Page 73 of Spending Forever With You

She giggled as I stood behind her and we cut the mini cake.

“No! Baby, you remembered the original flavors I wanted and we couldn’t get. How?” I picked up a spoon, going in for a bite for my wife. It was a strawberry shortcake with a cheesecake layer and fresh strawberries. Since the cheesecake layer had been an upcharge we couldn’t afford back then, she’d opted for cream cheese frosting.

Not this time. My baby wasn’t settling for shit she didn’t want. I was going to give her the world, no matter how much it cost.

“Hershey, I told you I remember everything about you.” Instead of eating her bite, she grabbed a spoon, then got some for me so we could feed each other.

She closed her eyes, moaning through the experience.

“Mmm…yeah, it’s a good thing this wasn’t the cake at our reception because I damn sure wouldn’t have shared. To be honest, I don’t think you can have any more.” I chuckled as I pulled her chair out again, assisting her back in.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get my strawberry fix later on. I like mine better with chocolate anyways,” I said as I tossed Hollis a wink and watched her full cheeks rise, letting me know she was blushing again.

“Luke, will you stop being nasty for one second? It’s bad enough that your hands are forever smacking my ass. I guess I don’t have to ask if you’re enjoying the added benefits this time around.”

“Shit, hell naw, but if you think your ass is my main focus, I gotta do better with kissing your lips, caressing your thighs, and sucking on that fat c⁠—"

“Deke!” She cut me off just as the server came in with our main course. When we were alone again and after we said our grace, Hollis was back in her bag, this time producing a stack of papers.

“Look what Jimmy gave me in my letter.” She slid them over to me. I picked them up, doing my best to hide my reaction.

I’d always wondered what happened to her plans but didn’t want to ask out of fear of sparking an argument or something. Hollis was more sensitive this time around.

“Wow, Black Girl Magic Magazine,” I said casually while I looked through the plans. Hollis had always been detailed in every aspect of her life, so much so that for months she worked on these ideas, down to the color her office would be.

“You still want your pink and gold office with your glass desk?” I asked, snickering.

“Hell yeah, and I want my massive digital whiteboard installed. The only thing I’m swapping out is that white carpet. I had it in my condo a couple of years ago. Let’s just say a high maintenance expense that’s not in my budget, ever. Now, I’m thinking hardwood floors, a nice classic oak moment.”

She was speaking in present tense, so I pushed. My brows rose as I watched her put a piece of stuffed salmon into her mouth.

“So, this is still on the board of things to make happen?”

She shrugged but didn’t look up at me, going in for a forkful of her garlic mashed potatoes.

“That’s not an answer, baby.”

“I know, Luke, but it’s the best I got right now. I mean, up until earlier today, I hadn’t thought about BGMM in years. So I don’t know. Probably not, it’s a little too late at this point in the game, even though Jimmy was… is convinced I can still have everything I want in life, including the magazine.”

“He isn’t the only one. Holls, if you want to quit Caught Live tonight and pursue BGMM; that’s something I’m not only going to fully support, I would do everything in my power to make it happen for you. If that’s what you truly wanted in life,” I said, taking a bite of my food.

“Luke, we just got back together. I would never ask you to do any more than what you’re already doing.”

“Baby, I swear I love you, but please shut that pretty mouth the fuck up. You didn’t ask me. I’m telling you, as your husband, I’m your dream catcher. Every star in the sky you wish upon I’ma catch and see to it that they come true for you, just point to it and tell me what you want. Nothing is too big or impossible when it comes to you.” I emphasized my words using my index finger, stretching it toward the ceiling, giving her a physical manifestation of our imaginary sky filled with her stars of wishes.

“Can I have some time to think about it?” she asked.

“Baby, you just tell me when you’re ready,” I assured her as I got up, kissing her before going to get another gift for her to open. I was more excited for her to see what I’d bought than she was.

“Keep eating. I’ma open them for you.” She only laughed but didn’t protest as I pulled out a smaller box of diamond earrings.

I woke up to the sound of my phone going off with a message from Kay that had me grunting while trying to type my response with one squinted eye. I rolled over, prepared to go back to sleep for a few minutes until I heard a baby yelling that had me jumping up. I found my living room filled with Hollis’s sister and friends and their kids. Hollis had a baby in her arms who I now registered was just talking and attacking my woman with his sloppy kisses.

“Hey baby, good morning. Did we wake you up? I apologize, they popped up on me,” Hollis asked as another little girl sat on the floor near her playing baby dolls with Cami. The ladies waved as they gave their greetings.

The whole scene had me smiling while I shook my head as I made my way over to her, stealing a kiss where I could since little man barely left me space to do so.

“It’s cool. I know Cami, but who is this little man trying to steal all my wife's kisses from me?” I asked jokingly, making my way over to Cami to do our handshake.