22. Legend
Legend
T he sun shone overhead, and it was a beautiful Saturday as we strode through the flea market hand-in-hand. I never thought I would be that nigga walking around holding my woman’s hand. I never had that with my ex-wife, and I wasn’t sure why not, but it just wasn’t there.
I often felt the need to touch Legacy no matter how close or far away she was. It could be something as simple as a brush of my lips against her temple, gripping her thigh, or, like now, holding her hand.
“We need some fresh tomatoes for our salads, baby?”
“Didn’t we just buy some new tomatoes last weekend?”
“You bought that shit from the grocery store, and they’re already growing mold.
Told ya ass you need to stop buying your fruits and veggies from the store.
All they do is spray that shit with something to preserve its color and texture while they’re sitting there.
The minute that you get them home, it’s a wrap. ”
“Okay, but can we get the Roma tomatoes? I know that you love them on the vine, but I can cut and dice the Roma easier, Legend.”
“Ya ass don’t even eat tomatoes like that. How about we get you a couple of Romas, but I’m getting some on the vine. That’s what I prefer.”
“That’s what I prefer,” she mocked me and laughed when I mushed her head.
“Stooop,” she whined and looped her arm through mine. I removed it and curved it around her shoulders, pulling her closer into my side.
We picked out our tomatoes before we moved to another stall to check out their squash and asparagus.
“You’re still going to make the veggie lasagna tomorrow?” I asked, eying some spinach.
“Yep. I promise you that it’s even better than regular lasagna, if you can believe that.”
“Listen, as long as you feed me, then I’m happy.”
“I know. Always calling me the big back,” Legacy remarked, placing an eggplant inside her basket before looking up at me.
I smirked, but replied, “I’m not touching that.” I removed my wallet from my back pocket and handed a twenty-dollar bill to the Mexican lady and waved my hand for her to keep the change.
Legacy took my hand again, and we walked through the rest of the stalls and finished our shopping before we returned to the car. She held onto one of the bags containing grapes as we got into the car.
I watched her as she popped one grape after another into her mouth. “You starving, beautiful?”
She paused with the grape halfway to her mouth and then smirked. “Why are you watching me so close?”
“Just checking you out. I mean, if you’re hungry, all you gotta do is say that, and I’ll feed you. You know I will.”
Her gaze dropped to my crotch, and I laughed at her. “Li’l nasty ass.”
“You like me though.”
“Nah, girl. I love you.” I leaned sideways, gripped the back of her head, and pulled her closer to me. I licked her lips at the seam until she opened her mouth to me. I nibbled on her bottom lip and slowly worked my tongue inside of her mouth.
Her mouth was cool and sweet like cherries and grapes. Our tongues moved over and around each other, sliding against one another as I sucked on hers. Soft sighs and whimpered moans filled the cabin of the car until we pulled apart.
“I love you too,” she whispered as she reached up and cleaned her lip gloss off my lips.
“You think your ass is slick,” I declared as I turned on the car and put it into drive.
“What are you talking about?” Her tone was stunned and unsure.
“Just gon’ be sneaking and eating all my damn cherries, talking about your ass don’t eat them.”
Legacy blushed and turned to look out of the window. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
“I bet you don’t, since you owe me a bag of cherries.”
“I didn’t eat your cherries.”
I turned and glanced at her before I fell out laughing.
“Stop being so nasty, Legend.”
“Am I? I don’t have a cherry.”
“Yes, but I do, and you’re thinking about eating it.”
“Not just thinking about it, love. But I’m gonna fuck that shit up when we get home,” I declared as I reached over and cupped her pussy through her leggings. “Look at ya. Your shit is hot as hell through these leggings.”
“That’s because of all the walking you had me doing through the Farmer’s Market.”
“Yeah, whatever. You still owe me a bag of cherries.”
Legacy frowned as she looked over at me. “How did you know?”
“Because that slick ass mouth tastes just like cherries.”
“That could’ve been anything.”
I reached over and rubbed my thumb over her chin. “I guess you’re gonna tell me the same thing about that cherry juice that’s discoloring your chin, huh?”
She pulled the mirror down and glanced into it. Her eyes widened before she pouted and looked at me. “You get on my nerves,” she whined as I laughed at her.
“No, I don’t. You love my black ass.”
“And do.”
“Been thinking about putting together a cookout for our friends and our siblings at my place. What do you think about that?”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea. Anything particular you have in mind? Do you want to cater it, hire a DJ, or what?”
“Nah. It’s just a cookout, baby. We not doing all of that. I can cater it myself, we can turn on the system and attach it to our phones, and I can save some money.”
“You know that’s something that I love about you.”
“What’s that?”
“Despite the fact that you make good money, and you can afford to do those things, you don’t. You never feel the need to impress anyone. You always consider the cost, and then you do what’s in your best interest or Kayson’s.”
“And yours, sweetheart. I damn sure try to make sure that I do what’s in your best interest. Can’t have your ass ghosting me again.”
Laughing, I replied, “I think we ghosted each other.”
“Either way, it’s my job to make sure that you’re good.”
“And you do that.”
We pulled into the driveway, and I parked. It took us one trip between the two of us to take all of our bags inside. We washed our hands and went into the kitchen to prepare a salad, honey-glazed chicken breasts, and French bread.
“Do you have any regrets about your marriage?” Legacy asked when we were seated out on the patio and eating a while later.
“I mean, of course, I do. Anything in particular that you’re asking me about?”
“I was just thinking about how the two of you were that day when I saw you at the café. You seemed extremely comfortable with each other and even cozy. She was listening to every word you spoke, and you were so focused on her that you weren’t aware of anything around you.
I’m not used to that side of you except for when we’re at home, mine or yours. ”
“We were comfortable because we had several years together. Kali always looked to me for guidance and wisdom when she was uncertain about anything. I was the only one who could comfort that woman when she got in her feelings. That’s why it baffled me that she turned to her boss for comfort.”
“You still can’t say it, can you?”
“What? That he’s her man? I have no problems with that, baby.
And as far as me being focused on her and not aware of anything else, I’m always aware of my surroundings.
Was I more comfortable that day than on other days?
Yes. But that’s because whenever I’m in that restaurant, it feels like I’m home.
It doesn’t matter who comes and goes. The majority of them have been customers since my uncle opened that place.
So I know mostly everyone who steps foot inside there.
I know that I’m safe there, and ain’t shit gon’ happen to me or mine in that place. ”
“I guess that makes sense,” she replied in a soft voice.
I set my fork down and turned sideways in my seat to face her.
“But as far as having any regrets . . . I will always have regrets that I couldn’t prevent my family from going through what we went through.
I used to regret that I was so steeped in my pain that I wasn’t able to be fully there for her, and that’s why she felt the need to turn to someone else. ”
“Don’t you dare put that on yourself. You may have been hurting and not fully in that space, Legend, but her choice to cheat was hers alone and not reflective of you.”
“I know that now, beautiful. I know that Kali cheated because it was in her heart to do it.”
“Right. And I’ll bet if she were to be honest with anyone other than you, then she would admit that she had an attraction to her boss far longer than before the affair started or the loss of your child.”
I smiled and caressed her hair. “You sound like Dr. Champagne. She’s told me the same thing and that Kali needs to take responsibility for her actions.”
“And has she?”
“She has. I just keep thinking that I could’ve been a better person.”
“You were the best person that you could have been.”
I sighed. It had been hard to reconcile with the fact that I couldn’t have saved my marriage, no matter how hard I tried.
“It’s easier to think that I could have done something versus facing the reality that it was all out of my hands. I don’t know. It’s that God complex, I guess,” I replied and shrugged.
She laughed and shook her head. “You may be confident, bold, and bordering on arrogant, but you do not suffer from a God complex. There’s no elevated sense of superiority about you, Legend. You’re actually pretty humble. Now, Kayson, on the other hand.”
We both laughed.
“What I don’t regret is that we broke up. If that hadn’t happened, then I never would have met you. You’re the best thing that’s happened in my life in a long time, Legacy. Knowing that I almost lost you fucks with me on a daily.”
“Then let’s make sure that doesn’t happen again, sir,” she replied, grabbing my hand and kissing it.
“What about you? Do you have any regrets about your breakup with Regal?”
“The only thing that I regret about that asshole is that I didn’t leave him much sooner.”
“Then let’s make a vow right now, baby.”
“Sure.”
“We’ll work hard on this relationship every moment that we’re together, and in the moments that we’re not together as we’re able. We’ll make transparency, communication, honesty, and loyalty our best friends and set them at the forefront of our relationship. I don’t want us to have any regrets.”
“And neither do I, baby,” she replied and kissed me softly and slowly.