Read Material Girl 2: Labels and Love Online
Authors: Keisha Ervin
Material Girl 2: Labels and Love (19 page)
“I love it.” She gave a huge smile.
“Where is yo’ baby at now?” Mo inquired, rubbing her stomach.
“At home with my mother, of all people. Can you believe it?”
“Hell, no. Yo’ mama crazy as hell,” Mo teased.
“What I wanna know is where the hell is Tee-Tee at? He was supposed to meet us here over an hour ago.” Billie glanced at her watch.
“I don’t know. I tried calling him, but he didn’t answer the phone,” Delicious said.
“So, Dylan, explain this to me.” Mo held up the picture of Dylan falling in
US Weekly
magazine.
US Weekly
magazine.
“Don’t even get me started.” Dylan rolled her eyes. “I was on a date from hell.”
“Who you go out with, girl?” Delicious asked, cutting her ends.
“Cruz,” Dylan replied.
“The soccer player? Oh, girl, he fine.” Delicious smacked his lips together. “I would go out on a date with him anytime.”
“Me too.” Mo gave a sly grin.
“Then go right ahead ’cause he worked my last nerve,” Dylan said.
“What happened?” Mo questioned.
Dylan gave them a quick rundown of the date. After she was done, Delicious, Billie, and Mo cracked up laughing.
“Y’all some fake asses. Ain’t shit funny,” Dylan snarled at them.
“Yes, it is.” Billie wiped away the tears from her eyes.
“How you gon’ tell that man he had a cheap-ass car?” Mo asked, still giggling.
“’Cause a nice car don’t faze me,” Dylan responded. “Now a nice car wit’ a full tank of gas might.”
“You got that right,” Delicious agreed. “Have you heard from him since?”
“Yes. He’s been callin’ me and textin’ me like crazy tellin’ me he’s sorry. But I haven’t answered or replied back.” Dylan crossed her legs. “The other day he sent me like twenty different bouquets of flowers. This fool even sent me a singing telegram.”
“That’s a commitment,” Delicious tapped her on the arm.
“Commitment, my ass,” Dylan rolled her eyes.
“Girl, you can’t be playin’ hard to get wit’ a man who’s hard to get,” Mo advised.
“As far as I’m concerned, Javier Nathaniel Cruz can suck it,” Dylan confirmed.
“On a brighter note,” Billie chimed in, “Angel will be coming home soon, and I’m going to throw him a welcome home party. Of course you all are invited.”
“You know I’m there,” Delicious grinned from ear to ear. “Angel been my boo since reality shows been hot. No disrespect, Dylan.”
“None taken. Angel is not my man.” She tried to play it off like she didn’t care when really, thoughts of him entered her mind often throughout the day.
“Well, look who’s showing up late.” Delicious placed his hand on his hip and watched as Tee-Tee came into the salon with a baby seat in his hand.
“Is that my nephew he’s carrying?” Billie asked.
“Hell, naw. That baby got on pink,” Dylan answered.
“What’s up, bitches? Say hello to my brand-new baby girl Princess Gaga!” Tee-Tee exclaimed, giving them a full view of his and Bernard’s Japanese adopted baby.
“Tee-Tee,” Dylan started crying, “when did you get her?”
“This morning, that’s why I was late.”
“She’s so pretty,” Billie gushed, crying too.
“She is beautiful,” Delicious agreed.
“Hold up. Did you say that baby name is Princess Gaga?” Mo asked.
“Yes, honey. Ain’t she cute?” Tee-Tee beamed.
“She is beyond cute. She’s gorgeous,” Mo answered back.
After catching up with the gang and gushing over Tee-Tee’s baby, Dylan’s hair was done being styled. Delicious spun her around in the chair so she could take a look at herself.
“I’m the shit, bitch! I’m the shit!” Dylan danced.
“You look a’ight,” Tee-Tee teased, burping his baby.
“Whatever, hater. How much I owe you?” Dylan asked Delicious.
“Two hundred dollars.”
“Two hundred dollars!” Dylan threw her head back, dramatically. “Shit, with these prices, I’ma have to start gettin’ my hair done in the hood.”
“Don’t worry. I got you,” Cruz said from behind.
“Oh my God, I think I just came on myself.” Delicious clutched his chest.
“Let me tell you something right now,” Dylan eyed Cruz through the mirror, “I don’t do stalkers, boo-boo. You will get yo’ ass lit up fuckin’ with me.”
“You always got something smart to say. We gon’ have to work on that.” Cruz hit her with his infamous crooked grin.
“Is that a dimple?” Tee-Tee gasped for air. “I could totally set up a tent in that dimple.”
“I’d be naked in it.” Delicious licked his lips.
“Here you go.” Cruz handed him four hundred dollars.
“Oh, honey, this is too much.” Delicious placed his hand on his hip.
“You got my girl lookin’ good, so consider the other two a tip.”
“Your girl?
Honey, we ain’t together.” Dylan took off the cape that was around her neck and stood up.
Honey, we ain’t together.” Dylan took off the cape that was around her neck and stood up.
“Can we step outside for a minute?” Cruz asked with an intense look of desire in his eyes.
Dylan looked him up and down skeptically. “I’ll go, but if you try anything, know that I got a can of mace on reserve and ready to go off.”
“And after that, you gon’ have to see about me,” Tee-Tee warned.
“And me too,” Billie agreed.
“I’ll remember that,” Cruz chuckled.
Dylan slipped on her Burberry, fur-trim, trench coat and walked with him outside. The cold November air froze her body to the core.
“Explain to me how you knew where I was at. You ain’t got nobody following me, do you?” She looked around nervously.
“Nah, I called your house and some woman name Candy told me you were here.”
“I’ma kick her ass,” Dylan murmured.
“Why you so violent?” He got up in her face.
“I’m not. People just get on my nerves, that’s all.”
“Am I one of those people?” He pulled her close.
“The other day you were, yeah.”
“I wanted to apologize to you for that. I’ve dated chicks who’ve dated only celebrities, and it bothered me ’cause I didn’t know if they were wit’ me for me or for what I had. And to be honest wit’ you, you kinda intimidate me. I wanted to get to know you the other night, but what’s your favorite color ain’t all that original.” He confessed.
“Then why didn’t you just say?” Dylan asked softly.
“I don’t know. I was trippin’. You gon’ let me make it up to you?” Cruz stared into her eyes.
Dylan turned her face and looked away. If she looked at him too long she’d become trapped in his gaze eternally. Cruz was everything she didn’t need. But his intoxicating presence compelled her to want to give in to temptation and see where the crazy road before them headed.
“Okay, I’ll give you another chance, but if you fuck up this time, it’s gonna be adios, amigo.” Dylan smiled from ear to ear.
“Comprende.” Cruz nodded.
“Could it be you’re everything that these plain bitches couldn’t be?”
Miguel Feat J. Cole, “All I Want Is You”
18
Feeling like a million bucks, Dylan turned from side to side and examined her outfit in the mirror. She was sure to shut the streets down in her Balmain leather jacket, white slouchy tank top, $3,500 Balmain tie die jewel-encrusted jeans, and double platform, black ankle booties by Cesare Paciotti. Opting for a less-is-more look with her makeup, she rocked a cat eye and a red lip. Dylan didn’t even need to wear her Spanx that night. With all of the stress she’d been under, she’d lost five pounds.
“Goddamn!” She stepped back in awe.
“What?” Tee-Tee asked, lying across her bed.
“Look how fine I am,” she grinned, then blew a kiss to herself in the mirror.
“Girl, get over yo’self.” Tee-Tee waved her off while playing with Princess Gaga.
“Now you sure you gon’ be able to handle Mason and Princess Gaga?” Dylan got his attention.
“Do you see these hips?” Tee-Tee stood up. “These are childbearing hips. I was built for this.”
“Well, let me get up outta here. I told Cruz I would meet him at Lola at nine.” Dylan grabbed her Chanel cassette clutch. “Bye, bye, Mason.” She leaned over on the bed where he was lying and kissed his chubby face.
“Be good for Aunty.” Dylan stood up straight and looked at Tee-Tee. “You really think I should go?” She hated leaving Mason.
“Girl, if you don’t get outta here . . . Go out and enjoy yourself. Hell, get you some, ’cause yo’ ass need it.”
“Shut up,” Dylan laughed. “Okay, I’m gone.”
Dylan rode down Washington Avenue in her 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited looking for a parking space. Everybody and their mama was out. Traffic was at a standstill from people cruising, trying their best to be noticed. After what seemed like forever, Dylan found a parking space around the corner from the bar and got out.
She’d never been to Lola so she didn’t quite know what to expect, but upon walking in, she was impressed. From its funky décor to its live band, Lola was a place that celebrated St. Louis culture. They offered hand crafted cocktails, organic martinis, succulent nosh and jazz, hip-hop and funk music weekly. In the main bar and dining area Dylan found Cruz sitting at a table for two alone. He immediately spotted her and got up to greet her.
“For a minute there I didn’t think you were gon’ come.” He hugged her.
“I’m a woman of my word.” She hugged him back, trying her best not to kiss his lips.
There were no words to define him except Cruz was fine! Everything from his eyes, to his smile, and the way he talked was charming. She just prayed that this time his personality would shine through because being good looking wasn’t enough to keep her interested.
Determined to be on his best behavior, Crux pulled out her chair.
“Why, thank you,” Dylan smiled, sitting down.
“You hungry? You want something to drink?” he asked before retaking his seat.
“I’ll have an apple martini, please.”
“A’ight, I’ll be right back.” Cruz headed toward the bar. This time he made sure to return in a swift manner.
“Here you go.” He handed her the drink.
“Thanks.” Dylan took a sip. “This place is nice.” She set her drink down on a napkin and looked around.
“Yeah, I heard it’s real laid-back and chill. Some burlesque dancer name Lola Van Ella suppose to be performing tonight.”
“I’ve never seen a burlesque performance before.” Dylan smiled at him.
“Me either.” Cruz made himself more comfortable by folding his arms on the table. “So, Miss Dylan, tell me something about yourself.”
“What do you wanna know? You already know pretty much everything.”
“I mean, I just wanna know more about you. I already know that you’re a single mother and a pastry chef, but I wanna know what you dream about, what you hope for,” he said gravely interested.
Taken aback by his question, Dylan thought carefully before answering. “I guess I just want something different, something more. Some sort of counterintuitive love.”
“Meaning?” he quizzed.
“Meaning, I don’t know what I want.” She laughed, throwing up her hands. “I only know what I don’t want, and that’s to be unhappy. I just wanna be happy. What about you?” She took another sip of her drink.
“This may sound corny, but on the real . . . I want you.”
Dylan cocked her head to the side mockingly.
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough to know that I’ma make you mine.”
Dylan gulped because she could see his words coming true.
“We’ll see about that.” She blushed, turning beet red.
“Excuse me,” the MC said into the mic. “I want everyone in the house tonight to welcome Lola Van Ella to the stage!”
Dylan and Cruz, along with everyone else in attendance, gave her a rousing applause as she sashayed onto the stage. She was dressed demurely in a vintage black sequined dress from the 1930s with her blond hair pulled back. Catcalls and whistling floated through the air while Lola grabbed a chair and placed it center stage.
Then her sultry voice sang into the microphone the words, “Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets.” The crowd went wild. Shinnying, she eased her way down in the chair, slid up her dress, crossed her legs, and ran her free hand down her exposed thigh. Dylan’s eyes grew wide with surprise. With the crowd in the palm of her hand, Lola put the mic back on the mic stand. Her eyes smoldered as she gradually began to unbutton the side of her dress.
A guy in the audience roared in anticipation of what was to come. Using her dress as a shield, Lola turned around and wiggled her butt to the crowd. Turning around, she covered her front with the dress and seductively put her index finger in her mouth. Dylan looked over at Cruz. Catching her gaze, he looked back at her and arched his eyebrow. Dylan lowered her head and laughed.
Then Lola gave the crowd what they’d been waiting for. In the midst of dancing, she threw the dress to the side and revealed a pale-pink fringed bustier and thong set. Lost in the beat, she locked eyes with a woman sitting near the stage and began to unzip the front of the bustier. Slightly uncomfortable, the woman gazed off to the side, then back up at Lola.
Dressed only in fringed pasties and her thong, Lola shook her bosom with reckless abandon, then dropped down low and rolled her ass. All you could hear was screams from the spectators, they were so into her routine. Dylan couldn’t even hate. Lola knew how to shake her moneymaker. Once her routine was over, Lola bowed while the crowd stood on their feet giving her a stirring applause.
“That was something,” Dylan said, sitting back down.
“It was,” Cruz agreed.
“You like that kinda shit, don’t you?” She gave him a mock-glare and grinned.
“What man doesn’t? I would especially like it if it were you doing it,” he flirted.
“For the right amount of money I’ll take my clothes off right now,” she joked.
“Promise?”
“You’re a mess.” Dylan smiled feeling her temperature rise.
Two hours later after sharing memories and details on what the other wanted in a mate, Cruz walked Dylan to her car. The full moon up above shined its light directly down on them as she stood in between his legs. His hard dick pressed against her thigh. Cruz’s lips were inches away from hers. Dylan’s heart thumped loudly in her chest. In never failed. Whenever they came in contact, her blood pressure rose, and her palms began to sweat.
No other man had this affect on her except Angel. Was this a sign? Could Cruz be the new man in her life? Dylan didn’t know the answer. All she knew was that he was there making her feel as light as a feather. Cruz was never the type of man to be afraid of a woman, but with Dylan, he found himself swept up in her beauty to the point he couldn’t even put together sentences correctly.
It was hard for him to control himself when he was next to her. But he couldn’t let the chance of being her man slip away. She was the kind of woman he only saw in romantic comedies. She was shy, funny, smart, and sexy as hell but could give you attitude at the same time. She didn’t throw herself on him or come across needy. Dylan was wifey material. She just had to open her heart to the possibility because something behind her hazel eyes was keeping her feelings at bay.
“Give me a kiss me,” he demanded in a low tone.
Dylan tried to kiss him on the cheek, but Cruz surprisingly took her face into his hands and made her kiss his lips.
The kiss was juicy and passionate. Fireworks exploded in their mouths as their tongues danced. After kissing for what seemed like hours, Cruz gave her one last peck on the lips.
“Well, that was rude,” Dylan stated not knowing what else to say.
Cruz just looked at her and grinned. He could tell that she was shaken.
“What?” she said with a sudden fierceness. “You think I’ve never had a kiss like that before? You think that’s gonna make me take my top off? I mean, even if we were to have sex—which we won’t . . .” she rambled anxiously.
“Well, you raised the subject.” His hands roamed her back as his tongue created havoc on the side of her neck.
Her skin reminded him of sweet butterscotch candy. Dylan unconsciously released a soft moan. The commotion he was creating in between her thighs should’ve been illegal. Placing her hand on his chest, Dylan pushed herself back. She needed a moment to gather her emotions and breathe before she was butt naked on the avenue.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothin’,” she fibbed.
Cruz just stared at her. It fucked him up how she tried to act like she couldn’t see that they belonged together.
“Come here.” He reached out for her hand.
Dylan placed her hand in his and inched closer.
“I like you,” he confessed, holding her in his arms.
“I know you do.” She looked down at her feet.
“Then what’s the problem?” He bent down some and cocked his head to the side so he could see her face.
“I’m just afraid,” Dylan said in a trembling voice.
“Shit, I am too, but I’m diggin’ the hell outta you,” Cruz said firmly. “And I ain’t never felt this way about no other female before.”
“What’s so special about me?” she asked curiously. “You can have any woman you want.”
“I like you ’cause you don’t take none of my shit. You say what’s on your mind no matter how embarrassing it may be. Most important, I like a strong woman who can stand on her own two feet and despite what’s going on wit’ you in the media, you still standing tall. I like that.” He stroked her cheek gently with the tip of his finger.
“And I like you.” She finally opened up the doors to her heart and allowed Cruz in.
“You got the sexiest lips I’ve ever seen.” He traced her mouth with his eyes. “Since the first time I saw you I wanted to kiss you.”
“You have my permission.” Her voice shook slightly.
Cruz leaned down and brushed his lips upon hers. His soft kisses sent tingles all over her skin. Their kiss seemed to go on forever. The wicked taste of his tongue drew Dylan deep into his web. With every stroke of his tongue, Dylan could visualize the beginning of something new.
“What do you think?” Tee-Tee pranced around the shoe department at Nordstrom’s.
He was trying on shoes for Angel’s coming home party. All eyes were on him. He’d just tried on a pair of Chloe, over-the-knee, grey leather boots that not many could afford. As usual, he was dressed in women’s clothes. He was rockin’ the hell out of a crème blazer, slouchy cashmere tank top, and black leggings.
“I like’em.” Bernard answered unenthusiastically, holding the baby. He hated all of the attention they got when they went out.
“But you don’t love them?” Tee-Tee’s left hand rested delicately on his hip.
“I said I like’em,” Bernard replied, wishing he’d make up his mind.
“But not as much as you loved the other ones?” Tee-Tee referred to a pair of Christian Louboutin, nutmegcolored, suede, over-the-knee platform boots.
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