Page 125 of Surrogate For My Best Friend’s Man 2

“I love you.”

“Don’t tell me that.”

I shook my head. “Because I would’ve never done this shit to you.” She cried harder. “And then when Malik found out and left, you lied on him too.”

Her face changed. “How⁠—”

“I went to his car wash ready to tear his ass apart because my best friend told me he’d cheated on her.” Shante closed her eyes. “He told me everything.”

“Alisha—”

“A man who didn’t owe me shit told me the truth while my husband, my best friend and my family sat around protecting a lie.”

Grandma stood. “Now, Alisha⁠—”

I turned. “No, Grandma.” She stopped. “I love you and I respect you. That’s the only reason I’m watching how I talk to you.”

Grandma’s face fell. “But you knew.”

“It wasn’t my place—” She tried to say.

“Please don’t say that.” I wasn’t yelling at her because I didn’t need to. “You sat at tables with me and watched me talk about those babies and watched me worry about Deuce and defend Shante.”

“I told them they needed to tell you.” Grandma pleaded.

“And when they didn’t, you helped them keep it.”

Grandma shook her head. “I never lied to you.”

“Keeping quiet while somebody is being made a fool of is close enough for me.”

That hurt her. I could see it, but I meant it. “You’ve always treated me like family, and I love you for that, but family doesn’t sit around watching family get played.”

Grandma wiped her eyes. “I understand.”

“I hope you do, because I need space from you too.”

Shante grabbed her stomach due to another contraction. This one was stronger and her whole body tightened.

Grandma moved toward her. “Shante?”

“I’m okay.” She wasn’t, a nurse came in to check the monitor. Then everything started moving fast. They checked her and called another nurse. The doctor was contacted.

“You’re in active labor.” The nurse let her know.

Shante looked scared and her eyes found mine.

“Alisha.”

For one second, years of friendship tried to pull me toward that bed. Then I remembered why I was standing there. “I hope you and those babies come through this healthy.”

“Please stay.”

I shook my head. “I can’t.”

“Alisha, please.”

“I may forgive you one day because I don’t want to carry this shit forever.” I looked directly at her. “But fuck with you like I did before?” She already knew. “Never.”