Page 12 of Tide
“I want you to look like a lady, Mylah.”
“As opposed to what?” He eyes the dress before looking at me in the reflection of the mirror. I don’t need to hear what he has to say. I can already tell by the look in his eyes.
“You’re kidding me, right? You think I look like a slut?”
“You’re twenty-eight, Mylah. You’re not a little girl anymore. You aren’t in your teens.”
“What the hell does that have to do with what I’m wearing?” I snap.
“I’m just saying. Dress your age,” he says before walking back out of the bathroom. This has been happening more and more lately. Christian has changed over the years. He wants me to look a certain way, act a certain way. And to be honest, it’s really starting to get on my nerves. I’ve never let a man tell me how to act or dress before, and I sure as hell won’t start now.
Ignoring his words, I fix my hair and apply a little eyeliner before slipping into my shoes. I don’t need his shit. I don’t need his judgement.
I walk into the living room with my head held high and watch the way he looks at me before blowing out a breath. He shakes his head and stands from the chair, walking toward me and offering me his hand. I take it although I shouldn’t. He’s still mad at me for not changing, but I’m not changing just for him.
Christian escorts me out of the house and out to the car, where he holds the door for me. I climb in and watch him walk around the front of the car and climb in the driver's seat. He doesn’t look my way or speak to me as he pulls out of the driveway and drives down the road. I sigh and look out the window, wondering how this night's going to go. Is he going to ignore me all night? Are we even going to have a good time?
Without overthinking it, I try to focus on the party. I know he’s having one for me. I just don’t know where it’s going to be until we pull up to my favorite club.
“Really?” I ask, a smile lighting up my face.
“Yes, really. I know it’s your favorite,” he says as he parks the car. I’m smiling and happy for the first time in a long timewhen he kills the engine and climbs out. He walks around like a gentleman and opens my door for me, helping me out.
We walk hand in hand into the club and straight to the VIP area.
“Happy Birthday!” Everyone yells at the same time. I can’t stop the smile that crosses my face. Our friends are here. Bella is here. Mostly it’s Christian’s friends, seeing as I don’t have many of those lately. I’ve lost a lot of them over the years, just trying to make Christian happy.
Bella rushes toward me and pulls me into a hug, telling me how she loves me and happy birthday. I hug her back, glad that she’s here.
“Thank you for coming,” I tell her.
“You think I’d miss your birthday? Girl, you are crazy.” I hug her once more, thankful that she’s here with me.
I go through and hug and greet everyone until I reach him. My breath stalls in my chest as I take him in. From his cut to his boots, he’s the best-looking thing in this place.
“You gonna say hi?” He asks me when I just stand there staring at him.
“Thanks for coming, Tide,” I tell him as he grabs my wrist and pulls me into a hug. His body pressed against mine is almost too much to deal with.
“You look sexy as fuck in this dress. You wear that for daddy?”
“I…I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Don’t lie to me, Mylah. Just say yes. Say you wore it for me.”
“I didn’t know you were coming, Tide.”
“You knew I’d be here, and you wanted to tease me. That’s okay, baby. I plan on givin’ you one hell of a present later.” With that, he pulls back and eyes me up and down when Christian walks over.
“Hey, Pop. Glad you could come.” He doesn’t make a move to pull me into his side or touch me the way Tide does. He just keeps his distance like usual.
“You know I wouldn’t miss a chance to dance with all the pretty ladies,” he says. Christian smirks and shakes his head as heat pools inside of me. Would he try to dance with me? The thought causes too many more thoughts to race through my head. I want to excuse myself, but I know Christian would say that it’s rude of me. So I don’t. I stand here, watching the two of them talk as I zone out to his hands on my breasts the other day. His tongue in my mouth.
“I think your girl needs a drink,” Tide says, nodding toward me. I shake my head, ridding the thoughts I was having as he chuckles, and Christian walks off.
“What are you thinkin’ about?”
“Nothing.”
