Spending Forever With You

Prologue

Iglanced over my copy of the ten-page document with glossy eyes as I quickly flipped through it, double checking the two sets of initials on each page.

I took in a sharp breath as I came upon our full names signed with different dates.

Surprisingly, my husband Luke’s was stamped the same day I knew he received the decree.

Well damn, I guess he didn’t hesitate to end us.

This is what you wanted, ’member, Holli? This is what’s best for both of y’all.

It was, but it didn’t lessen the sting that came from seeing Luke’s name next to mine without even a last chance phone call or even a couple of weeks gap.

I swiped the tear that had somehow escaped before I aggressively flipped the document shut and slammed it on the coffee table. I reached for the gummy I’d purchased today for this reason alone.

I requested that my lawyer send Luke the papers first, blank without my signature, since I was still hoping on a prayer that he would call and argue me down about leaving him.

Sitting here with the document signed and no phone call was all I needed to fully accept this was the end. And since he nor I put up a fight on the topic at hand, they assured me that things would go rather quickly. Meaning, I wasn’t the only person no longer happy.

I mean, I think that’s clear as fuck, Hollis.

Which fucked me up even more. Yeah, I’d filed for the divorce, but I thought my husband—well now ex-husband—would put up a fight for me, for us, that we could beat the distance and heavy time between us.

Again, Holli, first thought wrong.

I knew what I’d signed up for. I allowed my heart and soul to belong to a man whose goal was Major League Baseball.

But I didn’t think either of us was prepared for the distance to kill us so early in our marriage.

A marriage I wanted to work so badly that I ignored the lonely nights and empty mornings in our bed for months at a time.

Two full years and some change. That was how long our shit lasted.

Hell, our courtship was longer than that.

I snorted at my thought.

We didn’t even get to celebrate our anniversary due to him being in the middle of his season.

I didn’t want to hold him back nor want him to feel a way each time we talked and all I did was cry from missing him.

Luke was picked up by a team in Pittsburgh after they saw him on his minor league team in Ohio, still far from me in our hometown of Crescent Falls.

Of course, I was the supportive wife, happy for my husband accomplishing his dreams, so happy that I pushed him away to be who he wanted to be without me.

I was still in college chasing mine, so we were even.

“And just like that, goodbye, Luke Deacon.”

I was back to being Hollis Walker. Well, technically speaking, I had never changed my name. It was an expense Luke and I couldn’t afford. Instead, we let his friend give us tattoos in his basement that dubbed me his wife and him my husband.

I rolled the single diamond studded ring off my finger, then coolly used my now naked hand to brush over the permanent damage I had done to my body all in the name of love.

I gotta fix this shit ASAP!

The alarm system letting me know that my back door was open had me looking up. I didn’t have to wonder for too long since my twin sister Callie was never quiet.

“Hollis! Why the hell is it so dark in here? Damn, turn on a light—” Her sentence trailed the moment she walked into the living room where the fireplace was the only thing illuminating the room. It was like she finally felt me.

“Oh Holli, is that what I think it is?” I nodded, followed by a couple sniffles.

“That was fast. I thought for sure this whole bullshit would drag out for a couple of months at the least.” She flopped down next to me, throwing her arms around my shoulders, pulling me with her as we hit the back of the couch.

“Yeah, well I guess God said it was time for us to part ways,” I said sarcastically.

I’d filed for divorce four months ago.

“Or maybe my sister got in her feelings instead of weighing her options and made another dumb decision like he did. I really think y’all should’ve talked about this before you just up and filed for a divorce, Holli.” I kissed my teeth as I pushed out of her embrace.

“Damn, Callie. I know you like the nigga, but whose side are you on? Because if you recall, Luke signed the papers without pleading his case of saving us. He signed them the same day, Callie.” I choked as I wiped the tear that managed to escape.

“Don’t play with me, Holli. I’m always on yours, aside from forever moving too damn fast. I’m just saying you could’ve at least talked to him about how you were feeling.

I’m sure Deacon had a plan to figure everything out.

He wouldn’t have—” I groaned as I got up, headed for my bedroom.

I wasn’t staying here to listen to the same shit Callie had been saying since I told her I’d filed.

She and my gran Lacy weren’t thrilled about my decision, both saying I was being impulsive and irrational.

Of course, in true Callie fashion, she was quick on her toes, rushing behind me.

“Aht aht, oh hell no. Don’t be walking the hell away from me.

I’m not him. We most definitely don’t even move like that and we damn sure not about to fucking start.

Now like I was saying, before your ass tried to be rude, I know Deacon loves you and would’ve been willing to do any and everything to make you two work. ”

I huffed as I opened my closet door and began flicking through my clothes.

I wasn’t beat for nothing Callie was talking about right now.

I was officially a new woman. My divorce was fresh and my weed gummy would be kicking in soon with the help of the liquor that still had my chest warm.

I needed to go out and go shake my ass to release any further fucked up feelings about Luke and our failed marriage.

Twenty and already divorced. Oh yeah, that’s going to be a nice first date topic.

“Look, I’m trying to hit Black Diamonds or something. Are you coming or not?” I turned to face her with my hand on my hip, waiting for her response.

Callie rolled her eyes as she huffed and puffed while mumbling under her breath before she spoke up. I put my attention back on my goal of finding something to wear because I was going whether Callie came out or not.

“If this is how you want to react to your newfound news, then I guess, but I think maybe you should reach out to—” I closed my eyes and paused my movements as I mentally counted down from ten. She must’ve sensed my irritation because she cut her sentence.

She let out a frustrated low sigh.

“Of course. I hope you got something for me to wear too because I’m not going back home. Derek is officially on daddy duty tonight. Don’t get me wrong. I love my baby girl, but momma needs a break to breathe.”

“That’s what the fuck I’m talking about. I’ma text Johnni to meet us out too,” I said, now tossing a gold mini dress her way.

“Ooh, a girls’ night, just like old times.”

That made me smile. Callie, like me, married young. Both to our high school sweethearts. Unlike me, she and my brother-in-law Derek had just entered their next phase of life, parenthood, with my beautiful niece Camille.

Another level me and Luke will never make it to.

Ugh, stop thinking about him, Holli, or else this whole divorce shit won’t work.

“Don’t do my baby like that. But you can use the guest bathroom.

We might as well get one last good use out of this house.

” I was letting it go. There was no need to stay in a home Luke and I had gotten to start our lives together.

Hell, he damn sure didn’t need to keep it since he was no longer a resident here, nor had he been in a long ass time.

I grabbed my too short red dress that fit every curve just right and laid it on my bed before going to my bathroom to shower.

Tonight, my mission wasn’t hooking another man, but to feel good about myself because right now I felt like I’d failed at something that came way too easy for me.

Loving Luke was all I had ever wanted to do and now it seemed as if that was no longer an option.

“I’m doing her just like that, and since this is your grand idea, be prepared to be on auntie duty in the morning.”

An hour later we were posted up at Hef’s in Diamond Falls.

Since our cousin Hezekiah owned the bar, it was easy to talk him into a booth and a couple of bottles on him since our twenty-first birthday was still a couple months away.

And with Damon, our other cousin, DJing I knew the vibes would be lit for me all night.

“Hollis, don’t you think you need to slow down?

I mean, damn there is a tomorrow. No need to drink out the whole bar,” my best friend Johnni said in my ear as I swayed my hips to the song I couldn’t even make out the lyrics to fully.

All I knew was the alcohol made everything make sense.

I ignored her just as Damon came on the speaker over the music.

“Fellas, congratulations are in order! My fine ass cousin Hollis is back on the muthafuckin’ market.

Now, unless y’all sending cash to help her wipe the tears or a bottle to drown her sorrows, don’t even waste her time going over to the section.

This one’s for you baby girl!” Callie rolled her eyes while the new single “Dogging Niggas” came through.

I sang along to the track, seeing how it suddenly matched my exact mood.

“The only time I’m claiming a man is when he’s blessing my hands or my wrist with dead presidents!”

At this point I had singlehandedly turned Hef’s Palace into a karaoke bar.

I turned and pulled Callie closer to me as I tossed my arm around her shoulder and sang in her ear, off key and all. Callie grunted as she pushed me away.

“C’mon now, Holli! Damn, you acting like being with Deacon was the worst part of your life. Y'all were happy in love.”