Page 46 of Hood Legacy

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“I thought the last night we were here, it could just be us,” I said, pulling Legacy’s chair out so she could sit. We spent the last two days kicking it with my parents. I wanted Legacy to enjoy herself and Mama to get to know the woman I planned to spend the rest of my life with. There was no doubt in my mind that she was it for me, and when we got back to the city, I would be hitting up Yale to get her working on Legacy’s ring.

“Thank you,” Legacy said, taking her seat. My eyes went to the deep cut of her sea-green wrapped dress, and I licked my lips in appreciation. I twirled a loose curl around my finger as I looked down at her. “Aceyn?”

“Hmm?”

“Sit down,” she laughed, and I nodded. I took the seat next to her instead of across the table. “That’s not what I expected.”

“A nigga like being under you,” I said with a shrug, then pulled her seat closer to me and threw my arm over her shoulder. Legacy laid her head on my shoulder, and I returned to playing with her curls. “Why don’t you wear your hair like this during the season?”

“Too much work,” she answered as she picked up her menu and opened it. “Wearing braids is easier to maintain.” She set the menu down and looked up at me. “Why, is that a problem or something?”

“Nah,” I denied, then kissed her. “I like the curls, braids, or whatever else you do. I was just wondering, is all.”

“Okay,” she said, then returned to the menu. “You know what you want to eat?”

“Steak and lobster,” I answered. I hadn’t even looked at the menu, so I assumed they had it or something close to it. “Shit, I ain’t even hungry for real.”

“Then, why are we here?” she giggled, and I kissed her head. “We could’ve just relaxed in the room, watched a movie, and laid in the bed.”

“We’ve done that every night,” I said, shaking my head. “I wanted to see my woman dressed up so I could show her off.”

“Your woman would’ve been content with just being with you doing nothing if that’s what you needed,” she replied, and I looked down at her. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you aren’t all the way with me right now.” She tapped the side of my head with her index finger and gave me a sad smile. “You’re stuck in there, trying to figure out how to fix something, which I hate. Trust me enough to know I’ll help you with whatever you need.”

“It ain’t even like that.” I grabbed her hand, put it against my mouth, and kissed her palm. “It’s not too many people I trust with my problems but understand that you’re one of them. I just need a minute, is all.”

“Are you having second thoughts about us?” Legacy questioned. “I don’t mean to sound insecure, but I want to make sure before we get back home. I understand if this isn’t what you want or if you have something that needs all your attention and need to step back.

“Fuck nah,” I said, shaking my head. “Point Guard…” I sighed, set her up, then pushed my seat back to give her all my attention. “Let me clarify so we don’t ever have to have this conversation again, alright?”

“Okay,” she agreed, then nervously bit into her bottom lip.

I wiped my hand over my mouth and let out a small laugh. The words ‘I love you’ were on the tip of my tongue, but I knew she wasn’t ready to hear that yet. Legacy had trust issues, some of them from her parents, others from the way niggas that she should’ve been able to trust and respect mishandled her. So I knew it mattered how I moved around and with her because she wasn’t used to a nigga like me. I stood, towering over her for a second before stepping back to pick her up and put her on the table so that I could stare at her.

“Aceyn, I can't be on these people's table,” she said, trying to get down, but I stood and put my hands on the table outside her legs so she couldn’t move. “Aceyn.”

“Ask me what I need, Point Guard,” I said, staring into her eyes. She turned her head to look around, but I didn’t give a fuck about shit anyone else had to say or thought. This was between me and my woman. “Aye, look at me.” I gently took her chin and turned her face back to me. “Ask me what the fuck I need, Legacy.”

She sighed, licked her lips, then nodded. “What do you need, Aceyn?”

“You,” I answered, watching her eyes fill with tears.

“You need me?”

“Always.” I rested my forehead against hers and closed my eyes. “For the rest of my life, I will need you and only you.”

She cupped my jaw, and I opened my eyes to see her silently crying. My heart broke for a second, then she smiled at me, and I knew I’d said the right thing. It may have taken her a minute, but I didn’t doubt that she was realizing that we were locked in and there was no going back.

“Sir,” a man said, coming to our table. “Sir?”

I pulled my gun from the back of my pants, turned slightly, and aimed it at his head. “Do you see me having a moment with my woman?” I questioned him. He tried to step back, but I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him to his original spot. “Nah, nope, nigga, don’t move now. Do you not see me talking to the love of my life?”

“Yes, sir,” he answered with a quick nod.

“Then, why the fuck would you interrupt me?” I sneered. “If I saw you making sure your woman was good, I wouldn’t say shit. Keep that same respect for me.”

“Aceyn,” Legacy said, tugging on the bottom of my suit jacket. I turned my attention to her but didn’t lower my gun. “Put the gun down.”

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