Meeting the parents

I finally agreed to visit Tyler's home. And as if the heavens were trying to warn me, I had picked the wrongest of days.

Tyler had gifted me a beautiful black knee length dress and a white Prada sneakers last week and I chose that to wear for the meet and greet with his parents. I stood in front of my mirror for over an hour, fixing my hair and making sure I looked impeccable.

I tried not to fixate on it, but my heart refused to beat in its normal rhythm.

I was scared as hell.

Why?

Because parents in general didn't like me. Ever since I was a child.

Words like slapdash, careless, impatient, rude, and my all time favorite; too carefree was a constant adjective used to describe me. And I never cared. Dad never let it bother me. But for the first time I cared what a parent would say about me. If they would notice those same attributes too.

Five p.m sharp my doorbell rang. I knew who it was. After sucking in more air than I needed in hopes that it would alleviate my worries, I went to the door, my face covered lightly in makeup.

The second my gate flung open, Tyler wrapped me in his hands and immediately placed a kiss on my lips. I calmed at once in his embrace.

"Hi beautiful."

I chuckled when he was kind enough to release my mouth.

"What's funny?"

With my right index finger, I tapped my lips, my head nudging him to do the same.

Tyler frowned, not understanding.

"Your lips. It's covered in lipstick."

He only smiled.

"Why did you have to kiss me like that?" I grumbled, "do you know how long it took me to do my makeup? I have to look perfect, and you look like you've been kissing. Are you trying to make me feel uneasy?"

"But I have been smooching." He puckered his lips. "Weren't you here? A while ago I kissed a very beautiful girl." He teased.

"Don't tease me." I frowned.

He rubbed my shoulders.

"Hey. It's going to be okay. You're just coming over to my house."

"Yeah, for the first time. And your parents will be there."

"And they will love you."

"You don't know that. Stop false advertising." I started to walk inside my house. Tyler was right behind .

"Stop." I said to him when I got to the door. "You aren't allowed to follow me inside."

"But—" he started to protest but stopped. "Fine." He said grumpily. "I'll wait outside."

I almost laughed. "I'll be out in a second. Let me grab my bag."

All through the drive to his house, Tyler held my hand. I knew I was fidgeting too much, but I couldn't help it.

I knew he was rich, but I never realized how much. He lived in a fucking mansion.

How rich where they?

I was still immersed in how magnificent his home was when I heard voices. At first the voices were muffled, barely audible. But as we got closer, the voices got louder.

I looked at Tyler who had stopped moving, a pained expression on his face. Instinctively, my hand grabbed his own and I pulled him away from the house back to his car. He followed me in acquiesce.

"I'm craving Ice cream." I smiled at him when we got to his car, "let's go get ice cream, huh?"

"Hmm."

"Let's, please?"

Once again, without protest he handed me his car keys. Tyler knew almost everything about me. Except for my squandering money incident, and the fact that I now have a phobia for driving because of a recent accident…

I grabbed the keys and took a seat on the driver's side. Tyler slowly took to the passenger's side. Once I placed the key in the ignition, my chest began to feel tight. Ignoring my own pain, I focused on Tyler. The next thing I knew I was babbling.

"Okay. Let's go for ice cream."

"Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream." I continued to say.

I kept tapping the steering wheel as I spoke.

"You have a fear of driving, don't you?"

I slowly turned to Tyler and he smiled sweetly. I shook my head and he sat upright.

"I'm not that blind, stupid." He smiled again, his gaze only on me. "I see you panic every time you try to drive."

My chuckle was sad. "You saw?"

He nodded.

"You don't have to tell me why or what happened or even when it happened if you don't want to."

"Can I tell you some other time?"

He nodded again.

"Cool." I smiled at him.

"But…" he started.

"But what?" My eyes said.

"When is 'some other time'? Like, do you think some other time could be this week or latest, next week?"

I couldn't help my laughter. Tyler jokingly squealed when I hit his shoulder. Then he joined me laughing.

It was a while before our laughter finally died after which we sat in silence. I looked over at Tyler, and for a split second I saw an expression of embarrassment and anger. It confused me.

I thought Tyler was simply sad about his parents fighting. It totally escaped my mind that he'd also be embarrassed in front of me.

I wanted to comfort him, to tell him that there was nothing to be ashamed of, but I didn't know how. So I opened my mouth and let whatever come out.

"You know… growing up the house was always quiet. Since it was just me and my dad…" I chuckled, "…our neighbors, we had very loud neighbors. Mrs Binly was always yelling at her husband and her kids. Her voice was so loud we could hear it all the way from our house. I never told my dad this but I wished our house was like theirs. I wished there was someone yelling at him and me because I know it means they care. My dad… he uhm, he never yelled at me. I know it's because he didn't ever want me to feel unloved. But I wish he yelled. Even just once."

"Are you okay?" Ty stretched his hand and wiped a tear from my face. I wasn't even aware I was crying.

I quickly wiped my face.

Ty laughed. "So much for trying to comfort me. What should I do now? Should I join in on the crying?" He jokingly mocked.

"Stop." I said embarrassed.

"Should I?"

I hit his shoulder twice. "Next time, you're on your own." I squeezed, folding my arms on my body. I was still brooding when Ty dragged me into his body and hugged me.

"Thank you. Really. Thanks." He said in a serious tone.

Mentally, I patted myself on the back for a job well done.

Ty released me from his body.

"You still want Ice cream?"

"Very much, please."

"What my baby wants, my baby gets. Let's go get ice cream."