Page 16 of Tide
“I think we discussed that the other night,” she says as I stand here awkwardly.
“We didn’t discuss shit. As you can very well remember, I sent your ass home,” he tells her. She looks around him at me and then back to him as something hits her.
“You’re not. Tell me you’re not.”
“Not what?”
“Fucking your son's girlfriend,” she says. I gasp as Tide grabs her arm and jerks her away from me. I watch in a stunned silence as he presses her against the wall, saying things I can’t even hear. My heart is hammering against my chest. Is it that transparent what we did? How does she know? I see her eyes flash to mine and then back to Tide’s once more. Then she smiles and runs her hands over his chest and up around his neck. Then it all hits me.That’s his mom. I’ve never met her. Never wanted to. She comes and goes from Christian’s life, and she was just an afterthought to me. But now she’s here.
Tide has his hands on her shoulders and slams her against the wall a little. She just laughs and turns her gaze to me. How did she know who I was? It’s all so strange. Tide releases his hold on her and turns, walking back toward me.
“She isn’t gonna be a problem, but the sooner he knows the better.”
“Know what, exactly?” I ask him, crossing my arms over my chest.
“That you’re mine now.”
“I’m not yours, Tide.”
“You are. Once my cock was deep inside of you, that sealed the deal, Mylah. There’s no turnin’ back. If you want me to make it official, I’ll do it here and now,” he tells me. I can tell by his tone that he isn’t joking. He’ll do it and I won’t have any say in it.
“You don’t know me, Tide.”
“I know enough. I know that he’s dragged your ass in here more times than I can count, and each time I can feel this connection between us. You know it felt right with me deep inside of you, Mylah. It all felt right.”
“That doesn’t change anything. We’re different people.”
“I’m a man, and you’re a woman. That’s all I need to know,” he says, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it up.
“This would never work,” I tell him.
“It’ll work.”
“How?”
“I don’t let go of somethin’ that belongs to me.”
“I’m not a toy, Tide.”
“Daddy knows exactly what you are. A toy isn’t one of them.” I watch him blow smoke into the air when Christian walks back over. He slings his arm around my shoulders, something he never does and pulls me into his side.
“Why is Mom here?” he asks.
“She wants to get back with me,” Tide tells him. Christian chuckles and shakes his head.
“You can’t stay out of prison.” Now Tide laughs.
“That seems to be the goin’ theme around here. Thing is, I don’t want your mom back, Christian. I got my eye on fresh meat.”
“You do? Who is it? One of the club girls?” He asks. My heart sinks in my chest as Tide’s eyes find mine.
“Nah. It’s a little more personal than that.” Christian catches on and pulls away from me. He looks at his dad and then back to me, confused by what’s happening. I can’t believe Tide is doing this. I can’t believe that he’s doing it here and now.
“What? What are you talking about?”
“You see, son, when I want somethin’ I go get it and be damned with who it hurts. But I also don’t do things without a reason. Now I could stand here and lie to your face, but I won’t do that,” Tide tells him as my cheeks heat. This is bad. This is so bad. He’s going to tell him about what we did. I can’t do this. I turn onmy heel and quickly walk toward the bathrooms, not wanting to hear what Tide tells him. I can’t look at Christian knowing what I did. I messed up. I shouldn’t have slept with Tide, but I did. And to be honest, I wanted more. He’s right. There’s a connection there that can’t be denied, and I feel it every time I look at him. But we’re two different people. I train dogs for fuck’s sake.
I turn the water on and listen to it run as I stare at myself in the mirror. He’s going to hate me. He’s going to know that I cheated on him with his own father. What kind of person does that? A slut that’s who.
