Page 84 of Surrogate For My Best Friend’s Man 2

“I haven’t.”

“Good stay with your mama.”

“I am.”

“And don’t stay at that shop by yourself.”

“That’s my business, what else am I supposed to do?”

“I know what the fuck it is I bought it for you remember.”

“Then stop telling me not to go there.”

“I’m not telling you to stop working.” He paused. “I’m asking you not to be there alone.”

Asking that it was new I rubbed my forehead. “Deuce, what the fuck did you do?” He didn’t answer. “What did you get yourself into?”

“It’s complicated.” He answered.

I laughed. “Some strange man knowing where your wife lives and works is some other shit.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

“Yeah.”

“Because I’m the one dealing with it while you are sitting behind a wall.”

“I didn’t know they came to you.”

“Well, now you do.”

He exhaled. “I need to make a call.”

“To who?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

I laughed. “And there you go again.”

“What?”

“Secrets.”

“Alisha—”

“No, I’m tired of you calling my name every time you don’t want to answer something.”

“I ain’t trying to hide shit from you.”

“That’s all you’ve been doing!”

He got quiet and I could hear voices somewhere behind him. Then Deuce spoke again. “You’re right.”

I blinked. “What?”

“I said you’re right.” His voice was lower. “I've been hiding shit.” I didn’t say anything. “I thought keeping you away from certain shit was protecting you.”