Daddy’s Slut

“Don’t lie to me,” he says. “I’ve known you for twenty years. I can tell when you’re upset. Is something wrong with Tami.”

Marcus has witnessed the rise and fall of many of my relationships and it really is no surprise he can sense the imminent end of this one. Still, I’m not willing to admit that to him, so I say, “Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s fine.”

He nods and gestures for me to follow him outside. He has two thick tri-tip steaks seasoned and waiting next to the grill. We spend the next few minutes grilling the steaks and making small talk and another twenty or so eating them and making more small talk.

As soon as we finish, he clears the plates and returns to the table with two beers. He hands me one and says, “All right. We’ve had our lunch. Now tell me what’s wrong.”

I know I’m not going to be able to hide anymore, so I take a deep breath and share my concerns that Tami is only showing me what I want to see and not who she really is underneath. I finish with, “I don’t understan