“Butterfly, we’re gonna have to find a new name for you to call me.”
“But that’syourname.”
I chuckled. “Actually, my name is Legacy.”
“I like boyfriend better.” She was serious as hell, and I fell out laughing.
“Okay, baby. You wanna go eat steak with me and Mommy?”
“Yessssss. I miss you and mommy,” she said, and that shit instantly did something to me.
“We’re coming to get you, Butterfly. Let Aunt Jaz know.”
“Okayyy. Auntie Jaz, the love birds are picking me up,” Tahanii yelled then hung up.
Forever’s hands flew over her face. I was fine with whatever title baby girl decided to give me, as long as she was comfortable and good with it. I wasn’t sure what clicked inside of me, but I was willing to do whatever I could for them. They had me thinking longevity wise about the future and whatnot, something I never did. Being in a relationship or even just committing to one woman in general had never crossed my mind. However, something about Forever pulled me in deeper and wouldn’t allow me to walk away.
To be honest, she had me in my feelings way before she even told me of her illness. So, it wasn’t pity that had me stuck. The feelings that she pulled out of me with just her words, then her being vulnerable enough to act on them said and meant a lot. On some real shit, I was feeling shorty when I was staying at the hotel; I just didn’t act on it, but since my lil private stalker decided to play secret admirer, I was about to publicly admire her.
“She is a mess.” Forever shook her head. “But are you sure you want to pick her up tonight? She comes home tomorrow anyway.”
“Yes, I’m fine with it. I want to spend time with her as well.” I pulled her up for a hug.
“Thank you. I appreciate you spending time with me and taking time with my baby girl. She’s so outgoing, but a sweetheart. I love her to life. Tahanii is so smart, and I’m so proud of her. They actually tested her when she was moving up to first grade, and she was on a third-grade level. They wanted to have her skip two grades, but I wanted her around kids her own age, so I would only let them move her up to second grade but that was back then. She’s in the fourth grade now, and you would think that she’s getting ready to graduate high school,” Forever laughed. “But no, seriously, that’s why she’s so advanced. Hanii can name every designer bag there is, and every car on the road she can tell you the make and model.” She smiled like a true proud mother. I’d seen that smile on my own mom.
“That’s amazing, she’s a very special butterfly,” I told her.
She nodded. “That’s a such a cute nickname that you gave her.”
“Yep. I’m Boyfriend, and she’s Butterfly.” I smirked, and she rolled her eyes.
“Don’t be jealous, girl, you too old for that.” I pinched her cheek and we got ourselves together for dinner.
Every minute I spent with Forever made me want to wrap her in my arms and fuck the shit out of her. Trust, old me would’ve done just that, but she was different and a more delicate flower, so giving her the respect that she deserved was only right.
“What steakhouse would you like to go to?” I asked her.
“I’m not sure. Outback is cool I guess.” She shrugged and I fell out laughing.
“Come on now. A real steak.”
She immediately frowned. “What! That’s a real steak.” She looked confused as hell.
I glanced in her direction, trying to stop laughing. “Like steakhouse steak.”
“Yes, I know. That’s why I said Outback.”
The way I laughed should’ve been studied. I had never laughed so damn hard in my life and she was almost offended.
“Outback isn’t a bad steakhouse. I don’t know,though; I don’t eat steak much.”
“Oh baby. Outback is the starter kit of steaks. But it’s not a real steakhouse in my opinion, and I guess that could be argued. I’m not going to hold you, I’ve eaten there before, it’s just not the top of chain in my opinion. We’re gonna have to broaden your pallet.”
“Oh, okay,” she giggled. “Well, Jaz took me to Ruth Chris and that’s a steakhouse. I love their food too.”
“That’s better. But let’s try Del Frisco’s Steakhouse, you ever been there?”
“No, I don’t think I have.” I placed my hand on her waist and guided her out the door.
