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“Oh, a quick death,” Xoey said, walking into Legacy’s house and seeing Michael's body. “I thought he was going to suffer.” I sat on the couch with Legacy in my lap. I’d gotten her bleeding under control, but the more I looked at her, the angrier I got.

“I should’ve kept his bitch ass alive so I could torture his ass,” I said as I looked over Legacy’s hands. Her nails were gone on most of her fingers. I wasn’t sure if they were broke, but I had plans to get her to the arena and get an X-ray to find out. “Bitch ass nigga.”

“You stomped his face in,” Xoey mentioned, and I shrugged. “I don’t know if I’m impressed or a little scared.”

“Xoey, what the fuck are you doing here?” I said as I pulled my shirt off and used it to wrap Legacy’s hands.

“Nigga, she was my friend before she was your woman,” she fussed. “What the fuck do you mean, what am I doing here? She called me, and of course, I was coming.”

“I called 9-1-1,” Legacy mumbled. “How I got you was beyond me.”

“Cuz your man had your number forwarded to my phone, remember?” she said, kissing her teeth. “And I’m glad as hell that he did because who the fuck knows who you would have gotten.”

“Fuck, I forgot about that,” I said, shaking my head. I rested my head on the back of the couch and groaned in frustration. “I never had Nine reverse that shit.”

“It’s okay,” she said, cupping my face. “Shit,” she hissed in pain, and I licked my lips to keep from going off. Even if her fingers weren’t broken, she couldn’t play for a few weeks because her nails were ripped off.

Lights flashed through the living room, and Xoey looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Looks like clean up is here,” she said as she waved, then returned to us. “Take your woman home and get her taken care of.”

I nodded, then tapped Legacy’s leg. She tried to move, but I grabbed her waist and shook my head. “I don’t want you walking until I know you’re 100% good. I was letting you know that I was going to carry you.” I turned her around, put one of my arms under her leg and the other behind her back to carry her bridal style, and stood.

I carried her out of the house, gave Exodus and Kino a nod of acknowledgment, and made my way to my car. Exodus approached us, opened the passenger door, and stepped back.

“I’ll handle the bill in the morning,” I said to Ex as I put Legacy in the car.

“Nah, she’s family,” Exodus said, shaking his head. “This is taken care of, no charge.” I shook my head, and he smirked. “Let it go, Hood; we take care of family.” I stuffed my hands in my pocket to pull out my phone and let Nine know to wire Ex the payment. “You mind if I talk to her for a second?”

“Yeah, man,” I said, stepping to the side so he could speak to Legacy. I watched as he said something in her ear, kissed her forehead, and stepped back. I closed the door, rounded the truck, and then got in.

“I need to shower,” Legacy said, and I nodded. “Take me home.”

“I need to take you to the arena first and get some X-rays,” I said as I backed out of the driveway. “After that, I’ll get you home. I promise.”

We got to the arena; I parked in my assigned parking spot, and Pyrite met us in the garage.

“Xoey plus twelve called me and said you may be heading this way,” he said as we rode the elevator up to the medical room. I carried her the entire time and then put her on the x-ray bed. I usually had a tech to do this, but I didn’t have time for questions or eyes, so I handled it myself. I got x-rays of her hands, face, and ribs, and we went back to my office.

“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.

“What’s good, Hood?” he answered.

“I want to propose to Legacy, but I don’t know how,” I said, getting straight to the point.

“Yo mama left a letter for that,” he said. “Stop by the house and get it.”

“Bet, I’m on my way.” I hung up the phone, grabbed my shit and left. Mama wasn’t here, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t get the needed advice. My girl was looking out for me, even from the grave.

* * *

“Nah, don’t ask no questions, and stop trying to remove the blindfold,” I said as I moved Legacy’s hand. I helped her up the stairs without tripping and opened the door to the building. I looked around, making sure it was set and everyone was in position.

“Aceyn,” she sighed in annoyance, and I chuckled. I’d been in charge all day, driving Legacy crazy, but I didn’t care. I worked with Xoey plus Twelve and Mercy for the last month to ensure this engagement was perfect. She was busy trying to get ready for the season opener, and I used that to my advantage.

“Will you just chill, Point Guard,” I said as I moved her hand from the mask. I was nervous as hell and wanted to make sure I got this right for her. “Alright, stop walking.” I held her waist and positioned her to where I wanted her to stand.

I stepped around her, adjusted my tux, and cleared my throat. Around me, our friends and family stood, dressed in their best, looking good as hell. I blew out a deep breath and nodded. Legacy looked good as fuck in the mermaid-styled dark blue dress that Mahogany had spent the last few weeks making just for tonight. Corinthians came to the house, straightened her hair, and did her makeup.

“Aceyn?”

“Don’t take the mask off yet,” I instructed. “I just want you to listen to me first, okay?”

“Okay,” she said slowly and nodded.

“You asked me a million times what tonight was about, and I told you the same thing each time.”

“Easy or hard way,” she interjected, and I chuckled.

I wiped my hand over my mouth and nodded. “Right, easy or hard way, and I appreciate you not giving me a lot of shit about my answer.”

“Did I have a choice?” she asked, crossing her arms.

“Nah,” I replied.

Everyone in the room started to laugh, and Legacy tilted her head as if trying to figure out what was happening and where we were. Her hand went to the mask, and I quickly stopped her.

“Not yet,” I said, shaking my head even though she couldn’t see me. “Not yet.”

“Aceyn–”

“Just listen,” I instructed. “Listen to what’s being said.”

I looked over her shoulder to Mercy and nodded. My mama's laughter filled the room, and my eyes watered; instead of a letter, she’d made a video for me to play when I proposed.

“Legacy,” Mama sighed as she continued to laugh. “My son loves you, baby, harder than I think he can even imagine.” The sound of Legacy’s laughter filled the room, and she smiled. “He’s nervous; I know it because I can see him now, watching you while you play in the water in Bali. Yes, baby, I can see how much he loves you, so I’m making this video. When he proposes, I won't be there physically but know I am in spirit, dressed and ready to see him get down on one knee.”

I pulled at my pants leg, pulled the ring from my pocket, and got down on one knee.

“Put your hand out, baby girl,” she instructed, and Legacy did. I took her hand, kissed her knuckles, and rested it against my forehead. The tips of her fingers gently rubbed against my head as if she were trying to comfort me, and I smiled. “Now, listen to me carefully, okay?”

“Okay,” Legacy said out loud, even though Mama wasn’t here.

“Be patient, but push him. Don’t let him back you into a wall; fight back. He may be the head of your household, but you are the heart. You have accepted him as Hood but loved him as Aceyn. Understand that he will always be Aceyn for you. Hood is for the people in the room to love, but know that he will be Hood for you when he needs to. You will be his wife. Love the man that I raised in your honor. Take your blindfold off, baby.”

Legacy lifted her blindfold, and her eyes filled with tears as she looked down at me. I smiled at her.

“The man you are looking at is the best version of himself because of you. He will not intentionally hurt or disappoint you. He will fiercely fight for you. He will see you as everyone else in this room does. You were never meant to be picked, Legacy; you were meant to be seen, and they see you. We see you because you were meant for us to see you. Love my son with the same intensity that he loves you, and watch how much you both flourish.”

The screen went black, and then a slide show started. “Look up, baby,” I said. Legacy’s eyes went from me to the screen behind me, and I watched her eyes light up with joy. Mama truly did me a solid by taking pictures of us in Bali and then afterward. They were candid; some were hanging out, and others were with her and Pop. My favorite was Mama and Legacy on the couch. Legacy’s head was in Mama’s lap; she was asleep, but Mama was watching her with so much love that I knew my baby felt what it was like to be loved by a mother and would give our children that same love. Mama came back to the screen with a smile on her face and the sunset behind her. She was at home, and I could hear me and Legacy laughing in the background.

“You’re out there playing ball with Hood in the street,” Mama said, nodding. “I can see y’all future now clear as day, and it's beautiful.” A tear fell from her eye, but she didn’t wipe it away as she watched us. “He loves you. You love him. Love each other through life and into death. Trust me when I tell you, it’s an amazing feeling.” Mama turned the phone to us playing basketball. “Hood, ask that girl to marry you.”

The room went dark, and a spotlight shone down on Legacy and me. I cleared my throat and smiled at her.

“Easy or hard way?” I asked her with a chuckle.

“Easy,” she answered with a laugh. “It’s always been easy.”

I slipped the ring on her finger, stood, pulled her to me, and kissed her. Legacy wrapped her arms around my neck and held on to me tight. The room erupted in noise, and I pulled back from Legacy to look at her.

“Either way, it would have ended the same,” I said, resting my head against her.