Page 64 of Surrender
“I kept my answers pretty neutral.”
Colbie sighed, going back to her original position. “Sometimes, he’s too smart and nosy for his own damn good.” Dallis chuckled, and the two settled in to watch the movie.
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“So, did you shit your pants?” Arsyn questioned teasingly.
It had been two days since Dallis met Colbie’s brother. He’d stayed with her up until that morning. Dallis had spent the past four days at her place, and while he wouldn’t have minded staying longer, he wanted to give her some space. He liked being with Colbie, being in her presence but he in no way wanted her to feel as if he was suffocating her. So, he’d decided to give her a few days to relax and enjoy time to herself before she went to visit the rest of her family for the new year.
“No,” Dallis told him plainly. “There was no reason for me to be worried. Colbie and I dating isn’t illegal or technically wrong. Regardless of how people who need to mind their business feel about it.”
“That’s true,” Hayden pointed out as Arsyn spotted him on the bench.
“Besides, Drew was cool. We talked and got to know one another a bit. He wants Colbie to be happy, and since I’m the person bringing her that happiness, I’m all good,” Dallis responded, placing down the weights he’d been using and going over to the punching bag.
The three worked out in silence for the next half an hour before Arsyn spoke again. “We need to leave here in like an hour.” He informed them.
Dallis looked at the clock hanging on the gym wall and saw it was a little after noon. They were going on a few apartment tours with Arsyn, who’d finally convinced his mother that his moving out didn’t mean she would never see him again. There were three of them lined up, and the first one was at one forty-five.
“I say we quit now. Shower, and then grab some food before we go. I’m starving,” Hayden stated as the treadmill stopped. Dallis and Arsyn agreed, and the three of them headed to the back.
Most of the time, when they worked out, they tended to do it at Arsyn’s house since there was a home gym. However, his friend had felt his mom would find a way to cause them to miss the first showing if not all of them. Just because he’d convinced her didn’t mean she completely liked the idea of him moving out. Dallis could see his Aunt Yani trying something to stall them. That something being cooking their favorite foods, getting them nice and full and extremely tired after a good meal.
So, instead of risking that happening. Arsyn had thought ahead and picked them up, and the three of them went to a local gym.
Once they were all showered and dressed again, they climbed into Arsyn’s car and headed to a nearby burger shop. It wasn’t overly crowded, but Dallis knew the lunch rush would slam the place around one, considering they went there often. They placed their orders and found a table.
While waiting for their food, Dallis took out his phone and scrolled through different listings for vacation rentals.
“What are you doing?” Hayden, who was seated beside him, questioned.
“I’m going to take Colbie away for the weekend for Valentine’s Day. I want to find a place and book it now, so I don’t have an issue finding one closer to the date.”
“Where are you taking her?” Arsyn inquired.
“Cabo San Lucas,” Dallis told them. “It’s only a two-hour flight. So, I figured we could leave after school that Friday and fly back on Sunday night.”
They continued to make small talk as Dallis looked at rentals. It wasn’t long before their food came.
When they finished, they made their way back out to the car. They had about half an hour before the showing but decided to head that way since they didn’t have anything else to do to kill time. They sat in the parking lot of the first building until about five minutes before.
Once inside, Arsyn gave the person working the desk his name, and they asked him to give them a moment to call down the guide that had just finished a different showing.
When the man, Mark, as he introduced himself led them to the unit, Dallis could tell that Arsyn already was not a fan of it. It was dark, the walls were painted an odd shade of brown, and the cabinets were a deep wood. The countertops were a tan color, but Dallis knew that even if his friend could get past all of that, he would not be able to get past the carpeting.
Never one to waste anyone’s time, Arsyn thanked Mark for his time but told him that particular unit wasn’t what he was looking for.
When they arrived at the second destination, the unit they were shown was much better. However, at some point, Arsyn had stopped, tilting his head to the side, and Dallis did the same. He could hear the people next door.
“These walls aren’t that thick,” Arsyn stated.
“They aren’t, unfortunately, but most of the tenants here are quiet,” Ronald, the guide, informed them.
“I’m more worried about me keeping them up at night,” Arsyn responded, and Dallis snorted while Hayden chuckled.
Luckily, the last unit they were scheduled to see was just a block from the one they’d just left. So, instead of driving, they decided to walk. They were a bit early, so when they made it inside, they had to wait before being taken up and shown the apartment.
When they finally got inside, Dallis figured they wouldn’t be looking elsewhere. Arsyn had discussed what he was looking for with him and Hayden, and Dallis knew this was it. There was so much natural light coming in. The living room, dining room, and kitchen were open, and hardwood floors were throughout. The master and second bedrooms were on opposite ends of the apartment.
