XXIII. Ice Cream
1490 Words
Nina’s POV:
“Let’s go.” He tilted his head. I grab the three dresses I want and follow him.
“That would be XXX,” the cashier lady said with a smile. I reach for my purse only to be stopped by Matt.
He pulls out a black card. “I got this.”
“No, I got-”
“Think of it as a congratulatory gift.”
“Thank you.”
While we walk out, Matt asks me if I want some shoes with it.
I didn’t pack many shoes when I came to New York, so I said: “Yeah.”
As we walk to the next store, I’m not religious, but I mentally thank God that he didn’t bring up what happened in the changing room.
He led me to a costly looking shoe store called Moola. I peek at the price tag, and my jaw physically drops on the ground. They weren’t double digits but triple! These shoes should be made from fairy dust and assembled by angels.
I grab Matt’s sleeve and pull him back, “I can’t afford these shoes,” I whisper.
“Who says you’re paying for them,” he said. He took a pair of red heels. He led me to a seat and kneeled. Taking off my old tennis shoes, he slips on both red heels. At that moment, I felt like f*****g royalty.
Matt looked up at me and smiled. “Take a look,” he said, grabbing my hand and leading me towards a mirror. I looked in the mirror, instantly fell in love with the pair of red heels. I’ve never worn such beautiful shoes before in my life, and it’s comfortable too.
Matt continues taking heels, shoes, boots, and flats for me to try on. I stare at the boxes next to me, which keep piling up. My heart rate increases every time another box appears.
“I’ll take them all,” Matt told the saleslady.
I almost strained my neck when it snapped towards him. “Matt, this is too much! Did you see the prices? There aren’t any periods!” I emphasized it by placing my hands in the air, moving it around, looking like a crazy lady.
“Nina, I know how to read,” he said. He hands the lady his black card. My eyes follow the black card, quite envious he had one. I want one too, but I can barely afford a regular credit card at a standard bank. I went on a crazy shopping spree when I got my first credit card during my first year of college, and I vow never to open another. It’s a trap.
“B-But-”
“No, buts unless you’re offering me your butt,” he winked.
I rolled my eyes and folded my arms, “Really, Matt?”
He tilted his head and glanced at my bottom. “You have a nice butt,” he said, giving it a light pat. I release a loud gasp and cover my bottom with my hands, taking a step back.
I opened my mouth, but the sales lady cut me off. “Your stuff will arrive this evening Mr.Greyson,” she said and returned his card.
Matt nodded and dragged me into another fancy looking store. “Pick what you like,” he said with a smile.
I looked at the price tag. When I was younger, my mom programmed me to always look at the price tag first.
Matt smacks my hand. “Stop looking at the price tag and pick, or I’ll pick for you.”
“Matt these prices are-”
He rudely walked away from me. I threw my hands in the air, whispering unbelievable and followed him. I looked at him as he started grabbing different bags, dresses, shirts, and skirts. My hands tighten on my shirt when I realize he was able to pick out everything according to my taste.
When we got to the food court, I stared at the pizza in front of us. “What’s wrong, honey?” Matt wraps an arm around my waist.
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
He released a low snort. “I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for me.”
My lips twisted upward as my head tilted in utter confusion. “What?”
“In the future, I’m going to need you to attend parties with me and be my girlfriend. So you need these pretty stuff to wear. Trust me when I say those girls at the parties I attend will be censorious,” he said. He sticks out his tongue and slightly gagged.
I giggle lightly, “Matthew, are you asking me to be your girlfriend right now?”
A cheeky smile reveals itself, “And if I am?”
“I don’t know if I want to be your girlfriend.”
“And why not? We sleep together. We eat together. We live together. We even pee in front of each other. The only thing we haven’t done is make love, which can be promptly arranged.” He took a piece of pizza and bit it then gave me a tight smile.
I flipped my hair. “Baby, I’m out of your league,” I said teasingly.
He snickers and takes a sip of our soda. “Darling, when you see my performance in bed, you will forget that you’re out of my league,” he growled lightly, rubbing his nose against mine.
I bit my lower lips. “I don’t know if I can trust your words Matthew Greyson.”
He grabbed my waist and pulled me closer. “Sweetheart, I’m a drug. Once you get a taste of me, you will undeniably crawl back for more,” he said slowly as his lips brushed against mine.
“Matt!” a familiar high pitch voice yelled.
I turned my head.
My eyes automatically rolled itself as I saw Daniella. Glancing behind her, a guy was holding all her bags.
“What are you two doing?” she screamed, causing many heads to turn. I looked down and realized I was straddling Matt. I tried to slip out, but his hands tightly wrapped around my hip.
I glanced at Daniella, her hands forming a tight fist. “Matt, let go of her now.” She clenched her teeth.
“No,” Matt replied emotionlessly.
“I’m your future wife!”
“Dani-”
“How would your parents feel finding you out here with her and not your fiancé,” she screamed into our faces.
Matt lifted me out of his lap, stood up, and pulled me into his arms. “I will say this one last time Daniella. You are not my future wife. My parents decided on our quote and quote engagement, but I will never agree to it. I love you but only as a little sister and nothing more.”
She shot me a glare, “It’s this b***h, isn’t it? You stole Matt away from me!”
“Don’t you talk to her like that!” My eyes flinched slightly at his aggressive tone. I’ve only heard Matt yelled twice during our whole friendship. The first time it was when his grandma passed away and second was when a guy sexually harassed me at a bar.
He yelled at the guy and punched him continuously, landing him in the hospital. It was extremely frightening to watch blood splattering all over the floor as the guy begs for mercy. The next day, Matt told me he drank too much, causing him to act so violently, but it felt like there was something more.
“Matty,” she whined and stomped her feet, tears brimming on the edge of her eyes.
“Leave,” he scowled.
She wiped off the tears from her eyes. “This isn’t over,” she said before she left.
I glanced at Matt, who tightens his fist as his chest rises and falls with intense force. I placed my hands on his cheeks “Pudding pop calm down. She is gone,” I said, rubbing his cheeks slightly. He releases a deep breath and rubs his neck slightly.
“Want to go get some ice cream?” He said with a small forced smile. We walked towards the ice cream shop. Matt continues looking off into the distance as we reach the store.
I got up to him and grabbed his hand, sliding my other hand up his forearm. He glanced down at me and smiled at me.
“So fiancé, huh,” I said as we waited in line.
He licked his lips, releasing another breath. “It was my parent’s idea. They wanted me to marry her and expand the company,” he mumbled.
I lean my head against his biceps, tangling our fingers. This is one popular ice cream store. The line doesn’t seem to budge one bit. “Seems like we both have difficult parents.” I force out a laugh.
“Seems so, it’s like they want us to move away.”
I nod in agreement.
Back then, I went to the park every day to take a breather because I was a biomedical major and chemistry minor in college and an assistant at a large hospital. I also researched on the side. My parents wanted me to become a doctor even when I didn’t want to. During the finals week, I had a meltdown in front of Matt, who helped me figure out what I really wanted to do.
Silently, we stood there, embracing each other. I continuously wonder why the hell is the line so long. All they have to do is scoop ice cream, but then I remember how indecisive customers can be. Seriously, put the darn cell phone away and think about what ice cream you want before it’s your turn.
I want my ice cream.
- Writer
