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ChapterThirteen
DAY SEVYN
“Ican’t believe that you’re working on Christmas,” Demi pouted.
Frowning at his phone, Dallas wished that he’d never answered the FaceTime call. “Dem, I told Ma that I’d be there later. I’m just not in the mood for breakfast.”
“We do breakfast every year as a family, Dallas. You know that she’s not going to be okay with you not showing up. And what’s so important that it has you skipping out on your family?”
Biting the inside of his cheek, Dallas shook his head. The answer was easy. There was nothing more important than his family. It was just as hard for him to skip out on a major holiday as it was for them to spend it without him. But, he knew the moment he stepped inside his mother would detect that something was bothering him.
Like a dog with a bone, she wouldn’t let up on him until he told her what it was. The last thing he wanted to do was reveal what was happening between him and Sevyn. He didn’t want to talk about his feelings, nor did he want them looking at her differently after what she’d done.
Dallas nearly laughed. Even after she’d played him, protecting her was his number one priority. He couldn’t wait until the day came where he managed to get her out of his system.
“I’m behind on a job and need to catch up,” he finally answered, removing the goggles from his face.
“The job will still be there tomorrow. And you never prioritize work over anything. Are you sure there isn’t something else going on?”
“Demi, will you just–”
“Is that your brother?” his mother asked in the background.
His sister didn’t wait to attempt to throw him under the bus. “Yes.”
“Ask him–”
“Just tell her I’ll be there in a few, damn,” Dallas snapped, hanging up the phone.
He felt bad almost immediately. His family didn’t deserve to suffer the brunt of his frustration, but Dallas hated that they couldn’t seem to respect his wish to be alone.
With a sigh, he left his tools where they were and locked up the shop. He wasn’t far from his mother’s house. Upon arriving, he sat in the car for a moment to try and gather himself.
It was only a couple of hours. He could fake being happy for that long.
With a deep sigh, he pushed the door open and climbed out. Jogging up the porch steps, he let himself inside with his key and was almost immediately smacked in the face by the smell of cinnamon.
As usual, when she was in town, Isis was the first to greet him.
“Uncle Dallas!!!”
“What’s up, baby girl?” he questioned, scooping her up into his arms.
Isis placed an extremely wet kiss against his cheek as he carried her to the living room. “You have to see my new toys!”
Despite knowing that he’d contributed a good amount of boxes to Isis’ Christmas pile, he feigned ignorance. “Did you get a lot?”
“Yes!”
“And I don’t know where I’m supposed to put it all to get it back home,” Demi complained as he stepped into the living room, sinking onto the couch. Slipping her phone out of her pocket, she furiously tapped away at the screen.
“You wouldn’t have that problem if you’d just move back home,” their mother said, as Isis slid out of her uncle’s arms.
Glancing up, Demi said, “Ma, don’t start. You know good and well I can’t just up and move back.”
“I don’t see why not. Don’t they have–”
“So, Dal,” Demi interrupted, clasping her hands together. “I’m glad you made it.”
