Page 52 of Surrogate For My Best Friend’s Man 2

“I will.”

I hung up and stood there with the receiver still in my hand for a second. Malik knew but Alisha didn’t. And somehow, that gave me a little relief. Not because I gave a damn what Malik thought. That nigga could stay mad. The crazy part was, my whole life was falling apart around me, and I was still thinking about how to keep Alisha from walking away.

ALISHA

Isat at my little station in the back of the nail shop, working on Shante’s nails while she sat across from me with her hand resting on the cushion. Doing nails usually helped me clear my head, but today my mind wasn’t having it. I filed the side of her thumbnail and glanced up at her.

“So how is Malik doing?”

She smiled. “He's good.”

“Yeah.” She answered, but didn’t say much more, so I left it alone.

I started painting her nails. “Is he still excited about the babies?”

She nodded. “Girl, yes.”

I smiled. “I knew he was.”

“He can’t wait.” She beamed.

“That’s good.” I looked down at her hand. “At least something is going right.”

She smiled and I kept painting, but my mind drifted right back to my own shit.

“I haven’t been to one of Deuce’s court dates.”

Shante looked at me.

“Why not?” She asked.

“I’m just tired.” I shook my head. “I feel like that man has been playing in my face.” She didn’t say anything. “I love him, but I’m tired of trying to figure out what’s true.” I put her hand under the lamp. “And then that man showed up at my house?” I sucked my teeth. “That shit got me paranoid.”

Shante’s face tightened. “I don’t blame you.”

“I don’t even know what Deuce got me mixed up in.” I replied. “All I know is I’m not putting Brittany in the middle of it.”

“Is she still with your mama?”

“Yeah of course I don’t have a choice.”

“Good.”

“That’s where she is staying until I figure some shit out.” I picked up the polish again. “I’ve been at that damn Holiday Inn in Canton for two weeks.”

Shante laughed. “Are you still paying for a hotel room and you got a big ass house with a comfortable ass bed?”

“Unfortunately.” I rolled my eyes.

“You don’t feel safe going home?” Shante asked.

“Not yet.” I sighed. “But I’m not paying for another damn week.”

Shante nodded. “I feel you.”

I smiled. “Anyway, give me your other hand.” She switched hands. I looked at her nails and smiled. “These better be cute because I’m not fixing them twice.”

She laughed. “There you go, I was still.”