My Mans Best Friend (9781622860241) by Tresser Henderson Page A

what friends do.”
    â€œLike you do for Jaquon?”
    â€œYeah, you can say that.”
    â€œSo why are you questioning me?” she said irritably crossing her arms. “Spit it out already.”
    â€œI know you were with Essence at some point tonight, but you weren’t with her all night.”
    â€œDerrick, I don’t have time for this again,” she said starting to walk away.
    â€œHold up for a minute. I want to tell you the funny part.”
    â€œWhat funny part?” she said heatedly.
    â€œI know for a fact Essence has been home for a while now.”
    â€œAnd how do you know this?” she said still trying to play me like an idiot.
    â€œI know this because I sat outside her place waiting for you to drop her off at home. How surprised was I to see her pulling up in her own damn car—alone. Your car, the one I bought you, was nowhere to be found,” I said with a chuckle.
    Zacariah looked uneasy but didn’t say anything.
    â€œYou’re not laughing? You look a bit stunned. Why would that be, baby?”
    She still said nothing, looking more uneasy at the fact I was still laughing.
    â€œSo what I did was call Essence after I gave her time to get in her place. I gave you the benefit of the doubt that maybe you snuck in from the back or the side or maybe you were in her place already. I came up with all kinds of scenarios that would explain where my baby was.”
    Zacariah remained quiet.
    â€œSo when I called, do you know what she told me?” I asked looking at Zacariah inquisitively. “She said you two were laughing it up together. I asked her to put you on the phone, but she said you had gone to the bathroom and she would have you call me back.”
    By now, Zacariah moved from one leg to the other, not saying anything.
    I moved up and positioned myself on the edge of the chair, put my elbows on my knees and clasped my hands together.
    â€œLet me lay down the scenario for you, even though you know how everything went down, but I want to remind you just in case it slipped your memory. I hang up with her. She calls you to warn you what she told me, and then you attempt to call me, but I called first. You played the whole thing off like she was still with you. But she wasn’t, Zacariah. Essence was at home alone.”
    Zacariah said nothing. For a woman with a lot of mouth, she was silent.
    â€œAnd I know you couldn’t have been in the house because both of you confirmed you two were partying it up.”
    Zacariah now shifted from foot to foot, clasping her robe like she was afraid somebody was going to pull it off of her.
    â€œNow I know that’s your girl and you should be proud that she covered for you like she did, but the two of you were not smart enough to not get caught in lies. I don’t give a damn about Essence. You are my woman, and now I’m left wondering why my woman lied to me.”
    â€œDerrick—”
    â€œAnd before you speak another word, let me warn you that you better tell me the truth, Zacariah, or I swear—”
    â€œI was out,” she said sanctimoniously.
    â€œI know that. With whom? Who the hell have you been with all damn night?”
    â€œI wasn’t with anybody. I was by myself. I lied because I knew if you knew Essence had left, you would want to know why I still wanted to hang out without her. You know how suspicious you get.”
    â€œAnd I wouldn’t be that way if you never would have cheated on me.”
    â€œI’ve apologized about that so many times. It was one little indiscretion that’s in the past. Why can’t you trust me?”
    â€œLittle indiscretion? Trust you?” I questioned. “There was nothing little about you ripping my heart out.”
    â€œYou know I didn’t mean it that way.”
    I laughed and got up out of the chair. I walked over to Zacariah, and she took small steps backward like she was trying to get away from me. I