Page 71 of Surrender
When Dallis’ attention finally went back to the paper in front of him, Colbie pulled her cell phone from her drawer and sent her mother a text. She told her they needed to talk and gave her the time she would call during her conference period. Colbie needed to put a stop to this once and for all.
Clearly, trying to be a respectful daughter about it had not gotten her the results she was hoping for. Her mother was still meddling in her love life and trying to get her to take back a man that Colbie was sure had cheated on her throughout their year engagement. Now, she realized she would need to take a different approach.
She hadn’t talked to her mother since their conversation about her sleeping with married people. Yes, her mother called, but Colbie didn’t answer. She hoped that her mother would see that she was serious about her staying out of her business and not giving her information to Will. Though if the flowers were any indication, her mother hadn’t listened.
She would give her mother the benefit of the doubt until she could confirm it, considering the school posted a staff list on the website, and she didn’t put it past Will to look at all the ones in the city to find her.
There were only two minutes left in class; Colbie had all the quizzes except for one, and she knew why. He wasn’t still working on it. She was sure he’d been the first one finished with it. However, he was holding on to it and wasn’t even pretending he was still taking it.
When the bell finally rang, her students filed out as Dallis grabbed his quiz, bringing up the rear and handing it to her. He waited a few seconds once the last person left the room before speaking.
“Get rid of them.”
“I planned on it,” Colbie responded.
“I’m getting really sick of this clown.” Dallis turned his attention to the bouquet and frowned at it as if it offended him. “You don’t even like yellow Daffodils.”
He wasn’t wrong, it was one of her least favorite flowers, and it was a testament to their relationship because she’d only told him that once and he remembered. She’d said the same thing to Will several times, and here they were.
Colbie picked up the vase and placed the flowers on the floor behind her desk so he would stop glaring at them. Dallis’ eyes returned to hers, and she could tell he was pissed. Colbie could see why he would be upset. Another man, her ex at that, sent her flowers.
However, she needed him to calm down before he went to his next class, and she needed to put an end to the conversation before her next class began to file in.
“Dallis, I need you to try to calm down.”
“Calm down?” he questioned. “This man stalked you to a restaurant, showed up uninvited Christmas day, not to mention he came to my house, and now he’s sending you flowers.”
“I know, but-”
“This is the last time I let that man disrespect me and our relationship. The next time he’s around, he better hope to whatever being he believes in, that he doesn’t see me because he isn’t going to like it,” Dallis informed her cutting her off. “And I don’t want to hear shit about you being my teacher. Now, tell me you understand.”
Colbie clenched her thighs as she shifted in her seat slightly. This was serious, and she shouldn’t have been the slightest bit turned on.
“I do,” she stated after a moment.
“I’ll see you tonight,” Dallis told her before making his way out of the classroom, a few seconds later, her first student walked in. Colbie had an idea of the kind of night she was in for.
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Dallis had calmed substantially when he knocked on Colbie’s door that evening. Was he still mad? Yes. He almost couldn’t believe the audacity that Will had. He shouldn’t have been surprised; the man had shown up at his house. Anyone who went to the lengths of running license plates shouldn’t have anything put past them.
He didn’t have to wait long, and a few seconds later, Colbie opened the door, stepping aside to let him in. Dallis leaned down and kissed her, moving them back into the house and closing the door with his foot. There were some frustrations he needed to work off, but first, he had something to tell her.
Pulling away from the kiss, Dallas took Colbie’s hand and led her to the couch. He dropped the overnight bag he held onto the floor. Over the past few months, Dallis had begun leaving clothes at her place, but he hadn’t left very many. So, each time he stayed over, he made a point to do so.
Dallis sat on the couch, pulling Colbie down to sit beside him. Reaching into his overnight bag, he pulled out the envelope before handing it to her. He’d purposely given it to her face down so she wouldn’t be able to see what it said right away. Dallas watched her flip it over, taking in the college insignia. Her eyes widened as she turned to him.
“Is this what I think it is?”
“Open it and see,” Dallis responded.
Dallis watched as Colbie opened the flap of the envelope that was tucked inside. She pulled the paper out, unfolded it, and looked it over, a smile spreading across her face.
“Congratulations, baby,” she told him, leaning in and kissing him,
He and his parents had already opened it the night before, and he’d wanted to tell Colbie in person, so he’d held off until the two of them were alone. Dallis was glad he had now, instead of calling her because it would be a bright spot on the day since he’d seen her receive those flowers.
“I didn’t know you’d applied to the university in town.”
