Page 58 of Surrogate For My Best Friend’s Man 2

“I know you do.”

“And I just want him home.”

“I know.” He paused. “But Kim, you need to understand something too.”

“What?”

“Love doesn’t change evidence.” I stared at the floor. “And pregnancy doesn’t erase charges.” He let me know.

My eyes filled with tears. “I just thought you’d help me.”

“I can’t do that.”

The call ended and I sat there with the phone in my hand. My father had no idea about Shante, now he did. I wiped my face. “He’ll come home.” I had to believe that. Because if I stopped believing that I didn’t know what the hell I had left.

A few weeks had passed, and I still couldn’t shake Deuce. I knew he had court that morning. I also knew I probably had no business being there. But I didn’t give a damn I needed to see him. I pulled into the courthouse parking lot, sat in my car for a minute, then grabbed my purse and headed inside. I kept my head down and found a seat toward the back.

I wasn’t trying to be seen, I wasn’t trying to cause no scene. I just wanted to look at Deuce. Maybe seeing him would make me feel better, maybe it wouldn’t. Either way, I needed to see for myself how he was holding up. A few minutes later, the courtroom doors opened and Deuce walked in with his attorney. My heart damn near jumped out my chest.

He looked tired. His beard had grown out, his face looked harder, and he had lost some of that cocky look he always carried. County was wearing his ass down. I watched him take his seat. Then I noticed Alisha was sitting with Grandma Lorraine. I immediately looked away. I should’ve known better. A few minutes later, I felt eyes on me. I looked up and Alisha was staring straight at me.

Her facial expression changed instantly. She leaned over and said something to Grandma Lorraine before getting up. I already knew she was about to come over here on bullshit so I grabbed my purse and headed outside. I made it to my car before she caught up with me.

“Kim!” Alisha yelled.

I stopped and turned around. She was walking toward me fast as hell. “You got some fucking nerve.”

I rolled my eyes. “I came to court.”

“I know why you came.” She stepped closer. “You need to stay the fuck away from my husband.”

I laughed. “Girl, here you go at this point that’s our husband.”

“You came to my best friend’s baby shower and embarrassed yourself and got your ass beat! And now you showing up at his court date like I won’t beat your ass here too?” She looked me up and down. “You really don’t know when to quit.”

I smiled. “And you really don’t know how to mind your business.”

She stepped closer. “Bitch, that’s my husband he is my fucking business.”

“And I’m supposed to care?” I taunted.

Her jaw tightened. “Watch your mouth.”

“Or what?” I spat.

She stared at me. For a second, neither one of us said anything. There were a couple of police officers walking by. “The police saved your ass. I swear to God every time I see you I’m beating yo trifling ass. The only reason I haven’t put my foot up your ass is because I gotta get home to my daughter.” She turned around and started walking away.

I watched her go. She had that same attitude she had at the shower, but I couldn’t even be mad. Because I knew exactly who she was fighting for. And I knew exactly who Deuce was looking for when he walked into that courtroom. I went back inside a few minutes later and took my seat.

When Deuce finally looked toward the gallery, his eyes moved across the room. Then they landed on Alisha and everything about his face changed. His shoulders relaxed and his eyes softened. He stared at her for a few seconds longer than he needed to. Like he was checking on her without saying a word.

Then his eyes moved and they landed on me. There was no smile, no warmth. Just a quick glance before he looked away. That shit hurt because I had spent years convincing myself that what Deuce and I had was real enough to compete with his marriage, but sitting there watching him look at Alisha I finally saw the difference.

He didn’t look at her like she was somebody he was trying to keep. He looked at her like she was somebody he couldn’t afford to lose. I never had a chance to be with Deuce the way I wanted in the first damn place Alisha has his heart. I was just a dumb ass side chick.

SHANTE

The closer I got to having these babies, the harder it was getting to breathe. I stood in the middle of my damn near empty apartment with my hand resting on my stomach, looking around at what Malik left me with. A bed, one face towel and towel, my clothes and all the baby shit that was it. No TVs, no pots and pans, no silverware, no furniture, nothing.