Chapter 5 #2
“I wish I could, but without the section, I can’t come. I promised my girls a section and I’m sure they won’t want to be here amongst general pop. But next time,” I said, turning and rolling my eyes, hating how my day was going.
Great, now you have to think of a new way to get inside.
It had never taken me this long to crack a story open and I was seriously considering giving it back.
In a minute there won’t be a story to give back if someone else gives up the details before you.
I left, heading home for a nap and to wait for this meeting with Luke. I was over today and still had to play nice tonight.
The sound of my phone ringing jolted me from my sleep. I wiped the drool as I blindly felt around. Once I found it, I squinted one eye to answer the phone, not paying attention to the caller’s name.
“Hello?” I said groggily as I closed my eyes. It wasn’t until he spoke that I remembered our plans.
“Hey, Holls. Sorry it’s so late, we had an extra inning tonight. Are you ready to talk?”
“Luke, let’s try again tomorrow or something.” I removed the phone from my ear to hang up until he called out to me.
“Technically, it’s tomorrow and I’m at your door.” I paused, laying still, holding my breath as if that would make him go away.
Then it hit me.
Luke is at my damn door. This has to be Callie’s doing.
“How the hell do you know where I live? This has to be a new level of stalking,” I grumbled as I tossed my throw blanket off my body, exposing me to the icy temperature I kept the AC on.
He chuckled.
“Stalking coming from you is a strong word, don’t you think? I’m sure it’s the same way you know where I stay. Now, can you open the door?” I rolled my eyes hard as I hung up the phone then wiped my eyes and the corners of my mouth.
Fucking Callie.
I walked through the condo, reaching the door and peeping through to see him standing there just cheesing.
I opened the door to his smug grin that almost had me slamming it in his face.
“I said a public place, Luke, and ain’t nothing public about my condo. Especially not when you call yourself just popping the hell up.”
“This ain’t a pop up when we have a date and I’m holding true to that promise. Get ready, it’s late but I know a spot.”
“It’s not a date. We’re having a conversation about this fucked up situation and Jimmy’s will.”
“Yeah, like I said, a date.”
I didn’t argue, just mumbled under my breath as I headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
I wasn’t changing out of my night clothes though.
These mini shorts and oversized T-shirt would have to do.
Not even ten minutes later, I walked back into the living room where Luke was on the couch with his face in his phone.
Out of habit, I glanced at his screen and saw what he was doing. I didn’t know why I sighed in relief once I noticed he was watching highlights.
“Okay, where is this spot? I hope they don’t have a dress code or anything because I’m giving you the best of me right now.” I moved toward my foyer to slip on my slides and grab my purse and keys.
“Don’t worry about all that. You don’t even have to get out of the truck if you don’t want to.” He got up and walked toward me. For a second his words were lost upon me as I was whisked out of the door. It finally made sense when he walked us toward his truck, opening the passenger side.
My head shook immediately.
“Absolutely the fuck not. I prefer to drive myself.”
“You could, but this is easier and gives us a chance to talk privately about the sensitive issue. I promise no funny ass shit. There, convo, and back, Holls.” I blew a heavy sigh as I grabbed his hand, pushing myself up. Once I was inside, he closed my door.
He got in and it seemed like time passed slowly until I reminded him that he’d asked for this meetup.
“Luke, you’re on the clock.”
He cleared his throat.
“Right.
“Holls, I know this shit is fucked up, but I need you.” His tone was even but I sensed a bit of urgency behind his words. I turned my body to look at him.
“What do you want from me, Luke? And why now?”
“I need us to stay married long enough to sell the assets and settle the trust. I’ll give you everything if you pretend to actually still love me.”
There was my reason for not wanting to be around him.
I didn’t have to pretend to still love him. I had to cosplay hating him.
“Luke, I don’t want the money. Jimmy is your grandpa; you can keep it. Sell without me. I give you permission.”
“Holls, you think I want to be here begging you for anything? Trust, if I could, I would. You already know the process requires both of our signatures on documents and shit. Plus, the attorney said to keep this clean we have to be in a good status.” I laughed deeply.
“Well that’s not true, now is it? I haven’t spoken to you in ten years, Luke. Ten fucking years. And now you show up and I’m supposed to be what? You didn’t even call me when I filed for divorce.” I scoffed.
He let out a heavy sigh. “Please, Holls. It’s the house. I…we can’t lose it to Ray.”
“What do you mean lose it to Ray?”
Ray was his cousin we both hated.
“If we don’t meet the good standing requirements Jimmy put in for us and prove to be a loving, happily married couple, then the estate will pass to Ray.”
He can’t get the house, Hollis. That’s y’all’s house!
Ours?
No. Luke’s.
This whole situation was causing a tension headache. I knew the smart decision would be to say fuck it and let their family figure this out without me while I pushed forward with refiling for a divorce, but the house full of bad memories also overflowed with good ones Ray’s ass wouldn’t appreciate.
Jimmy didn’t even live in it anymore, so I was sure the only reason for having it was for us. Now here Luke was with plans to sell it. Back when we were together, we had dreams of growing old there.
What, now you want to live in it with him? What else is he going to do, Hollis?
I stared at him. He was dazed, probably in the same place as me mentally.
“Once this is done, I’ll file for the divorce myself this time, freeing you from me forever.” That revelation had me rubbing my temple as my eyes fluttered. I had to pause Nas on the damn papers.
Fuck!
There was a pregnant pause before I spoke again.
“What do you need me to do?”
“We’re going to have to prove that we’ve been a happy married couple for the attorney. Like living together and all—"
“Nope. You lost me already. That’s a hell no. Why the fuck would I want to live in your fuck pad that all your hoes pass through. Married couples can live separately and happily.” I shook my head.
“First off it’s not a fuck pad, and two, hoes don’t pass through. And third, me and my wife will never live separately. Once we can prove that this shit is legit and we sell, you can go back to the towers.”
“Yeah, but you see that separate part includes the happy part and I’ma kinda need that to pretend to be your loving wife.”
“Holls, again, once this is done, we go back to you hating me for whatever reason. I know you said you don’t want the money but I’ll pay you to do this for me on top of the whatever we get from the sale.”
This is a bad idea, Hollis.
It probably was, but it was the house.
One location that changed both of our lives.
Yeah, for better and fucking worse.
We not only got married there in the backyard, but we lost our virginity in the garage in that fucking car Jimmy also left us.
Going down memory lane wasn’t on my list of bullshit for the year.
Fuck year…ever! I couldn’t do this.
Yet my mouth went against my head, deciding to lead with my heart as I spoke again.
“I don’t want any money from you. How pretend do we have to play? Because I have a life, Luke.”
“Live together, as I said before. Meetings with the attorneys over Jimmy’s will, let me be a good financial provider.
To make it real, we’ll need to go shopping and blend you into the fuck pad.
And the media has to start seeing us together.
I’m talking, my games and everything. Anything else will come as we do this, like one main account for us. ” I laughed but it was full of sarcasm.
“Yeah, I’m only doing this for Jimmy, but the moment that house is secured, the papers will be waiting for you to sign.” I held out my hand to seal our verbal agreement.
“Deal.”
He looked at my hand and I could see the fight in his eyes on whether or not he would shake. And once he did, I understood why. The current came through my skin, going straight for my chest, pumping it back to life.
All fucking bad, Hollis.
“Deal. Now can you go order my food? I want two shr—"