temples.

“Then what is it? Talk to me and help me understand because you’ve got me feeling like shit right now.”

“Pretending to still love you or being married to you. Luke, it took me years, and I mean years, to reach a point where I could enjoy certain things and places without the haunting memory of us being there together. To be back in… it’s a lot. And for six months! My god. I don’t think I can do it.”

She went to get up when I grabbed her wrist. Her eyes ricocheted from my hand to my face until I released her.

“Please, Holls, you already agreed.”

“Yeah, under the impression that it would be two weeks tops. It’s already been three. Months is a long time. I have a life, Luke. And I’m sure you want to get back to yours that includes hoes like Talisa Storm.”

“Baby, I don’t want her. Ain’t no need to keep bringing her the hell up either.” She scoffed.

“Baby? See, that little nickname is the reason this is a bad idea, Luke. I’m sorry. I’ll come get my things and leave your key once you head to the game.”

I was back in the clubhouse sitting at the table, eating my pregame meal, thinking about Hollis’s words. I grunted as I took another bite of food.

“Damn nigga, you do know no one is forcing you to eat that shit, right? It’s a whole spread over there free for you and me,” Shepherd said, taking a bite of his food.

“That ain’t it,” I said, shaking my head.

“Then what is it? Because I don’t like this bad energy you’re passing around right now. It’s bad ass juju before the game.”

“I’ma lose my wife again.”

“Again, nigga? You don’t have her for real now.” That comment had me snarling at him before I answered.

“Yeah, man, and that’s the problem. To her I’m public enemy number one even when we’re on good terms.”

“Good terms? Fool, it’s only been what, a week or two? There are no good terms yet. You ain’t even back in your role fully to define anything good.”

I waved him off. “Three and I ain’t never left my position.”

“But you did. You’ve been gone from her life for years now. Stop trying to change the subject, what happened?”

“We got hit with another term of the will that extends our time living together and our marital status.”

“Ah, and I take it she wasn’t on board with the added time.”

“Nigga, hell no. The lawyer said six months, and the way Hollis acted, you would’ve sworn she said a lifetime. Hollis said she couldn’t do it. So I’ma call the lawyer and let her know the change then buy it for double whatever Ray’s ass lists it at, if he sells.”

Shepherd’s laugh was loud and deep, gaining attention from other players.

“Fool, you and I both know that muthafucka ain’t selling you shit and damn sure not the car. You fucked up. You’ve got a better chance of persuading your wife and doubling her money to get her to help you than that nigga giving, no, selling you shit.”

“Naw, the way Hollis looked, I’ma have to take my chances with Ray because I just reached my third strike with my wife.”

Shepherd grunted as he shook his head.

“I swear that’s your damn problem. You’re too quick to give up. Let me ask you a question and be honest with yourself. Do you love your wife?”