The Other Side of the Pillow

Tevin crossed his arms in defiance. “As of late, all he was doing was boasting about the fact that you dumped me over something that I never did, and that he was doing him and that Courtney worships the ground he walks on regardless.”

“That’s because Courtney doesn’t know he’s a filthy, mangled mutt!”

“Actually, according to him, he’s an Alaskan Malamute.”

“An Alaskan what?”

Tevin walked over to me and took me in his arms. “I don’t want us to fight about this. What they’re doing has nothing to do with us.”

“They’re our friends,” I reminded him.

“Yes, but they’re grown friends and we have to stay out of it.”

I looked up at him. “Are you asking me not to tell?”

“I’m asking you to really think about what doing that will accomplish. As of today, I’m not even feeling Floyd like that. We may eventually be able to be friends again, now that I’ve calmed down and can see it from another perspective. But even if we do start hanging out again, you telling Courtney will only make matters ten times worse.

“If she’s content, let the woman be happy. They have four kids. If she divorces him, it’ll affect them in the long run.”

“And if he gives her HIV, or some lunatic broad shows up on their doorstep to confront her because he refuses to leave her and attacks her, how will that affect the children?”

Tevin chuckled. “You and your imagination. It’s not going to go that far. The STD concern is valid, and I would hope Floyd’s not irresponsible enough to fuck women raw. But as far as him lying and telling a chick that he’s in love or leaving his wife, he’s definitely not that reckless.

“I don’t know all of his comings and goings but the ones from work that I know about are only interested in getting fucked.”

I pushed him away from me.

How the fuck do you know all that?

“How do you know that’s what they want? Have they come on to you?”

“Jemistry, I’m a young, successful, black surgeon in the DMV. Women try to get my attention. You know that. But you didn’t have to do that, because I tried to get your attention, and since the night we met, you’re all I ever think about.”

I tried to fight it, but I blushed.

“All I want you to concentrate on, baby, is feeding my baby, loving me, and deciding which bedroom you want to turn into the nursery. That’s all you need to be concerned about. Why bring any unnecessary drama into our lives? We’ve had enough of it while we’re trying to establish our future.”

I had to give it to him. He did make a valid argument. Telling Courtney about Floyd cheating would be the equivalent of throwing an alligator into a swimming pool full of people.

“Let me tell you something about Floyd,” Tevin continued. “Not in his defense but to explain a little bit about his crazy behavior.”

“There is no defense or legit excuse for him cheating.”

“I agree. All I’m saying is that I recognized something about him a long time ago. We all have flaws but one of Floyd’s biggest ones is being born with such a ridiculous ego. He thinks so highly of himself, which makes it both a blessing and a curse. He’s successful because he always knew he would be, and no one would’ve been able to convince him otherwise, even if they’d had the audacity to try.

“He takes care of himself physically because he believes that he’s godlike material. So he’ll never succumb to any kind of addiction. Not alcohol, not drugs, and not—”

“Pussy?” I asked sarcastically.

“No, definitely not that.” Tevin sighed. “Floyd’s wilding out because he believes that’s what men are supposed to do. He grew up in a family where he was told

that’s what men do. His father and uncles told him that he was supposed to get a wife, buy a house, father some children, and always have some backup action.”

“So what you’re trying to say is that Floyd is a victim of circumstance?” I laughed. “You can miss me with all of that! He’s a typical man!”

“That’s the point. In his world, he’s only being typical.”

“And is that typical in your world, Tevin?”