Chapter 16 #3
“I can fly out to you if I miss you that much. It’s different this time around,” Hollis said with a little more confidence.
“Besides, I have a lot to keep me busy while you’re away. I’m working on the billion-dollar wedding piece, my first interview story ever, and gutting the house.”
We had officially started going through Jimmy’s stuff and throwing things away while donating the furniture. I hated that I hadn’t been able to help her more.
“Oh yeah, with my boy Asa Charles and his wife. And ey, don’t be over there at the house late at night either, Hershey, especially not by yourself.”
“Boy, who gon fuck with me? You already know I got that heat on me.” I chuckled at her mentioning her gun and the bat she carried in the trunk of her car.
“I said what I said. Now, love on me properly please so I can leave.” I put my lips on hers once more, this time going in for a deeper kiss but keeping it clean since the kids were around.
“Let me get ready to head out so I can make it back,” I said.
I got dressed to head across town when I would rather be at home.
I walked into Kay’s house to find her sitting in her living room watching her stories on the same TV she claimed wasn’t working. I snorted as I stood in the doorway with her not even paying me attention as if she hadn’t called me over here.
“Kay, you could’ve hit me up and told me you got your TV working.” Kay shushed me, waving me off, still not acknowledging me.
“Well, we all knew she loved him. Laura didn’t wanna be with Robert no way. The question is whose baby is she carrying. Mmm… my money is on Steve’s.”
“And mine is on me going back home.” I turned to leave when she called for me.
“Deacon, oh hush. Is it a crime for me to lie to get you to come visit when it’s not about you eating my gotdamn food before your games? Oh wait, I forgot, I got fired from that role now that Hollis is back in wife mode. I just wanted to talk and see how things were going.”
“Kay, we could’ve done this at the house or on the phone. I was trying to stay around the house this morning before I had to leave Hollis again for the week.”
Kay shook her head, going for her cup of coffee with a cheeky smile.
“Four months, that’s all it took for y’all to come to your senses, huh?”
“Kay, what are you talking about?” I asked, playing dumb. Hollis and I were no secret, but no one beyond Callie and Shep knew about us.
“Luke Marques Deacon, I’m the big cousin.
I can lie to you but don’t you try lying to me.
I knew when she called talking about wanting to do something special for you that temporary talk was out the window.
Hollis being nice, yeah, that was my dead giveaway.
I’m not mad that neither of you muthafuckas told me because I saw it coming.
Hell, the only two people running around thinking we didn’t see what was happening are y’all.
” I chuckled, dragging my hand down the back of my head.
“And how you figure that? Shit, up until a few months ago, I wasn’t sure I would get my wife back.”
“For one, you only avoid people you either still love or hate, and well, I knew she didn’t hate you.
And before you ask, my first solid piece of evidence to prove my case is that story she wrote a few years ago.
She made sure to clear your name from being attached to that hoe when she could have continued spreading the false claims. That’s what a hater does.
Naw, my cousin-in-law said hoes be gone from her man and I’m here for it.
” I chuckled because I knew it was definitely that jealous streak in my wife that came out, determined to not have Talisa attached to my name.
“Man, you’re a whole ass fool. What’s your point?”
“Calm the hell down. I’m getting there, nigga. My second piece is willingly moving in with you, knowing she still had feelings for you with the risk of what would happen when she did.”
I hung my head to the side, giving her a side eye at her second piece of evidence. “And how’d you figure she still had feelings?”
“Ugh, c’mon Deacon. You had to see the signs. Neither of you remarried or committed to anyone else. I’m talking no kids no nothing, just walking around miserably close to each other, knowing you wanna be closer than ever for real. Plus, Callie told me a while ago.”
I laughed hard at Callie being the biggest traitor to her twin, spreading her business.
“Just like you checked up on her, so did I. She was my favorite little cousin…even if she cut me off too. That’s why I kept the account open. Jimmy might’ve forced her hand, but we were all rooting for the home team to win.”
I waved her off.
“Man, you ain’t know shit. But if you don’t need me, I’ma head back home so I can be close to my wife.”
She picked up her phone, texting someone before she spoke.
“I need about another hour and a half of your time. Just relax and tell me what’s the plan from here on out. I hope you put a ring on her finger too.”
“What you got going on?”
Kay pressed her lips together, shaking her head.
“Oh me, nothing. Just helping my cousin out.” I frowned as my brows furrowed together in confusion until it hit me.
Hollis.