Page 9 of Surrender
Colbie stood in the same place for a moment after the door closed, trying to figure out if that had just happened or if she shouldn’t have had that glass of wine when she had lunch earlier. She knew she couldn’t be like Jamie Fox and blame it on the alcohol. Ithadhappened. The flowers on her table and the sack he had sat on her bar were proof of that.
She had taken the day off because she needed to be away from him and figure out what she wanted to do about the situation. She could tell the principal, but overall, Dallis was a good student. She didn’t want him getting in trouble. She could talk with his parents.
Those thoughts were working through her mind all day, and she had been no closer to making a decision when he had shown up on her doorstep. She didn’t even know how he knew where she lived. She didn’t do much social media, and her Facebook page didn’t list her address. She also knew he wouldn’t have been able to get it from the school. That seemed to be a whole other mystery on its own.
Going back over to her couch where she had previously been sitting, she sank into the cushions. Her mind and body were at war with one another. She knew that nothing should come of the two of them. Even if he was of legal age, she was still his teacher, and she knew many would frown upon it.
She saidshouldinstead ofwouldbecause she would have been lying if she said that he hadn’t been right. That she wasn’t attracted to him because she was, and it disturbed her a bit. She was six years older than he was. Hell, when she was his age, he would have been a junior high student.
Everything about it just seemed so wrong to her, but at the same time, she found herself intrigued. Though she knew she shouldn’t have been. She needed to talk to someone about this, but she wasn’t sure her sister would understand, and her mother would probably shit a brick. She knew her brother would be no help but decided to call their friend Lawrence instead, who was like family.
The two of them had always been close. She even lived with him for a while when she transferred to a different college.
The phone rang three times before he picked up. “Hey, Colbie.”
“Hey, Lawrence,” she greeted. “How are you?”
They spent the next ten minutes catching up. It had been two and a half weeks since they talked last. There had been a time when they hadn’t gone more than a few days without talking. However, he had recently gotten a promotion which entailed more responsibility, so she understood he was busy.
“So, I need some advice,” Colbie told him after getting all the small talk out of the way.
“Okay, honey. Shoot.”
For the next ten minutes, Colbie told Lawrence about her situation with Dallis. She told him about both incidents in her classroom and what had just happened in her home. She was honest with him and told him how she was attracted to the young man. When she finished, she took a deep breath, preparing for judgment.
“Well, you said he’s nineteen. So, I don’t see why age is a factor. He’s legal. Side note: do you know why he hasn’t graduated already?”
“I’m six years older than him, and I don’t know. Sometimes parents decide to delay allowing their kids to start school if they don’t think they’re ready.”
“So,” Lawrence stated as if the age difference were a minor thing. “My friend, Alijah, her fiancé is damn near twelve years older than her.”
“That’s different. Society tends to look at women differently when they do it. Calling them cougars and whatnot.”
“And society could call her a sugar baby. Especially since she’s marrying Kieran Cayman, but-”
“Wait. What?” she questioned, cutting him off. “Somebody has enough patience to actually marry that man?”
She had worked at Cayman Industries for Kieran Cayman himself when she’d lived with Lawrence. She wouldn’t say it was the worst job she’d ever had because the pay was good, but the man was a hard ass. She had only made it two months before she had to turn in her resignation, but she had saved quite a bit of money in that time.
“Child, it’s like he’s an entirely different man. My girl tamed the beast, but that’s not the point. The point is fuck society. They will always have something to say, but their opinions don’t matter.”
“I’m also his teacher. I could lose my job.”
“You said yourself he said he wouldn’t try anything at school with you.”
“Yes, but I’m finding it hard to believe him,” Colbie replied honestly.
“Look, you either want to give it a try or not. Even if it’s just hopping on that young dick, you won’t be his teacher forever, just a few more months. Besides, as long as you don’t get caught fucking at the school. I don’t see what the problem is.”
At that, she had to roll her eyes. “Thanks, Lawrence,” she responded sarcastically.
“You’re welcome. I’ll talk to you later.”
They ended the call, and Colbie placed her phone on the couch beside her. Though Lawrence’s advice wasn’t the best, he’d made some valid points. They were essentially the same things that Dallis said to her. However, she was just so conflicted.
Rising from the couch, Colbie picked up her phone, and ensured her door was locked before heading to her bedroom. It was only a little before five, but she needed a hot bubble bath and soft soul music to help her relax and think; things were weighing heavy on her mind.
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