In Too Deep by Dwayne S. Joseph Page A

you’re supposed to do. The more you lie, the less you can cover.”
    She turned away from the window and glared at me. I could tell she wasn’t happy with what I was saying, but shit, it was the truth. I always made it a point to be as truthful as I could with Nakyia. I may bend the truth a little here or there, or forget to mention certain things, but I never fabricated an entire lie. My philosophy was that the truth, oftentimes, made the best lies. Too bad Taki didn’t realize that.
    â€œI am not stupid,” she said with a finger in the air and a twist of her neck.
    â€œI never implied that you were. I just said to cover your back.”
    â€œYou don’t have to give me any lessons. I know how to cover my back.”
    I groaned and massaged my dome. She was giving me a headache. “Whatever,” I said. “So what else did your husband say?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œNothing?”
    â€œDid I stutter? He said nothing. He just mentioned that he saw your car, and then left. We haven’t spoken much since.”
    â€œWe should cool things for a little while,” I said. “Take a break before anything else can happen.”
    â€œTake a break? Why?”
    â€œCome on, Taki. Your husband suspects something. I don’t know about you, but I’m not trying to put my shit at risk for some ass.”
    â€œSome ass?”
    Damn. My thoughts slipped out before I could close my mouth.
    â€œIs that all I am to you? A piece of ass?”
    â€œYou know I didn’t mean it that way. Don’t act a fool.”
    â€œOh, so now I’m a fool?”
    â€œTaki, let’s not go there, okay. What I said didn’t come out the right way.”
    â€œOh, I think everything sounded just fine. You said I was a piece of ass, and a fool.”
    â€œDamn Taki, let’s chill with the attitude, all right.”
    She threw her hands up in the air. “Now I have an attitude?”
    â€œI’m out of here,” I said, turning around. My blood was starting to boil, and my head was getting warm. I had to leave before things got any worse; before I said more things I meant. Of course, that wasn’t happening, because before I could open the door, she Demi Moore’d me.
    â€œYou’re fired!”
    My hand paused on the knob and I stood immobile. I just knew I didn’t hear what she said. I turned and faced her. “What did you just say?”
    â€œYou heard me. I said you’re fired.”
    It was my turn to snap.
    â€œWhat the fuck do you mean fired? Why are you playing games?”
    â€œWho’s playing games? You are F . . . I . . . R . . . E . . . D . . . fired. You can move on to the next piece of ass.”
    â€œYou can’t do this shit.”
    â€œCan and just did. Maybe you forgot, but I am the boss. I can do and say whatever the fuck I feel like.”
    I watched her intensely, waiting for some indication that she was twisting my balls for a laugh. When she gave none, I said, “This is bullshit and you know it. You don’t mean that.”
    â€œOh, so now you’re telling me what I do and don’t mean?”
    â€œCome on, Taki. Think about what we have going on. Why are you going to go and fuck with that?”
    â€œYou said you wanted a break; well, I’m giving you one. A nice long one.”
    â€œAnd your feelings for me?”
    â€œDon’t mean shit.”
    â€œThat’s a lie.”
    â€œNo, Abe. That’s not a lie. You told me to tell the truth, remember.”
    â€œAfter all of the shit I helped you do, how are you going to do that to me? Why? Just because I wanted to be careful?”
    â€œNo, it’s not because of that. You love your wife, remember? Besides, I am nobody’s piece of ass. I have more respect for myself than that. I thought you did too. Obviously I was wrong.”
    I slammed my hand against the door, causing plaques on her wall to slant. She jumped