Page 23 of Til Death
“I ordered food from The Silver Side and that red velvet cheesecake you like from The Cake Boutique. I thought we could have dinner together for once.”
“I already ate.”
Brushing past her, I started for one side of the double staircase. I wanted to change then go down to the sauna.
“Dessert, then. I’m sure you didn’t have that yet.” When I didn’t reply, she smacked her lips behind me. “I even went and got my hair done and bought this lingerie set for you. Don’t you think I look good?”
Pausing at the bottom of the steps, I looked over my shoulder at her. It was true, today her hair was a dark brown, with blond and light brown streaks in it. This wasn’t anything new. Xylina changed her hairstyle often. This style, however, complemented her deep brown skin perfectly. She currently had it pulled into a high ponytail.
I chuckled. “Don’t act like you did this for me.”
Again, she pouted, poking her plump bottom lip out and padding toward me. “C’mon, hubby, don’t be like that.” Lifting her hand, she brushed it over my arm. “It’s been five years; it’s time to move on.”
My mouth turned upside down. I shook her hand off me then turned to face her. “If you mean wasting the past five years of my life because of some bullshit I never wanted?”
She rolled her eyes and smirked. “It only seems like bullshit because you’re always so uptight.” Xylina took a step closer. Herhand went to my groin and she cuffed the visible bulge through my slacks. “I’m your wife, it’s my job to help you relax.”
My dick stirred under her touch. While I might’ve resented my wife, I couldn’t deny she was attractive and screamed sex appeal. Over the years we’d had sex a couple times too. I tried to hold out, but the first year into our marriage while I was getting Blue Shield up and running, there were a few snags in the road and Xylina called herself helping me release some tension.
I licked my lips and lowered my eyes. The smile on her face grew. She started rubbing her hand back and forth, stepping further into me, pressing her breasts against my chest. “I’m not your enemy, hubby, why don’t you get that?” Her head cocked to the side as she bit into her bottom lip and batted her long, false lashes.
Her offer was tempting, but what Xylina didn’t realize was that I wasn’t easily influenced by my dick. She constantly thought throwing herself at me would change things with us, but pussy didn’t move me. In my early years, I might have taken the bait, but at thirty-four, it wasn’t something that moved me.
“I’m good.” I stepped back, causing her hand to fall. “We only have five more months left and then this sham of a marriage will be over. Let’s not make things more complicated when the finish line is so close.”
I turned for the stairs. “Wait!” Her voice was panicked. She grabbed me again. “Can you honestly say in these five years you have no feelings for me? Would it kill you to treat me like a husband should treat his wife?” Fire now burned in her eyes as she peered up at me.
“What do I enjoy doing in my spare time?” I questioned, not bothering to turn back to face her. “What’s my favorite color? When’s my birthday? Hell, do you even know what I’m allergic to?” Silence met me. “Were you even aware that I recently won an award?”
Huffing a laugh out, I shook my head and her hand off me. “Don’t act like some victim when you never even took the time to learnsimple thingsabout your husband this whole time we’ve been married. Only being able to offer sex is something that impresses little ass boys, Xylina. You might have aged over the years, but in reality you’re still that spoiled, self-centered nineteen-year-old I met five years ago.”
Not bothering to wait for her response, I started up the steps. “Oh and I hate red velvet by the way.”
There was a lot more I could say but I didn’t see the point. Xylina was who she was and there was no changing that. All I could do was get through these next few months, and when the terms of our contract expired, we could dissolve this marriage and go our separate ways.
CHAPTER 3
Xylina
“Okay, spill. What the hell was up with you and Aaliyah the other night?” This was the first time Savannah and I had gotten together since the night at the club a few days ago. Currently I was at her house. We were laid by her pool with drinks in hand. Even though it was late March, the weather felt like summertime and the sun beamed brightly overhead.
“What do you mean? You know how she is.” I downplayed the situation, not wanting to go there.
After what Aaliyah proclaimed, I did some research and what I found made my stomach twist into a bunch of knots. When I typed my dad’s name in, there were a few articles about him being in some legal trouble, but the details weren’t clear. I still haven’t gotten a hold of him, and when I questioned his assistant, he brushed me off.
“I don’t know, babe, it seemed like something more. Then right before you left, things got intense.”
After leaving the club, I ignored everyone. Outside of posting on my social media, I stayed locked in my room with Princess. The constant panic and uneasiness were starting to take a toll on me. I needed to gain control and clarity on everything andgetting on Yosiah’s good side was a start. We’d never combined our bank accounts, so he wasn’t aware of the issues I was currently facing. The problem was, he never wanted to hear anything that had to do with my dad, so buttering him up was my only solution.
“She was just being Aaliyah, that’s all. I was drunk and having a good time and she was killing my buzz. Nothing more than that.” I flicked my wrist. As much as I loved and trusted Savannah, this wasn’t something I could ever admit to her.
Even if I was sure it was an error that would be fixed soon, I refused to speak on it.
“Forget that, I need your help with something.” She twisted her neck in my direction, giving me her full attention. I quickly told her about last night and Yosiah brushing me off.
“Can you believe him?” I finished my rant then took a long drink of the mixed drink in my hand. “I got waxed, my hair done, bought new lingerie, ordered food. It was going to be the perfect night and he ruined it by ignoring me all dayand thencoming home late.”
“I don’t get why you haven’t just moved on. I mean, you’re a bad bitch, Xylina, yet you’ve been waiting around for this guy, begging for attention and?—”
