She woke up slow, confused, and disoriented. Her lashes fluttered, but I didn’t give a damn how tired she was.
My chest felt like it was collapsing in on itself. “Khloe.”
She blinked at me. “What are you talking about?”
I held the phone up. “This.”
“Who the fuck is Stacks?”
She sat up quickly, sliding her robe around her shoulders.
“Nobody, baby—”
She reached for the phone. I pulled it back.
“Just lay down.”
I stared at her like she had lost her mind.
“I ain’t laying down,” I said, surprised that she even said that. “And you ain’t either until you give me some fucking answers.”
The room was silent. She grabbed her robe tighter around herself and crossed her arms like she was trying to hold herself together.
“It’s nothing like that.”
“Then tell me what itis.”
I held the phone out again. “Because I don’t have no one calling my phone back-to-back at damn near one in the morning.”
She looked at the floor thinking, searching, and building a response instead of telling the truth. And that… That hurt worse than anything. I felt something crack open inside my chest.
Before I could stop myself, the words came out. “I know like fuck, you ain’t out here cheating on me.”
Her head snapped up immediately. “No!” she yelled. “It’s not like that. We’re friends.”
Friends.The word should’ve made me feel better. Instead it felt like somebody slowly twisting a knife. If it was just friendship… Why was it the first time I’d ever heard his name? Why had I never met him? Why did my wife look terrified standing in front of me?
“Friend, huh?” I said, laughing to myself.
“Yes,” she whispered, tears already forming.
“Well has thisfriendever kissed my wife… or seen her naked?”
Her face fell. “Huh?”
“Answer the question.”
“Kairo, why are you doing this?” she cried. “I told you he’s a friend!”
I shook my head slowly. My heart felt like it was bleeding out inside my chest.
“I’m doing this,” I said, voice breaking, “because I know my wife.”
“And the fact that you didn’t immediately deny it…” I laughed bitterly, “…tells me everything.”
“Go ahead,” I said, tossing her phone at her. “Go enjoy your friendship or whatever the fuck you got going on with this Stacks.”
My voice got louder. “And get the fuck out my house!”
