Chapter Twenty-Five
Layla
I’m nervous. I told Ty I was fine but that’s a lie. I don’t want to get into a mouth battle with some girl who believes my man is hers. I certainly don’t want to make a terrible impression in front of his family and their friends. I have a feeling that’s exactly what I’m going to do though.
Shoot, what if they don’t think I’m dressed up enough? Tyler keeps telling me my simple white satin dress with a black sash around the waist is perfectly fine. “Have I told you how beautiful you look?” he asks me as we leave my neighborhood.
“Only about a thousand times, but you can keep telling me,” I tease.
He laughs. “Well, you look beyond beautiful. Are you sure we should go to this thing? I think we should skip it, so I can have you all to myself.”
“Tyler,” I playfully smack his leg. “Behave yourself. Your parents will probably think the worst of me if you don’t.”
“Babe, no one is going to think anything terrible about you. If they do, they’re all idiots and don’t deserve to be around someone like you anyway. Besides I told you, I don’t give a damn what my parents think.”
I smile at him. “Okay.”
He turns us down the street leading up to his neighborhood. I observe the decorated houses. Some are elaborate and decked out to the T. Others are simple. But when we reach Tyler’s, it’s elegant and dressed in all white lights. The four large pine trees in the front are all wrapped in lights and have huge colorful ornaments hanging from them. I slip out of his Jeep and approached the trees before he reaches my door.
“Jeez, babe, couldn’t wait for me to be a gentleman?”
I laugh at his comment. “Yes. This is so gorgeous. It’s like the little wonderland you took me to.”
“Not as gorgeous as you. I’ll let my mom know you approve of her decorations. She was a little miffed at the people who did it this year.”
I keep forgetting how wealthy his family is. I think it’s because Tyler doesn’t really flaunt it. “I like the blue and silver ornaments with the white lights,” I say.
“Come on. The sooner we make an appearance, the sooner we can leave.”
I make my way toward the door and stop. “Oh crap. Tyler, I forgot your gift at the house. I left it under our tree.”
“Oh man, my cookies,” he says. “Juliet isn’t going to eat them, is she? I heard her last night trying to talk you into giving her some.”
I laugh. “I can’t promise anything. It’s okay, I can try to make more.”
“It’s not a big deal. The best gift in the world is being yours.”
I blink back tears of joy. How is it I have the sweetest boyfriend ever? I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. “You’re so wonderful.”
“Awww,” his lips touch my nose. As we gaze into each other’s eyes in our perfect little bubble, a scream breaks through our moment.
Tyler and I turn to see a girl wearing a pretty gold and cream gown, her chestnut hair all pinned up on top of her head. The girl’s glittery shadowed-eyes narrow. “Get your hands off my boyfriend, you two-bit-hoe.”
Tyler shifts me behind him. “Emelia, get your facts straight. Never been your boyfriend, and you better apologize to my actual girlfriend right now.”
“I’ll do no such thing. She’s obviously trash. Look at her. That dress is as cheap as she is. Clearance rack from a discount store, am I right?”
I blush. Oh my God, is this what Tyler was trying to keep me away from? I wish I would have listened. I’m also glad I didn’t bring my gifts here. She’d just degrade me further.
“Come on.” Tyler ushers me toward a different entrance while uttering his apologies. “I am so freaking sorry.”
“Stop. You don’t have to keep saying you’re sorry.” I plaster on a fake smile and take a deep breath. “You warned me that these people were going to be a lot to handle. I can do this. I promise.”
His fingers tighten around mine. “That’s right. Screw these peeps.”
I nod and let him guide me inside the house.
I’ve been inside Tyler’s house before, so I’m not sure why I’m suddenly very cautious where I step. Maybe because at his house parties all I notice is the flow of people and it’s usually dimly lit in each room. As opposed to now, each room we pass is bright. The walls are decorated even more elegantly than the front lawn. From the white lighted garland with silver or red bows wrapped around the banisters to the decorated entrances of each room decorated, it’s beautiful. There are hardly any pictures of the family, I notice.
I also notice there is a Christmas tree in every room, except the kitchen. Tyler leads me to the dining room, which is so plush I’m terrified of putting a carpet fiber out of place with my foot’s imprint.
“What’s wrong?” he asks in a low tone.
“I um … should we be in here?” There are three stacked white plates and polished silverware on the table. And matching gold placemats under each plate. Unlike at my house where we don’t care about matching plates or utensils. Half the time we use paper plates.
He looks around the room. “Sure. My mother made sure to set out her best china, so everyone could gawk and comment on how nice it is.”
“Is that real silver?” I point to the closest set of silverware.
“Yup.” Tyler sighs as if bored with it all.
I nod because I can’t speak. A tall woman with platinum blond hair styled in a tight French twist enters the room. Her ruby red lips scowl at us. “Tyler! What are you doing?”
“Showing Layla your hard work. Looks great,” he says in that charming voice of his.
I assume this woman is his mother. She doesn’t look impressed by his flattery. “You must be Layla.” She drops her gaze down to my shoes then back up to my eyes. She cringes. “It’s very lovely to meet you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Richardson.”
“What kind of things do your parents do for the holidays?”
I hate this question. I want to say all the things we used to do like go ice skating at the park, make the best damn hot chocolate ever with little marshmallows toasted on the top. I can’t say any of this though because since my dad died we haven’t done anything. I shrug. “Um, the usual.”
She sneers. “Do you not have special traditions? Family traditions are important. Isn’t that right, Tyler?”
I swear it’s like a knife pierces straight through my heart.
Tyler snaps, “Mom, what tradition are you referring to? The one where Dad gets so smashed he mistakes the decorations for a toilet? Or should I tell her how your cougar friends compare recent facelifts and boob jobs?”
I suck my lips, biting back a gasp.
“Tyler, don’t tell guests lies.” She looks over at me as if I were the one to tell him to say that. “I guess I’m not allowed to get to know the kind of person you’re dating.”
“Not really,” he fires back.
I feel like I need to say something. I pat Tyler’s arm. “It’s fine. I’m sure your mom is just trying to see if I’m good enough for you,” I joke.
“I know you aren’t good enough for him,” she answers.
Once again, I am shocked silent. I never expected his mother to just come out and tell me that no matter what I do she will never like me.
“Mom! What the hell? Come on, Layla.” Tyler tugs me away from her.
We enter another room. This one is filled with party guests. All of them have drinks in hand, talking in groups, while sharply-dressed waitstaff weave in between them. Tyler and I make our way around a few people who eye me curiously but do not acknowledge Tyler. We’re almost near his sister when an ice-cold grip settles on my bare arm.
I jerk backward, causing me to let go of Tyler’s hand. He turns back and sighs. “Aunt Dolores, would you please let my girlfriend go?”
“Girlfriend,” the woman barks. “I thought she was part of the staff.” The glass in her hand sloshes red liquid about. She raises it to take a sip, and before I can react properly, it suddenly splashes all over my dress. The woman turns and yells, “Emelia, what in the blazes? Watch where you are walking. You made me spill my drink on Tyler’s girlfriend. What’s your name, dearie?”
“Layla,” I answer as I try to wipe away the liquid staining a huge part of my dress. I know I should tough this evening out a little more but honestly, I just want to go home. In fact, I wish I had never come in the first place.
Tyler’s skin is almost purple with rage. “Babe, head up to my room. I’ll meet you there in a minute.”
“Okay,” Emelia says, a sly look on her overly made-up face.
“I wasn’t talking to you!” His gaze levels her then he turns back to me and presses his sweet mouth to mine. “Go on. I’ll be practically right behind you.”
I should rein in my temper. “Ty, I got this.” I turn from him and face Emelia. “He’s mine, bitch. Get it. Mine. So back the hell off before I break that beak you call a nose.”
Ty’s hand lands on my wrist and squeezes while Emelia takes a step toward me. “Babe, seriously, go to my room,” Ty insists.
“You better listen to him,” Emelia says. “He knows where trash like you belongs. It isn’t with us.”
“The only trash I see here is you,” Tyler says.
His aunt snickers. Emelia sneers at her then over at me. “Ty, do you remember all those times we spent in the hot tub together?”
I glare at him. “You were in a hot tub with her?” I ask. I don’t know why I suddenly feel jealous but I am.
“No. And hell no. We’re done here. Aunt, I love you. I can’t be here anymore,” Tyler says.
His aunt smiles at us. “Okay. You two lovebirds have fun. Oh, and use protection. I wouldn’t be a good aunt if I didn’t say that.”
My cheeks are on fire. Oh my god. She thinks we’re ditching to have sex. This is one of the worst and embarrassing nights of my life. I can’t wait until it ends.