Page 12 of Surrender
“The fact that Dallis is too bold,” Arsyn responded.
“He gets that shit from his dad,” Blayze threw out. “They don’t know any other way to be.”
Dallis knew his uncle didn’t have room to talk because he wasn’t any better but refrained from saying so.
“I think he should give some of it to Hayden. He’s having an issue making the first move,” Arsyn stated.
“Nah,” Blayze replied, leaning against the wall. “He doesn’t need any. He’ll get it when he needs to. Lane was the same way,” he informed, referring to Hayden’s father. “Anyway, I came to tell you to shower. Dinner’s almost ready, and I’m not dealing with Yani if the two of you are late.” With that, he walked back up the stairs.
Looking at each other, the two headed for the stairs quickly before going their separate ways to shower. Dallis had his own room and clothes at his uncles’ houses, just as his friends did at his home.
After he showered, he dressed and headed to the kitchen. He found Yani placing food on the table.
“It smells good in here, Aunt Yani,” Dallis complimented as he took a seat.
“Of course it does. I cooked it,” she responded before throwing him a smirk.
Dallis laughed. His Aunt Yani was hilarious, but she could also be overly scary at times. Typically, when you left her kitchen a mess. She was a beautiful black woman. At forty-seven, she looked as if she was in her twenties. It was true that black didn’t crack. She was seven years older than his uncle, and they had been together for the past twenty-two years. They had been unable to have any children of their own, so they adopted Arsyn as a newborn from a teen mother that hadn’t been able to take care of him.
As everyone took their seats, they blessed the food before digging in. They made small talk and discussed the upcoming Thanksgiving dinner since they always got together for the holidays. Last year they celebrated it at Hayden’s house. It would now be at Yani and Blayze’s house.
They had finished eating and were having a random conversation when Dallis saw his Aunt begin to squirm. He lifted a brow at her. “You okay, Aunt Yani?”
She nodded her head. “Y-yeah. I’m okay,” she responded.
He heard Arsyn sigh. “Dad, seriously? At the table?”
His father smirked at them. “It would have been rude to leave in the middle of you talking.”
“And this is better?” Arsyn questioned.
Blayze shrugged before lifting his hand from under the table and placing his finger in his mouth, standing. “Come on, Yani. I want dessert,” he told his wife, heading out of the kitchen.
“Boy, I am not about to-”
“Don’t make me tell you again, Ayani.” His Uncle Blayze called over his shoulder in a commanding tone.
Dallis watched as his aunt got up and left out of the kitchen. “Arsyn, Dallis, do the dishes,” she called over her shoulder before disappearing.
Arsyn shook his head. “This is the shit I deal with.”
Dallis laughed. “Don’t feel bad. I catch my parents’ fucking way more than I want to,” Dallis informed, picking up some of the dishes off the table and heading to the sink. “You are old enough to move out, though. If you wanted to. So, why haven’t you?”
“My mother has separation anxiety. Every time I mention it, she gets all sad. You know I hate making her sad or upset.”
Dallis nodded understanding. “Yeah, I understand, but you can’t live with them forever.”
“Tell her that. I’m at the point where I want to ask my dad if they can adopt another child so she can put all her focus on them.”
Dallis didn’t say anything. He was sure the fact that Arsyn was her only child was why she wasn’t too keen on letting him go. He wondered if his mother would be the same way.
After helping clean the kitchen, he told Arsyn he would talk to him later before heading home. He had a long day planned for him and Colbie tomorrow, and he needed to prepare a few things in advance. It was their first date, which would be a tipping point for them. Dallis had to make sure it tipped in his favor.
5
Dallis slid into his car, starting it before pulling out of his driveway on his way to Colbie’s house. It was a little before noon. He had a whole day planned out for them. He was going to take her to the Morristown carnival. Morristown was small, but it brought in tourists during the summer and kept the town prosperous. They also had a fall carnival, and the turnout was almost as good as the one they had in the summer. It was over an hour away, but he knew most people preferred to spend the last few weeks of warm weather at the beach.
Pulling up to her house, he parked and got out of the car. Dallis walked up to the door and knocked. When she opened the door, he had to stop himself from groaning. He had told her to dress comfortably, and she was that. Comfortable and beautiful.
