Page 75 of Hood Legacy

“They aren’t broken, but you’re going to be sore for a while,” I said to Legacy as I looked over the films. “You’ll probably miss the season opener.”

“No, I won’t,” she denied.

“Baby, listen to me; I know you don’t like what I’m saying, but you need time to heal.” I put the X-rays down and watched her. She didn’t like what I said, but it was true.

“No, you listen to me,” she said, staring me down. “I’ve worked too damn hard to let Mike’s bitch ass stop me. I fought back, Aceyn. I didn’t let him break me. He stalked me for years. Made my life a living fucking hell so much that I moved to another state, and he still followed me.” She shook her head. “His demented ass was obsessed with me since I was a child. He said he imagined me sucking his dick since I was a fucking kid. He heard us having sex.” She gagged. “He said he listened and jacked off to the sounds of us together.” I stood up, pulled her to me, and hugged her. “He nutted on me, then smeared it into my skin.” Her face went to my chest, and I felt her tears. “He did all that shit, and I still fought back, Aceyn. He didn’t break me. He didn’t, okay? So I’m going to play in the season opener. I’m going to play like my life depends on it because it did. I almost lost my fucking life today because of his sick ass.”

“Alright, baby,” I said, kissing her head. “If you want to play, then you’ll play.”

“It’s not a want, Aceyn,” she said, looking up at me. “It’s a need, baby. I need to do this so he can know that no matter what he did, he couldn’t take this away from me. That I’m stronger than he ever thought.”

“I got you,” I agreed. The look of determination in her eyes let me know that no matter what I said, she wouldn’t take no for an answer, so it was better not to argue with her. I didn't know how I was going to help, but I was going to do whatever she needed me to do to get it done. I picked her up, walked her to the bathroom, and stripped her of her clothes.

I would bathe her properly when we got home, but I wanted to get her out of these clothes for now. I didn’t know what he’d done to her before I got there, but knowing that nigga touched her had me seeing red. I turned on the water and stepped into the shower. I washed her, being mindful of her bruises and tender skin. Once I was done, I shut the water off, grabbed a towel, and wrapped her in it. We didn’t say shit as I dried her off, put lotion on her body, and grabbed a pair of yoga shorts and a tank top that she’d left here a few weeks ago and helped her put them on. Back in my office, I rewrapped the tips of her fingers, changed my clothes, and then took her home.

We climbed into the bed, and I held her against my chest.

“Would it be corny if I told you I loved you after all this?” she asked, letting out a small laugh as she looked up at me. Even though her lip was swollen and her eye was black, she was still the prettiest woman in the world to me.

“Nah,” I groaned as I wiped my hand over my face. “If that’s how you feel, then say that shit.”

“I love you, Aceyn,” she said, still watching me.

“Oh, I know,” I replied with a smirk. “I have been knowing that shit.” I kissed her forehead. “I told you that you were either going to fall the easy or hard way.”

“Say it back,” she said, pushing her body against mine. “I need you to say it.”

“I love you, pretty girl,” I said into her ear. “I’ve loved you from the moment I met you a year ago, and I’ll love you for the rest of my life.”

* * *

“This shit is nice, Yale,” I said, looking over her design. It’d been three weeks since the shit with Mike, and this was the first time I’d left Legacy home alone. She swore she wasn’t afraid and would be okay, but I was itching to get back to her.

“I did some alterations to the design you sent me,” she said, looking over the ring. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Nah,” I said, shaking my head. “This shit is dope.” I put the ring back in the box and in my pocket. I’d paid for the ring the day I sent her my design because I knew she would go above and beyond to ensure I had the perfect ring. “I appreciate you doing it on such short notice.”

“It was an honor,” she said, waving me off. “I miss hanging out with you guys, so it was just an excuse to return.”

“You don’t have to stay gone,” I said, and she rolled her eyes. “Damn, it's like that?”

“You say that knowing what you know,” she replied as she packed her things. “I love y’all, I do, but you know damn well I can't be here. Not with Amethyst not talking to me and me not knowing why.”

“Have you reached out?”

“More times than I care to admit,” she nodded. “But I’m not doing it again. If he ever wants to talk, then he can call me.” She picked up her purse and gave me a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “My number will never change.”

“I appreciate you, sis,” I said, hugging her. “Legit, I do.”

“I know,” she said, then smiled. “And I appreciate you, too. Send me some pictures of your engagement before they hit the net.”

“You not coming back for the wedding?” Even though I wasn’t engaged yet, I was already mentally putting together a guest list.

“Probably not,” she said, shaking her head. “I love you, and congratulations, Hood.”

“Thank you,” I said, kissing her head and pulling her into a hug one last time before she left my office.

I sat at my desk with the ring in my hand, trying to figure out the best way to propose. I let out a laugh as I shook my head. This was one of those moments when I would’ve run to Mama's house and asked her a million questions, but she wasn’t here for me to do that. I wiped my hand over my face, took a deep breath, picked up the phone, and dialed my pop’s number.

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