Page 41 of Surrender
Colbie pulled a face. “I’m going to run you over with my car.” Lawrence laughed at her threat and raised his hands in surrender.
“So, are you driving home today?” he questioned.
“I haven’t decided yet. When are you flying back out?”
“Next Sunday. I’m here next week for work.”
“You should come to Chandler this weekend. We can hang out.”
“Sounds like a plan to me. I guess I should visit my Dad while I’m here.”
Colbie nodded at him. “Alright. Call me later.” Lawrence nodded and kissed her forehead. The two of them got into their cars and went their separate ways.
«--------------»
Dallis sat back in his chair as his father, uncles, and friends watched the football game. His mother and aunts were in the kitchen laughing about something now and then, and they honestly sounded like hens. They had finished eating a little while ago, and all the men had come into the living room to enjoy the game before cleaning the kitchen later.
It was a tradition in their family. If the women cooked, the men would do the dishes and vice versa.
Neither of his teams were playing, so he didn’t care who won the game. His Uncle Lane was a different story. His team was currently losing, and he voiced his displeasure rather loudly. So loud that his Aunt Ellah had yelled from the kitchen.
“Lane! Shut up! You don’t get paid when they win, so it isn’t that serious!” Which had caused everyone else in the room to laugh.
He picked up his phone and checked to see if Colbie had texted him back. When he saw that she hadn’t, he figured she was probably still spending time with her family. She hadn’t told him whether or not she would be driving back today or tomorrow. Though he was hoping she would tomorrow. It was a five-hour drive, and he didn’t want her trying to make it if she was going to leave after dark.
After another half an hour of his uncle yelling at the television and his aunt yelling at him in return, Dallis got up and made his way into the kitchen. He figured he’d get a jump start on cleaning it because Dallis knew that all of the other men, minus Hayden, were likely to try to watch the next game that came on as well, and he didn’t want to be cleaning up all night.
He also would not leave his Aunt Yani’s kitchen in a mess. One, because his mother had raised him better than that, and two, because his Aunt Yani would beat his ass.
Dallis had been cleaning the kitchen by himself for about fifteen minutes when Hayden and Arsyn walked in. The three of them made small talk while they cleaned. They had finished about half of it when his Aunt Yani entered the kitchen.
“You boys have done enough. Leave some for those lazy ass men out there,” she told them. Dallis was all good with that. It meant that since she was the one that told them, if it didn’t get finished, their fathers would be the ones in hot water.
Instead of going back into the living room, the three headed to the game room. They made their way to the pool table, and Dallis racked the balls.
“So, Arsyn, how’s it going with the hairdresser? Dailee, right?”
“Yeah. It isn’t. I’m starting over. You remember I told you she was engaged, right?” Dallis nodded. “Well, I have to take a completely different approach.”
“Wait. If she’s engaged, then why are you pursuing her?” Hayden questioned.
“Because he isn’t shit,” Arsyn replied. “Dailee works her ass off, and all he does is sit around and spend her money.”
“So, he’s a bum,” Hayden stated with a nod.
“Beyond that. He claims to work in investments or some shit, but I don’t see it,” Arsyn told them, shaking his head.
“Then, why is she with him?” Dallis had to ask.
If Arsyn was going after the woman, then she was intelligent and had a good head on her shoulders. In Dallis’ mind, that meant there was no way she didn’t know she was dating a bum. Though love did make you blind at times, and if the woman truly loved him, he wasn’t sure that Arsyn should have been trying to steal her.
Dallis watched as Arsyn broke the balls before speaking. “I think she’s been with him so long; she’s afraid to start over.”
“I get it. Sometimes it’s like that,” Hayden stated. “Starting over seems too scary. It’s unknown; some people just don’t want to be alone.”
“She wouldn’t be. She’d be starting over with me,” Arsyn countered while Dallis lined up his shot.
His friend had a point, but convincing the woman of that would be what hindered him. She wouldn’t be so easily swayed. However, Dallis didn’t say anything. It wasn’t his business, and they usually liked to let the other work through it on their own unless they explicitly asked for help.
