Page 78 of Still Made For You

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here this late. I thought you guys were ordering in.” Reese and I never had any personal conversations. I tried my best to keep it strictly professional, to avoid any issues in the future. It had nothing to do with an attraction or anything like that. My main concern was about me protecting myself. The more people knew about you, the more they had to use against you. I’d learned that lesson the hard way.

“I just needed a moment to myself. I like to decompress after a show.” She nodded, before tearing into her sandwich. I watched her eat for a moment, then turned to observe my surroundings. The deli was actually pretty full for us to be one in the morning. There was no particular age range because I saw an older couple along with a few adults around my age.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Reese’s voice broke through my train of thought.

“Talk about what exactly?” I peered at her, waiting for her to clarify her question.

“Well, let’s see, your leg is bouncing, you keep fidgeting with your hands, and let’s not even talk about the scowl on your face. I’m not a professional, but if I had to guess, I would assume that you’re upset about something. I’m not one to insert myself into anyone’s personal business, but if you need an unbiased opinion, I’m more than happy to give it.” I processed her words for a moment before speaking. As I said before, I didn’t trust too many people in this industry, and my personal life was something I held close to my chest. I’ve always found it hard to open up to people, but now it has grown even worse.

“If it’ll make you feel better, I can go first.” Taking one last bite from her food, she reached over to wipe her hands with a napkin.

“My mother-in-law has been living in our house for six months now, and I’m ready to lose my mind. I love my husband more than anything, but I cannot take another day of that lady in my house. She has no respect for my things, or me, for that matter. That’s why I don’t mind being on the road as much as we are because it gives me a break from my own home. It sucks because your house is supposed to be your place of peace, but not when you’re living with the devil secretary.” I tried my hardest, not to laugh at the last part of her statement, but I couldn’t help it.

“Damn, so what are you gonna do?” I knew Reese had a husband, but I knew nothing about their relationship. Mainly because I never asked.

“I gave him an ultimatum, and he’s not very happy with me. It’s either her or me. I’ve offered to help find her an apartment, and even help with the bills. I just can’t continue on like this. It feels like I’m the side chick in my marriage because the two of them are joined at the hip.

"She’s constantly nagging about what I’m doing wrong, throwing shade at the outfits that I wear. Hell, she even made a comment about me not screwing my husband enough. Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was for me? It’s hard for me to get in the mood when I know she’s somewhere lurking in my home. She acts like his woman instead of his mother, and it’s only gotten worse. I understand he’s an only child, and they were all each other had for many years. However, he has his own family now.” She huffed, taking another bite of her sandwich. I guess it was safe to say that all of us were going through growing pains.

“It sounds like it’s a tough position for the both of you to be in. Family is family especially when it comes to your parents, so I understand him wanting to help. At the same time, it is important to be understanding of your partner’s feelings as well. I love my mother to death, but I don’t think I could live with her and my wife in the same home. There can only be one woman in charge, and I believe that’s where the conflict is coming from.

"I think you should sit down and talk to your husband about how she makes you feel. If he loves you, then he’s gonna want to do everything in his power to make you feel comfortable. You can set a time for her to move so it doesn’t feel like it’s so sudden.” I advised. Normally, I wasn’t the one to give our relationship advice unless one of my cousins or my brother asked me to.

Everyone’s relationship is different, so it’s really hard to give advice on what you should do. Personally, I would have given her a move-out date before I even allowed her to come into my home. That way, everyone in the house has an understanding, so there’s no confusion going forward. Nayeli and my mother loved each other, so if we ever found ourselves in that situation, I believe things would be different. However, it’s important to communicate no matter what so everyone’s voices can be heard.

“You’re right. I’m just frustrated because we never argue. I mean, yes, all couples have disagreements here and there, but it’s never been like this. He didn’t even call to check on me after the show like he normally does. He’s always been my best friend and my protector. Now, I feel like there’s a chance that our relationship may not recover from this. His mother raised him as a single parent, so I understand him wanting to help her. I’m just not willing to sacrifice my peace for him to do it.” She replied, somberly. I understood exactly what she meant because I was the same way with Nayeli.

Whenever she stayed home while I was on tour, I made sure to check on her every single night. We shared our locations with each other at all times to make sure that we knew where the other one was. One time, I forgot to call her after a show; it hurt her feelings, and I vowed never to do that again.

“Have you tried calling him since he hasn’t called you yet?” She glared at me as if I had asked her an unreasonable question.

“Healwayscalls me. Even when he’s working an early shift, he never goes to bed without calling me. This is the first time in six years that he’s gone to bed angry with me, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Sometimes, we have to put our pride to the side in order to work things out. You had every right to have your feelings, but the two of you are going to have to come to an understanding. It might not be what you’re thinking at all; he could’ve just fallen asleep by accident. Trust me, I’ve done it before and ended up getting the silent treatment for three days.” She giggled at my expense. I can look back and laugh about it now, but at the time, I was confused and frustrated, much like I am tonight.

“I guess I can call him when I get back to my room. I’m just worried that we won’t be able to get past this. I keep playing the conversation over again, trying to see if maybe I was wrong, but I know I’m not. I’ve held my tongue for months, and I just can’t do it anymore. I’m not telling him that he can’t have a relationship with his mother because I would never do something like that. She has to go, though. No more walking on eggshells in my own house.” My mom taught us that once you get married, they become your priority. I couldn’t imagine putting my wife in a situation where she felt miserable in our home. The idea of a happy wife and happy life reigns true in my household, which is why I’m so stumped as to what’s going on with Nayeli.

“Now that I’ve poured my heart out to you, it’s your turn,” Reese called out. I still wasn’t sure if I wanted to open up about my situation or not, but she had a point. She had been vulnerable with me about her situation, so I guess it couldn’t hurt.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t even aware that there was an issue until tonight. I’m not the type of person to talk about my wife to other people, so I trust this is a safe space.” She nodded her head before I told her what little I did know.

“It sounds like you need to take a lesson out of your own book. There’s obviously something bothering her. Maybe it’s something she’s afraid to talk to you about because she doesn’t know how you’re going to respond. For women, sex is more emotional than it is physical. We need that comfort, and reassurance that comes from being connected to our partner. Her avoidance might not have anything to do with you at all, but whatever she’s feeling inside.

"When our mental isn’t 100%, our bodies aren’t either. Especially after having children. Being a mother comes with a lot of stress, worry, and pressure. Maybe she needs a date night or something where the two of you can get dressed up and have a night on the town. When’s the last time you’ve taken her on a date without the kids?” Her question was simple, but the answer wasn’t. When I did the calculations, I realized it had been at least six months. We used to designate at least two Saturdays out of the month to go on a date when I wasn’t on tour.

A lot of things changed once Reason was born, but we still kept up with our dates up until recently. With her opening up a new boutique and us traveling so much, we rarely had time for one another. Honestly, the only time we had any connection with one another was when we were having sex. How did I miss that?

“From the look on your face, I’m assuming that you don’t remember. That could very well be the root of the problem. As women, we want to feel beautiful and wanted, especially when it comes to our husbands. However, if the only time you’re spending with her is in the bedroom, I can understand her not wanting to do so. Sex can easily go from being a desire to becoming a chore really quick, when intimacy isn’t there.”

“I guess I don’t understand why she wouldn’t say anything. Granted, our schedules have been busy, but I would’ve made time for her had she mentioned it.”

“Why should she have to tell her husband to make time for her? If you love her, why wouldn’t that be something you automatically do? It sounds like you want her to ask to be penciled into your schedule. How would you feel if the shoe were on the other foot?” The guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach ate me up. I’ve been neglecting my wife for months and hadn’t even noticed it.

“Damn, you’re right. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own stuff that I didn’t even consider her. Normally, she tells me how she feels, so I assumed nothing was wrong because she hadn’t said anything. It wasn’t until she brushed me off tonight that I realized something was wrong. However, my pride had gotten in the way of me communicating with her.” I admitted.

“Rejection is tough, so I understand where you’re coming from. Men have feelings too, so it’s natural for you to feel away about your wife, not wanting to be connected to you physically. I’d be willing to bet that if you planned a romantic date with her and showed her how much you love her, it would change the game.

"All we really need is love and affection at the end of the day. We want our men to make us feel like the prettiest girl in the world. I’ve witnessed you do that with my own eyes, so I know you have it in you. Don’t beat yourself up too hard about it. There’s still time for you to make it right.” She made a lot of valid points, and I couldn’t wait to get back to the room so I could talk to my wife. Just like her and her husband, we rarely ever went to bed upset with one another, and I didn’t want to leave this unresolved. Dove was my heart in human form, so I never wanted her to feel like I didn't love her or appreciate what she does for me.

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