Page 69 of Surrender
Colbie knew that Dallis planned on coming over Thursday and spending the rest of the break with her when he finished his assignment. One that he hadn’t been amused about at all. She volunteered to let him come over Monday as he’d planned, but he’d declined, reminding her that he in no way would be able to do his work when he had her for a distraction. She’d felt her cheeks heating up from the compliment and agreed with him because she knew she might be unable to keep him on track if he decided he wanted to work on her instead.
She did feel bad for him, for all the students that had homework to do over a break. Colbie hadn’t been a fan of those teachers when she was in high school. So, she aspired not to be like them. She would only give her students a film and a short paper to write over one of their breaks, believing that just like teachers, they deserved that time off.
It was an hour later when Colbie finished grading all of the assignments. She’d just packed them away when her phone rang yet again. This time, her mother’s name flashed across the caller-id. It always boggled Colbie’s mind that her mother insisted on calling on a landline, claiming the call quality was better. She mildly wondered if her mother would stop calling if she got rid of hers.
Colbie stared at the ringing phone briefly, but it felt like minutes. She knew exactly why the older woman was calling. She hadn’t been under the assumption that Will wouldn’t call and talk to her mother. She’d known that he would. The two of them seemed to be in some alliance, always had been, and Colbie had reached the point that she didn’t care. So, she picked up the phone and answered it. Figuring she may as well get it out of the way.
“Hello, Mom,” Colbie greeted, sitting back on the couch and picking up her glass of wine that was only half finished. She knew this conversation would call for the other half.
“Don’t you hello me. What’s this I hear about you sleeping with a married couple?” Her mother’s voice sounded as if she was distressed, and Colbie could picture the look on her face.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Mom,” Colbie responded before taking a sip from the glass.
“Colbie Lynae Morris. Do not play with me.” Her mother demanded, and Colbie found herself looking up at the ceiling.
“I’m not playing with you. I’m not sleeping with a married couple. So, whoever told you that, lied to you.”
“William has no reason to lie to me.”
“Will?” Colbie questioned in mock surprise. “Why would Will think I was sleeping with a married couple, and even if I were, why would that be any of his business?” Colbie paused for a moment. “Or yours?”
“Colbie, you watch your mouth and tell me the truth this instant.”
“I have, but you’ve already made up your mind to believe Will. So, believe him. Even though he misunderstood what he saw.” That last part was a lie, but her mother didn’t need to know that. “Which he wouldn’t have been able to do, had you not given him my address without my consent. The same way you gave him my phone number without it.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone for several minutes, and Colbie was not going to do her the favor of breaking it. She hadn’t confronted her mother about giving Will her phone number or address, deciding that it wasn’t worth the headache of excuses her mother would provide or whatever way she would try to turn it on Colbie. Now, however, Colbie had time.
“There was no harm in giving him your phone number; he wanted to reach out.” Her mother responded.
“And my address?”
“He said he had a Christmas gift for you. I thought it would be better if he gave it to you himself so the two of you could talk.”
Colbie rolled her eyes as she took a drink of her wine. “We don’t have anything to talk about, and you had no business doing either of those things. What if he’d been out to hurt me, and you’d just voluntarily given him my address?”
“Oh, please. Will is harmless; he would do no such thing.”
“Funny, because your harmless Will stalked me from a lounge to a restaurant one night.”
“What?” Her mother questioned.
“And he had the license plate on my friend’s car run, and it came back to her husband’s name, which is why he thinks I’m sleeping with them.” She added, spinning the situation a bit. “And you know what they say; stalking is a gateway to kidnapping, which is a gateway to murder. But I’m sure your harmless Will is incapable of that.”
Again, silence fell between them, and Colbie downed the rest of her wine. She’d never been one to send someone on a guilt trip, but she had to admit that she was good at it. After all, her mother was a master, and she’d learned from her.
“Colbie-” Her mother started softly, but Colbie cut her off.
“I have to go, Mom. The married couple I’m sleeping with will be here soon.” With that, she hung up her phone.
As Colbie stared at the phone, her eyes widened in realization, and she decided she should warn her siblings of the hurricane she had possibly just sent their way. She decided to send them a message in their group chat.
Colbie: I more than likely just unleashed the beast. Steer clear of your phones.
Cameron: What did you do?
Drew: Nice.
Colbie: I’ll tell you all about it later. I just wanted to give you a warning.
