Page 93 of Surrender
Colbie leaned up and kissed him, lips pressed to his gently before speaking against them. “You are. I love you, too.”
Dallis felt his heartbeat accelerate before slowing down as he gave her another kiss. He knew that she did because he could see it. It was in her actions, the same way it was in his. Hearing her say it was something else altogether, and he was sure it would be his new favorite thing to hear from her.
“Two fights in two weeks, huh?” she questioned teasingly, and Dallis could only chuckle. “Come on. We need to go kick Will out because I’m sure my mother will have tried to talk him into staying.”
Dallis nodded and allowed her to lead him out of the bedroom. He didn’t know what they’d be walking back into, and he didn’t care because he’d meant what he said, and it was all he cared about.
When they made it back outside, Colbie was proven correct. It looked as if Denise was attempting to get Will to stay, and Dallis thought it was in Will’s best interest to leave. He’d stopped himself because Cassie was present. He wasn’t above asking Cameron or his mother to take the little girl inside so he could continue what he had started.
“He doesn’t need to be here. I want him out of my house,” Colbie stated.
Denise snapped her attention to them, her eyes traveling to their joined hands before she narrowed them on him. Dallis refrained from rolling his eyes. He had no intention of being blatantly disrespectful, but he would defend his girlfriend and their relationship, even if he had to do so against her mother.
“Colbie, you’re making a mistake. Can’t you see that?” Denise asked.
“Why is that?” his mother chimed in. Usually, she and his father would allow Dallis to handle his own problems, but he knew the mama bear in her was coming to the surface. “Because my son makes her happy. How is choosing happiness a mistake?”
“You don’t see the problem with this?” Denise questioned his mother, who shrugged.
“No, and if you see a problem with them being happy, then you need to reevaluate your life,” his mother suggested.
“He’s a child!” Denise exclaimed.
“He’s her student,” Will offered, and Dallis felt that he should have kept his mouth closed for someone with a busted lip and bleeding nose.
“I’m not a child.”
He hadn’t been sure whether or not Will would recognize him or his parents, but it seemed he had. Dallis didn’t care one way or another. He wasn’t Colbie’s student anymore, and they didn’t have to tell them they were dating before he’d graduated because he could have been her student previously. Neither he nor Colbie had ever told Will when she’d taught him that night Dallis approached them at the restaurant. He’d simply called her Ms. Morris, and now thinking about it, they’d never confirmed it when Will asked.
“Colbie Lynae. Tell me he’s lying,” Denise demanded.
“Why should I? You always blindly believe what Will tells you.”
Dallis watched Denise open and close her mouth like a fish, at a loss for words. As if her brain short-circuited in attempting to deny it, but the words wouldn’t come because it was true.
“Denise, calm down,” Carter started. “Dallis is a young man who seems to be making our daughter happy. I don’t understand why you’re stuck on her being with someone who doesn’t know her worth and cheated with someone she looked up to.”
“I’m confused as to why you’re making such a big deal about his age,” Drew, who was still eating, stated. “You and dad may have been in your twenties when you met, but don’t act like you aren’t eight years older than he is.”
“Right,” Cameron cosigned. “Daddy was two years older than Dallis is, and you were three years older than Colbie’s about to be. So, back it up, and you’d pretty much be in the same position. If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black, I don’t know what is.”
“You watch your mouth,” Denise instructed.
“You can’t get mad at the truth,” Drew stated with a shrug before biting into a rib.
“You can both leave,” Colbie instructed, looking between Denise and Will.
“Excuse me?” Denise questioned, confused.
“Yes, both of you, because we had this conversation, Mom. I told you that I didn’t want you meddling in my life and that you needed to respect my boundaries after you not only gave this man my phone number but my address and encouraged him to send me flowers as a lame apology.” She took a deep breath, and Dallis released her hand to rub her back. “So, until you do that, you can leave.”
“I’ll walk the two of you out,” Carter volunteered as he placed his hand on Denise’s back and gestured for Will to start walking. It was silent in the backyard for several seconds once the three entered the house, more awkward than tense.
“Who wants some cake?” his dad asked.
“I do!” Cassie exclaimed, causing everyone to laugh, and it was enough to clear the air.
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