Page 53 of Surrogate For My Best Friend’s Man 2

The music was low, the shop smelled like acrylic and cuticle oil, and somebody in the front was laughing loud as hell about something on their phone. Normal shit and I needed normal.

“So…” Shante looked at me. “Are you going home after this?” I sucked my teeth. “I don’t know.” I picked up the polish again. “ I just need to figure some shit out first.”

“Like what?”

I shrugged. “Like what the hell I’m doing about Deuce.”

Shante looked at me. “You still don’t want to talk to him?”

“No.”

I shook my head. “I’m tired of feeling like that man playing in my face.” I started painting her nails. “I love him, but I’m tired.”

She nodded. “I understand.”

I looked at her. “That’s why I’m probably going to my mama’s house. I need to be around my baby and get my head together.”

“That sounds like a good idea.”

I smiled. “See, that’s why I keep you around.”

She laughed. “Girl, please.”

I held her hand under the lamp. “Don’t move.”

“I ain’t.”

I looked at the finished nail. “Okayyy. That’s cute.”

Shante smiled. “You know you always do my nails cute.”

For a few minutes, neither one of us said anything and honestly, I liked it that way. I didn’t need another conversation about Deuce. I didn’t need anybody telling me what I should do. I just needed a little peace. I was putting the finishing touches on Shante’s nails when my phone started ringing. I looked at the screen and it was Grandma Lorraine.

I answered. “Hey, Grandma.”

“Where you at?” She asked.

“At the shop.”

“Good, I made baked spaghetti and fried fish.”

I stopped what I was doing and Shante looked up. “What did she say?”

I covered the phone. “She made baked spaghetti and fried fish.”

Shante’s eyes got big. “Tell her we are coming.”

I started laughing. “Grandma, we are on our way.”

“Don’t take all day.” She said before hanging up.

I looked at Shante. “You heard her.”

She was already licking her lips. “Girl, I’m ready.”

I laughed. “Let me finish your nails first.”

“Please do, because I’m not walking into Grandma’s house looking crazy.”