Page 40 of Surrender
“I’m going to visit her again next week. You’re coming with me so I can introduce you to him.”
“I’m not looking to meet anyone. I’m focusing on Cassie, myself, and my career right now.”
Her mother sighed. “That’s all well and good, Cameron, but if you don’t land a man now, it’ll be harder for you down the road. “You’ll be thirty next year, and you have a child. Those two things aren’t exactly going to have the men flocking towards you.”
“Denise.” Their father spoke. “Leave the girl alone. There’s nothing wrong with her wanting to ensure she’s stable before finding someone.”
Her mother glanced at her father before going back to eating her food. Even though they were no longer married, it was as if they still were at times. Her father would speak, and her mother would listen. It was as simple as that. Well, at least most times.
“So, I ran into Will the other day.” Her mother stated after the silence had dragged on longer than usual.
Oh great, bitch. It’s our turn,GiGi spoke. Colbie didn’t say anything. She figured she wouldn’t need to for her mother to continue, and she was right. She was also confused as to how the two had just run into each other. Since to her knowledge Will still lived in Glendale.
“He told me he ran into you a couple of weeks back. The two of you had dinner together.”
Colbie stopped chewing her food for a moment because that shit sounded as if she had been on a date with him, which was not what happened. So, she figured she would set the record straight. “We didn’t have dinner together. I was at a lounge listening to the singers, and he happened to be there. When I left to go and get some dinner, he stalked me to the restaurant. Where I left him before even getting my food.”
“Colbie, why would you do that? He was trying to rekindle that spark. You need to call him and apologize.”
“I don’t need him trying to rekindle anything, and I have no intentions of apologizing to him.”
“The man is trying to set things right. Fix the things that you screwed up.”
All the utensils stilled, and Colbie turned to look at her mother before glancing at her niece. “Cassie, take your food and go in your playroom, okay?” The little girl nodded, and Colbie waited for her to leave the room before turning her full attention to her mother.
“Seriously, Mom? Why is it every time you bring up Will, I screwed up?”
“Why else would he leave you?”
“I left him!” Colbie exclaimed. She was so tired of having to tell her mother that.
“I know you’re embarrassed that he left you, dear, but you don’t have to lie.”
“Embarrassed? Lie? How’s this for lies? That man cheated on me with my co-worker. Which is why I moved cities to transfer to a new school.”
Her mother shook her head. “I know, William. He wouldn’t do that.”
“You know the facade that is Will. You don’t know him, mother.”
“Well, then, what did you do wrong? We just have to make sure that you don’t do it this time around, and he’ll...”
“Denise.” Their father stated sternly. “Stop trying to live your life through our daughters. Why would you want her to be with someone that couldn’t even keep his dick in his pants?”
“Carter, I’m just stating that-”
“I don’t care. Why must you always do this? You will sit there for the rest of the dinner, eat your food, and stay out of our children’s business.”
Colbie heard Lawrence snicker, and she looked over at his old childish ass.
The rest of the dinner went very much as her father demanded. They struck up a conversation about random things, but their mother didn’t participate in them. She pretty much just sat in the corner pouting.
Colbie stayed at her mother’s house for over an hour after they finished eating before telling them she was leaving. Lawrence said his goodbyes and left out with her.
“I was prepared for Denise to try to get smart with Carter. You know I always like to see when he has to put her in her place. He put that Daddy voice on her, and they’re not even together anymore.”
Colbie shook her head. “Shut up.”
“I’m just saying. I think your parents are still fucking.”
