Page 77 of Surrogate For My Best Friend’s Man 2

“No, you don’t.”

I lowered my voice. “Alisha already ain’t fucking with me.”

Grandma’s expression softened a little, but she stayed quiet.

“She comes to court and that’s it, she don’t take my calls, she ain’t came to see me. She barely looks at my ass.” I frowned. “I’m hanging on by a fucking thread with my wife.”

“And you think lying is making that thread stronger?”

“I ain’t saying that.”

“Then what are you saying?”

“I’m saying if I tell her this shit right now, my family is done.” The words sat between us. “Done, Grandma.” I looked down. “Not mad at me or sleeping somewhere else, but done.”

Grandma sighed. “You don’t know that.”

“Yes, the fuck I do.” I looked at her. “You know Alisha.”

“I do.”

“Then you know.”

Grandma didn’t answer.

I rubbed my hands together. “She already thinks Kim is pregnant with my babies. And that’s bad enough. Now I’m supposed to tell her, nah, Kim ain’t pregnant. My sister, your best friend is carrying them?” I shook my head. “Come on.”

Grandma sat back. “Baby, I understand you’re scared.”

“Scared ain’t even the word, I ain’t trying to lose my family.”

“You should’ve thought about that before all this.”

“I KNOW.” My voice came out louder than I meant it to and a couple heads turned. I lowered it. “I know.”

Grandma stared at me.

“You think I don’t sit in this bitch thinking about that every day?” I swallowed. I miss my daughter and my wife. I can’t even call home and hear Brittany’s voice because Alisha won’t answer my shit.” My eyes burned, but I wasn’t about to sit there crying. “And now you're telling me to drop this on her too?” I shook my head. “I can’t do it.”

Grandma was quiet for a while then she leaned closer. “Deuce, look at me. Not telling her ain’t stopping it from being true.”

I didn’t respond.

“And every day you wait, you’re making it worse.”

“I know.”

“Shante begged me not to tell Alisha.”

My eyes snapped to hers.

“You ain’t told her, have you?”

“No.”

I relaxed.

“But don’t get comfortable.” Grandma pointed at me. “I didn’t keep my mouth shut for you.” I nodded. “That’s between you and your sister. Y’all created this mess and one of y’all need to tell her.”