Chapter 4
Luke
She fell right into my arms, engulfing me with her scent I would never admit I still sprayed on those tough nights. That amber soothed my soul. Even right now, when Hollis had been giving me hell since I’d walked into the house, I was exactly where I wanted to be, back with her in my embrace.
When I called Derek and told him the news, it was Callie who came up with the idea to surprise her at a family function instead of privately or in public.
And for her reaction to be this, I was glad I’d listened as Callie came rushing over to help.
I had Hollis, so I blocked her twin, picking her up bridal style.
“Naw, I got her. Just point me in the direction of a couch or bed.” I wasn’t leaving, not again, especially not like this.
“Okay.” She led the way. I could feel all eyes on us as we made our way into the house. We headed upstairs.
“This is her room. You can lay her in here,” Callie said, letting me in. I smiled at them still having rooms in each other’s houses. When we were married, Callie had one in ours. Hell, the family did. Me and Derek just accepted it, knowing it was a forever thing.
Only for him since she gave up on y’all’s.
I laid her down, sitting on the edge of the bed, turning to Callie.
“I got her from here,” I said.
Hesitantly, Callie shook her head, not leaving me alone with the one woman besides family who’d ever gotten my love.
“I want you to have it, but not like this. You told Derek it would be a gentle conversation; well, to the best of your ability. You just dropped all kinds of rough ass bombs on my sister in a matter of seconds. Uht uht, she needs a day or two to process all this. I promise once she’s calm she’ll call you.
Trust me, even if it’s to redo something she thought was done that I stepped in and stopped before it could happen.
You can try again then, and for your sake, I advise you to rethink your approach because that was a fucked up power move, Deacon. ”
Callie was being the big sister and shutting me out. I knew she had Hollis by two minutes and would regulate like it was two years.
I didn’t want to fight her on the situation given she was right. I’d moved out of ego, announcing our marital status like that, and now Hollis was laid out in the bed.
I put my attention back on my wife and nodded, instantly regretting things as my body raised from the bed.
“Okay. I’m giving her a day.” That was all I had. The next appointment with the attorney was in three and we needed to become one again by then.
I walked out the room, leaving them alone, making my way back downstairs and bumping into their grandma Lacy in the kitchen.
“Be patient, baby. Even the runner has to stop for water during the marathon.” I had no idea what she meant, but I nodded and bowed out, not needing to stay any longer. I fucked up trying to show my ass with the news, but I wasn’t about to allow Hollis to call me her ex-husband for another day.
Yeah, and look how shit worked out.
I grunted as I reached my truck, getting in and driving off.
I ended up at the batting cages, blowing off my frustration. Today didn’t go as planned at all. I should’ve at least been back in her presence for more than ten minutes. Not spending my last night on leave alone at the cages.
I mounted up, squaring my shoulders right before I stepped to swing at the ball coming toward me. The only satisfaction I got was the crack that came once my bat connected, sending the ball flying in the air.
When I wasn’t on the field, this was my sanctuary. I wasn’t aware that I wasn’t alone until Shep spoke, catching me off guard.
“How did I know you would be here? I’m guessing shit didn’t go too well with the Mrs., huh?”
“If it did, I wouldn’t be here now would I, fool?” I mumbled under my breath. I put my attention back on the ball, ignoring him as I took a swing that didn’t connect, making my already frustrated mood only worsen as I groaned.
“Today was supposed to be a nice kickback over some good ass food and me reconnecting with Hollis. But—” I paused, not wanting to finish my sentence as my mind went back to that brief moment when Hollis looked at me with pure shock before she fainted.
“But what? Tell me where you went wrong.”
I hit the remote that paused the baseballs from coming through while I put the bat at my side, huffing heavily, twisting my face up.
“So you’re assuming I did something wrong?”
“Yes,” he said with no hesitation.
“Trust me. As a spectator to y’all history, I’m no stranger to your lady.
She can be a lot, but you, I know on both levels and you can get in your own way.
Just to be right or feel like you are because you’re not always right.
You do dumb shit like pulling out that big man card and flashing it like a black card. So tell me what you did wrong?”
I blew out a sigh as I wiped my forehead of the dripping sweat.
“Before you take my words and make me the bad guy, I’ma need you to see it from my side first, then you can react.”
“Aw, shit it’s bad. C’mon, nigga.”
“Hollis went to introduce me to her people and I did it myself before she could refer to me as her ex-husband.” His eyes stretched but he didn’t say anything.
When his laugh came, I knew he was about to clown.
“So you not only told her that y’all are still married, but yo’ ass thought it was smart to make the grand announcement to her people at the same damn time?
Yeah, just in your own way like a muthafucking fool.
” Shep’s laugh only grew stronger, which had me kissing my teeth and putting my attention back on the feeder I’d turned back on.
I didn’t have time for anyone judging my actions. I knew I’d fucked up.
“Deacon, wait. I do see your point. Shit, for real, I would be pissed if Angie introduced me as her ex. But the difference is my wife knows our marriage is still going. Yours didn’t, and instead of having a civilized conversation to tell her, your bullheaded ass decided to just drop it like a checkmate.
Remember, nigga, on your chess board, you and your queen are on the same side.
You’re supposed to be protecting your most powerful player, not causing it harm. ”
“You don’t think I know that?” I paused the feeder again, fuming as I turned to look at him.
“Shit, I don’t know, but I do know moving like this ain’t it. Tighten the hell up and try again.” The sound of his phone ringing had him dropping his head to answer whoever was calling. By the growing glare, I assumed it to be Angie. Like me and Hollis, they were having problems.
“Man, I gotta jet, but I’ll see you at practice. You back tomorrow, right?”
He held out his hand, with me doing the same so I could dap him.
“Yeah. But you cool?”
“Nothing I can’t handle. You just worry about protecting your wife.”
I nodded as Shep headed out. I stood there pondering his words and my next move to making Hollis and me good enough to pass as a real couple.
Good luck with that shit, nigga. You already fucked up.
I grunted as I hit the button to resume my session. While my mind worked overtime, I knew it was going to take a lot to get Hollis back on my side.