11. Shante #3
The woman looked at him. “Twins?”
“It’s not what she is making it sound like.”
I folded my arms. “Oh, now it’s not what I’m making it sound like?”
The woman stared at him. “You didn’t tell me you had twins on the way.”
Malik rubbed his hand down his face. “Because they ain’t my—”
I cut him off. “We have been together this whole pregnancy.”
Grandma’s head snapped toward me. I felt her looking at the side of my face. I knew I was being messy but I didn’t give a damn.
The woman grabbed her purse tighter. “Yeah, I’m good.”
Malik frowned. “Come on, man.”
“No.” She shook her head. “You should’ve told me all this before you asked me to come out with you.”
“Can I explain?” Malik pleaded.
“You don’t have to.” She looked at me, then at my stomach. “Good luck with that.” Then she looked back at Malik. “And don’t call me no more.” She turned around and walked away.
I watched her leave and little satisfaction hit me. “Bye!”
Grandma slapped my arm. “Stop it.”
“What?”
Malik stared at me and the look on his face told me I had officially fucked up. “Do you feel better?”
I folded my arms. “Actually—”
“Nah.” He stepped closer. “Don’t even answer that.”
I rolled my eyes. “You got a lot of nerve walking around Target with some bitch when I’m pregnant.”
Malik laughed but not because it was funny. It was that little laugh people did right before they said something disrespectful. “You are pregnant with Deuce and Kim’s babies.”
My face dropped.
“So let’s start there.”
I looked around. “Lower your voice.”
“Oh now you want me to lower my voice ?” His eyebrows went up. “You weren't worried about volume when you just ran up here lying to that girl.”
“I didn’t lie.”
“Yes, the fuck you did.”
“We were together when I got pregnant.”
“You had me thinking these babies were mine!”
I flinched.
Malik shook his head. “You really got some damn nerve.”
“Malik—”
“Nah, you wanted a scene.” He motioned around us. “Here goes your scene.”
Grandma leaned against the cart. “Well, shit.”
I glanced at her. “Grandma!”
“What? He got the floor.”
I turned back to Malik. “So you just done with me?”
“I told you that and I meant that shit.”
“That don’t mean you gotta be out here with somebody else already.”
Malik stared at me. “Why not?”
I hesitated.“Because—”
“Because what?” He stepped closer. “You lied to me for months. You let me think I was about to be a father.”
My eyes started burning.
“You watched me get excited, you watched me make plans, you watched me talk to your stomach.”
“Malik…”
“And every fucking day, you knew.”
I looked down.
“You don’t get to do that to me and then decide how fast I’m allowed to move on.”
That shit hit me hard. “I said I was sorry.”
“And I heard you.” He nodded. “That don’t mean I gotta take you back. You broke the one thing I don’t play about, trust.”
“I know.”
“Nah, I don’t think you do.” He pointed toward the direction the woman had gone. “Because if you did, you wouldn’t have just pulled that bullshit.”
I wiped under my eye. “I was mad.”
“So? You think being mad gives you the right to fuck with my life?”
I didn’t answer.
“That’s exactly how we got here.”
I looked at him. “What does that mean?”
“It means you keep making fucked up decisions because of how you feel in the moment, then crying when that shit comes back on you.”
Damn, even Grandma made a little noise behind me. “Mmm.”
I turned around. “Whose side are you on?”
Grandma raised both hands. “I ain’t in this, I came for towels.”
Malik smiled but I wasn’t amused. “So that’s it?”
He looked at me. “That’s been it.”
My throat tightened. “Malik…” I pleaded.
“I loved you, Shante.”
That past tense damn near took my legs out.
“I can’t trust you.” He shook his head. “And after what you just did? You showed me I made the right decision.”
I looked down and he stepped around me. Then he stopped beside Grandma Lorraine. “How are you doing, Grandma?”
Grandma looked at him. “I was doing better before y’all turned aisle twelve into a damn episode of Maury.”
I covered my face and Malik laughed. Then Grandma looked at him. “But taking all the girl’s forks was some petty shit.”
Malik shrugged. “I bought ’em.”
Grandma’s mouth fell open. “You see what I’m talking about?”
Malik started walking away and Grandma yelled behind him. “You could’ve left her two!”
He raised his hand without turning around. Grandma looked at me and I was standing there fighting tears. She pushed the cart toward me. “Come on.”
I sniffled. “Where?”
“To get your ass some forks and after that, we’re getting ice cream because you just got your feelings hurt in Target.
” She started pushing the cart. “At least he didn’t take your appetite.
” I followed behind her, wiping my face.
“And next time you see that man with another woman, mind your business.”
I sucked my teeth. “Whatever.”
“I’m trying to help you.”
“I don’t need help.”
Grandma looked into the cart. “Baby, you came in here with one towel and no forks.” She kept walking. “You need all the help you can get.” I couldn’t even argue with that.