The early morning sun dissipated the dew clothing the perfectly cropped grass of Ross-Stone Country Club as robin performed their usual solo. Terrence's five iron effortlessly swung in the air to strike the golf ball sending it soaring in the crisp air. The quadratic equation wasn't needed for him to know where the ball would land. The twist of his face and the exasperated sigh slipping out his mouth proved that he already knew where it was headed. The ball plummeted into the sand and Derrick shook his head.

"Don't say anything." Terrance insisted with his sight still on the ball as if it broke some silently agreed-upon contract. But he knew he was the reason his game was off.

Derrick huffed out a humorless laugh leaning on his gold club, "You do dirty ass shit, you get dirty ass results. It's karma."

The statement caused Terrence's body to turn in his direction immediately. "I'm going to do whatever I have to do to get my family back. Hell, I've lied for less."

"And that's the problem, my dude." Derrick gestured to him like the answer to all his friend's problems was in the words he spoke because they were. "You lie too damn much and you selfish as hell."

Terrence's eyebrows snapped together as his mouth gaped. He inhaled a breath and then responded. "Damn. When I said give it to me straight I didn't mean that damn harsh."

"I don't coddle." Derrick twirled the club like a skilled majorette, something he picked up from the hours of watching his daughter practice.

"Unless the person is Kiara." Terrence teased, striding toward the all-black golf cart.

"I'mma baby my baby," Derrick affirmed climbing into the passenger seat before Terrence pressed down the gas pedal. "In a couple of months, you gon' understand."

Terrence nodded as he steered the cart across the verdant terrain with pride blazing in his chest only to have it snuffed out by the remembrance of her present situation. He couldn't refute his friend from medical school's words. It was true. He had selfish tendencies. It was why he was the person he was today; a highly esteemed and praised surgeon. He was greedy with his time, using the bulk of it to study during his teens and twenties, and then in his early thirties he used it to perfect his skill. Lives depended on him to be the best and he didn't take that duty lightly.

The lying though was something that made itself prevalent after getting married. Or maybe it started when they were dating. He was still trying to figure that out with the help of his therapist. But deep down he knew, he was just scared to admit it. The first time he saw Katrina something came alive in him. She showed him a different side of life. A life he'd never been privy to before. One of ease, laughter, and spontaneity. He had his schedules and meticulous routines. A life crafted around the profession of his father and his father's father. Dating her enlightened him, and informed him that he wasn't truly living life just existing in it.

So, he married his reviver and commenced to live his lie.

He lifted his foot from the pedal and eased the cart to a stop. "I fucked her, again."

"Katrina."

Terrence peered ahead at the patch of sand surprised at the words that slipped from his mouth but if you can't be honest with your friend then who can you be truthful with?

He slid his hand down his face and then gripped the back of his face before saying, "No."

"Damn." Derrick shook his head. "You just keep fucking up. Is it that good?"

Was it? Was sex with Sage so good he'd be fine with losing Katrina? The answer to that question was easy. His heart spoke before his brain did.

"No." He answered, flexing his left hand as a ray of sun-brushed over the gold band. "But it was fun."

"Man." Derrick held out the word as she got out of the cart. "You—"

"I know." He interrupted him. "I have a problem."

"I wasn't about to say that," Derrick informed, as they strode to the sand pit.

Terrence leaned against his club, "Then what were you going to say."

"That you are the problem," Derrick told with a tilt of his head, eyes locked on his friend as if he could see the epicenter of fault in his cranium. "And if you don't solve it, you'll lose all the things you love."

Terrance nodded knowing his friend spoke the truth then he smirked lightly, "Is this your wisdom or Dominique's wisdom."

"All me." He patted his chest. "You got divorce papers. I got a butcher knife and a threat ..." He shook his head from the memory and grinned. "...after Niq found out I messed around with a nurse."

"Was it hard to fix things?" Terrence asked, then clarified. "To fix your marriage."

"Hell no." Derrick grinned. "But worth it."

Terrence nodded, feeling slightly hopeful as he reached for his vibrating phone in his pocket. A smile grew on his face wondering if it was Katrina having a craving and he was a hundred percent certain he'd scavenge all of California for whatever bizarre concoction she hungered for. His smile halted at the name and text on his phone.

Terrence's hand tightened around the phone because he knew the answer to that question was 'yes'. "Fuck." 

What do you think is about to happen next?

What lies do you think Terrence has been telling?

How do you like Derrick?