Don't Ever Tell by Brandon Massey Read Free Book Online

can eat here every week and stay so thin,” Joshua said. “I have to watch myself.”
“It’s genetic.” Eddie patted his flat stomach. “Like my pops. That man’s been eating fried chicken and pork chops three times a week for his whole life and he still only weighs a buck fifty. Blood pressure’s getting too damn high, though.”
“Nothing that tastes good is ever good for you, seems like.”
The waitress delivered their iced teas. Eddie picked up the glass and took a long sip.
“So, has something happened since I saw you last night, man?” Eddie asked. “Or did you just want the pleasure of my company?”
Joshua smiled wryly. He couldn’t fool Eddie with small talk. They had been friends for far too long.
“I don’t know how to put this,” Joshua said. “But do you ever get the feeling that you never truly know someone?”
“All the time. Ariel shocks the hell outta me with something at least once a week.” Eddie grinned with evident satisfaction. “Welcome to married life—finally.”
“I know, you think I’ve been living in some wedded-bliss dream world for the past six months—and maybe I have,” Joshua said. “But I think this is something different.”
“What do you mean?”
Joshua pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose. “You can’t tell anyone what I’m going to tell you. This stays between me and you.”
“ ’Course.”
“I think Rachel’s got some secrets. About her past. Stuff she’s never told me about and doesn’t want to tell me about.”
“Don’t we all?” Eddie shrugged. “Damn, I thought you were gonna say something serious.”
    DON’T EVER TELL 55
    “This is serious. It all started when she had a nightmare last night. She was fighting some guy in her dream. When I asked her about it this morning, she said she didn’t remember any of it, had no idea who she might’ve been struggling with.”
    “Maybe she doesn’t. Do you always remember your dreams? I sure don’t.”
“I know but...” Joshua sighed. “I thought she was lying, that’s all.”
“She could’ve been. She might not have wanted to talk about it, ’cause it would dredge up bad memories.”
“I guess so.”
“All I know is, everyone has secrets, some of ’em good, some of ’em bad,” Eddie said. “You haven’t told Rachel everything about yourself, right?”
“I’ve told her the most important stuff about me.”
“All of it?” Eddie’s gaze was keen. “Every deep, dark secret?”
“I don’t have any deep, dark secrets.”
“Maybe you don’t. But some folks do, dawg. Some people have been through some rough shit in their lives—shit they don’t want to tell anyone, including a spouse. You’ve gotta respect that.”
“You think I’m overreacting?”
“Nah, I think you’re just starting to learn what being married is all about. You can’t sweat every little detail about your wife. She’s not gonna be perfect, just like you aren’t perfect. But you’ve gotta love her anyway for who she is, overall.”
“I guess I’ll let it go.”
“Rachel’s a great woman. You two have a good thing going. You’ll hit a rough patch every now and then, like most married folk do...but there’s no sense in rocking the boat without having a good reason.”
“Let’s hope I never have a reason, then,” Joshua said.
“Nah, man,” Eddie said sagely, shaking his head. “You’re gonna have a reason one day, trust me. But you better hope that when you have one, that boat doesn’t sink.”
    8
    Sitting in the ice-box cold Chevy around the corner from the house, Dexter used his prepaid cell to call Javier at an agreed-upon number. He answered on the second ring.
    “Yo,” Javier said. “Wassup, boss?”
“It’s gone.”
“Huh? What’s gone?”
“My money.”
“What?” Javier nearly shouted.
“All of it. Gone.”
“Jesus fucking Christ. Where’d you put it, man?” Javier sounded genuinely shocked. He would be. He hadn’t
    stolen the cash. He was loyal.
“It was in