Page 105 of Surrogate For My Best Friend’s Man 2

“I ain’t know it was gonna go down like this.” He finally answered.

“Neither did I!”

A couple people nearby looked over, fuck them too. “I thought I was helping my brother save his family.” The second I said family, something changed in Deuce’s face.

And I already knew before his mouth even opened, I knew where his selfish ass was about to go.

“Alisha still doesn't know, right?”

I stared at him, muthafucka couldn’t be serious. I’d just sat there telling him my relationship was over and I was miserable and that I regretted the biggest decision I’d ever made. And the only thing he needed reassurance about was whether his wife still knew anything.

“You really are one selfish muthafucka.” I snapped.

“I’m asking a question.”

“And I’m telling you my whole fucking life is falling apart!”

“I heard you.”

“No, you didn’t.” I leaned toward the glass. As far as I knew, Alisha still didn’t know. She couldn’t have because she was just at my apartment bringing more baby stuff. Calling these babies her niece and nephew and talking about how excited she was. If Alisha knew the truth, she wouldn’t be buying shit. She’d probably be trying to kill my ass.

“She doesn’t know.”

I watched Deuce relax and that pissed me off. “Are you happy now?”

“Shante, come on.” He said irritated.

“No, that’s what you wanted to know, right? Your wife still doesn't know you’re having twins with your side bitch through her best friend. Congratulations.”

His eyes moved around. “Keep your voice down.”

“Fuck you.” I was tired of protecting him. At least sitting there I was because the truth was, the second I walked back outside, I’d still be lying, still hiding and still scared to tell Alisha. I wasn’t letting Deuce act like his hands were clean.

“Kim called me.”

That got his attention. “For what?”

“To check on her precious babies.” I told him enough for him to understand. She’d called over and over until I answered. I’d told her Malik was gone and that I was miserable. And all that stupid bitch wanted to know was whether everything with the pregnancy was okay.

“Don’t answer her calls.”

I stared at Deuce, another fucking order. “You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore.”

“I’m saying you don’t gotta deal with her.”

“I shouldn’t have had to deal with her in the first fucking place.” He got quiet. “I hope it was worth it.”

Deuce frowned. “What?”

“All that cheating and the lies of whatever the fuck you thought you needed.” I looked at him. “You had a wife who loved your stupid ass. A daughter who thinks the world of you. I paused. “And somehow that wasn’t enough.”

Deuce didn’t have one slick comment. “I would’ve killed to have what you had.” My voice came out quieter. “I thought I was about to have it with Malik.” That was the truth I’d pictured a whole life with him. Marriage eventually and kids that were actually ours. Family dinners and coming home to the same person every night. Arguing over dumb shit and making up, normal shit. “And now he’s gone.”

Deuce shrugged. “You’ll find somebody else.”

I stared at him because Deuce thought people were replaceable. Malik wasn’t a pair of shoes I could replace because the old ones didn’t fit anymore. Trust wasn’t something I could walk into a store and buy another one of. “That’s what you don’t understand.” I grabbed my purse. “You think everybody is replaceable.”

His expression changed. “That’s why you did Alisha the way you did. You thought she’d always be there and that Kim could stay on the side. Thought I’d always clean up whatever mess you made and that Grandma would always forgive you because that’s what Grandma does.” I stood. “But one day you’re gonna look around and everybody ain’t gonna be there no more.”