Page 110 of Forced Into Your Arms
There was a longer pause this time before she texted back.
Milan:Am I too skinny or something? You’re always trying to take me to eat?
I laughed at her text before responding.
Me:If you just want me to come hang out at yo’ crib, all you had to sat was that.
Milan:Whatever… I’m off today so we can grab something.
Me:Cool… I’m coming to get you.
Milan:Okay!
Finally, her ass was going with the flow. No argument. No asking why. No telling me she could meet me somewhere… Justokay, and for some reason, that simple answer did something to me. I grabbed my keys and headed for the door.
14
MILAN RIVERS
Ihad been standing in front of my closet for too damn long, staring at my clothes like something new was going to magically appear if I gave it enough time.
Vice had said he was coming to get me, but he hadn’t bothered telling me where we were going. That would’ve been useful information considering I had no idea whether I needed to dress up or keep it casual. After changing twice, I finally settled on a pair of dark jeans, a fitted top and heels that were comfortable enough to wear for more than an hour without making me regret my decision.
I had put more thought into getting dressed tonight than I wanted to admit. This wasn’t our first time going somewhere together. We’d had lunch. We’d gone to dinner. There was no reason for me to be standing in my bedroom acting like I had never been on a date before, even though we never called it that.
Except this time felt different.
Three nights ago, Vice had almost kissed me, and I had been thinking about it ever since. I could still remember the way he’d looked at me before I stepped back, but what stayed with me the most was how easily he’d accepted it. There had been no attitude, no bruised ego and no attempt to convince me Iwas overthinking things. He hadn’t pushed me into something I wasn’t ready for or made me feel guilty for changing my mind.
He’d simply left.
Somehow, that had made me want him more.
I stepped back from the mirror and looked myself over one last time before reaching for my lip gloss. I had just dropped it into my purse when my phone vibrated on the dresser.
Vice:Downstairs.
I glanced at the time and smiled. At least he wasn’t late.
After grabbing my purse, I took one last look in the mirror and immediately rolled my eyes at myself. “Girl, go.”
By the time I stepped off the elevator, Vice was waiting near the entrance with his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He wore a black button-down shirt with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, dark jeans and the same chain. His eyes moved over me as I walked toward him, and the slow way he did it made me suddenly glad I’d changed clothes twice.
“You ready?” he asked.
I stopped in front of him. “That’s all I get? No, you look nice or anything?”
He laughed as he ran his tongue over his lips. “You do… but you already know that shit.”
I stared at him for a second. “I shouldn’t have to ask.”
“You ain’t ask. You told me what to say.”
I laughed because he was right.
This time, he was in a different ride. Instead of his truck, he was in a car—a nice expensive one at that.
I waited while he opened the passenger door then climbed inside without reminding him that I was perfectly capable of opening my own door, which I considered growth on my part.
