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“I care about her.”
A bitter laugh escaped her mouth.
“That’s supposed to be the truth that frees you?”
“Shit, you asked.”
“I asked how long you’ve been sticking your dick in her.”
“A few weeks.”
She closed her eyes. The answer hit her harder than I expected. For some reason, that made me feel like shit.
“Nikki…”
“No. Keep going. Since we’re finally doing honesty, give me all of it. Was it happening when you were coming over here buying gifts because I complained you were distant? Were you leaving my house and going to hers? Were you sleeping with both of us?”
“Sometimes.”
“Wow!”
“I ain’t proud of the shit.”
“So, she fucked you and knew about me?”
“Don’t put this shit on her.”
“I’m sorry. What?”
“I said don’t put all that shit on Ky. I’m the one who owed you the loyalty. If you got an issue, keep that shit with me.”
“You defending her?”
“I’m tellin’ you the truth.”
“You’re protecting her. Even now, sitting in my house after I tell you I watched you creep out of her, your instinct is to make sure I don’t blame her.”
“All I’m sayin’ is she didn’t hunt me down. The shit just happened. She told me to handle my shit wit’ you. I didn’t.”
Nikki pushed away from the table and stood.
“That’s supposed to make me respect her? She still let you in.”
“I’m not askin’ you to respect shit.”
“Then what are you asking me for, Shameek? Understanding? Because I don’t have any. I loved you. I accepted more from you than I should’ve. All this time, I thought I was losing you to the streets, your family, your grief, and your business. The whole time, I was losing you to Kyenna.”
I stood, too.
“Nikki, I’m not finna stand here and let you make this into some competition shit. This shit wit’ me and you been fucked up before Kyenna ever touched me. We kept repeatin’ the same cycle and callin’ it love because neither one of us wanted to let go.”
“You’ve never had a problem before. The truth is you had no problem cumming inside of me, telling me you love me and then going over there to fuck your brother’s wife.”
“Widow,” I corrected.
As soon as the word left my mouth, I regretted it.
“You corrected me fast as fuck.”
