Page 7 of Spending Forever With You

I had barely gotten in my door when the sound of my personal phone ringing had me dropping everything to dig into my purse. I smiled when I noticed it was Callie. I was sure she was on her lunch break between clients.

“Hey, sissy,” I sang after I hit the button.

“Hey, are you busy?” she huffed.

“Not for you. What’s going on?”

“I’m running late between my appointments and Derek is still at work, can you please go get Cami from Granny’s for practice? Why these folks have these early ass practices knowing parents still have work even if it’s summer break I’ll never know.” I laughed at her sounding truly annoyed.

I twisted my wrist to double check the time. I knew it wasn’t as early as she was making it seem.

Four-thirty.

“Of course, I got my little baby. I’ll drop her off later.” I didn’t mind getting my only niece. Even though Cami was Callie’s baby, she was my mini me.

Yes, Callie and I were twins, but we were nothing alike. Hell, we didn’t even look alike. While I had our mother’s features and our father’s rich dark skin complexion, Callie had his features and our mother’s sweet caramel skin tone.

I also had our mother’s attitude while Callie was the calm and collected one, much like our father.

“Ooh, good, thank you. Let me get back to business. I’m in the middle of butt length small ass knotless that wasn’t on my schedule.” She groaned, then continued while I only laughed. She stayed going off script with her clients. “Love you and I’ll see y’all later.”

“Love you too. Oh, and make that heffa tip you too.”

She kissed her teeth right before I heard the three beeps in my ear.

I smirked again, making my way to the living room, setting my work bag down then refilling my water bottle before heading out to get Cami.

Practice started at five-thirty and we would need food before we made our way to the field.

By the time I pulled up to Lacy’s house, Cami was already outside on the porch with Lacy and my uncle Ellis who had recently gotten out of prison.

“Auntie Holli!” Cami yelled as I parked my car, leaving it running before I got out. Of course, she ran over to greet me while Lacy hollered about letting folks make it out of their cars before running up on ’em.

“Hey cutie pie, are you ready to go?” Cami nodded while we walked toward the house.

“Then go get your gear then, girlfriend,” I said just as we reached the porch. I walked up on it, heading for my granny.

“Hey, Uncle Ellis. Hi, Granny.” I bent down, kissing her cheek.

“Hey niece, what you got going on witcha?”

“Nothing much, coming to take Cami to practice since Callie and Derek are busy working. Granny, if you need anything let me know and I’ll drop it off on the way back through town.”

Lacy waved me off.

“That’s why your uncle is here. He’s running for me like a good son. You just go take care of Cami and make sure you both put on your sunscreen. It’s a nice and hot one today. And make sure you feed her. She ain’t want none of the beans I put on.” I snickered.

“And thank goodness, Granny. You gon’ have that girl on the field dropping more than balls. I’ma stop and get her something on the way; don’t worry.” As if she heard the magic words of going to get food, Cami dashed out of the house with her bag and water bottle in hand.

“I’m ready!”

“Not without giving me my sugar you not,” Lacy said, causing Cami to rush her, completely burying her face into Granny’s body while accepting hugs and kisses.

“Bye, Uncle Ellis. Bye, Granny,” I said, with him giving me a nod as Cami gave him a hug goodbye too.

“See you later, alligator,” he teased, causing her to bust out in a fit of giggles.

“After a while, crocodile,” she sang as we made our way off the porch to the car. Once I had her locked in and I was in the driver seat, we hit the road for our first stop.