Chapter 71

***Dayle***

~
I don't know what I would do without her, she's everything to me.
If I didn't see or touch her or even kiss her then I would be a total mess right now. She eased the entire situation. My fingers rake my hair, I lay on my back. My phone starts to chime, I stretch my hand to grab it. I answer without looking.
“Who—”
“Dayle, what's up man, come meet me at—”
“Bro, I can't make it out right now!” I tell Egan coldly rubbing my eyes.
“Why not?!” he asks disappointedly, we had wanted to speak with Steve at his house but Dad would get in my way and it's going to be another drama.
“Old man’s back home with his bride, I can't leave home right now. He's got all those huge men hovering around the house. It fucking sucks, man!” I explain briefly
“Fuck, man, alright! We'll wait until the party, yeah?”
“Better!”
“And Chrissy? Is the okay?”
“You have her contact, fucking call her up! What sorta boyfriend are you anyway?!” I ask with a slight tease but he cracks up in the background
“You got me!” he snaps shyly
“Gotta go man, see you soon!” I hang up. He should know that I'm not the right to ask all those questions, am I supposed to give him details of her just whenever? No way.
I think of her more than he does, that's one if the things he doesn't know.

*
I've necked down some booze and smoked some cigarettes, and I feel tipsy. I hear a knock on the door, I walk to the door since I've locked it from within. I open the door and I see someone I don't expect. Ms. Lena. Fuck. Chrissy has got her eyes, I'm picturing Chrissy right now. These females are angelic, these females are something different.
I’m speechless, she graces me with a warm smile. I'm not completely familiar with her but she's super nice.
“I... I uh... Ms. Lena—”
“Lena, please! Mom would not be a bad idea!” she teases but I know that she means it. “That's by the way, can I... come in? Or we could...”
“It's fine!” I snap calmly stepping away from the doorway. She sits on the sofa, she's contemplating what more to say to me while I sit on the edge of the bed with my fingers interlaced between my thighs.
“Dayle, I know that we don't get along much but trust me, I care about you a lot.” she pauses for a second as I look away. “Your father is very worried and so am I, I want you to know that you can share anything with me—I’m willing to listen or maybe support you in any way that I can! I want to be a mother to you, Dayle—”
I scoff. “You’re not my Mom!” I snap offhandedly. Fuck! That was rude of me. She sighs. I know that she's disappointed, she feels bad—i can see it vividly.
“I'd never be. I don't intend to be her... I respect her, Dayle. I'm here in this family because I love your father and I love you as a son! I'm not asking for anything in return, you should understand!” she says calmly, good thing she didn't overreact like Dad would have done.
“Well, I thought that I should come by to check up on you. I hope that you are doing just fine—I hope that you and Father mend things as well as with Dom.” she rises to leave adjusting the sides of her fitted body con! “If you need me, I don't mind!” she gives me a weak smile and starts walking off to the door.
“Ms. Lena?” I call out before she opens the door. I walk feet closer. “I... I didn't mean it... Everything I said at the table earlier and here... I'm... I'm sorry!” I finally apologize to her, I watch her pretty painted lips curve into a smile. “I don’t mean them!”
“It's fine, Dayle. I understand that this is all new to you, but I want you to know that I don't want to take your mother’s place, no, I just want to care for you. I hope you let me. I'd always be there for you!” her voice penetrates, one I can't defeat.
I couldn't reply except bidding affirmatively but lightly.

*
After I have taken a shower, I dress in a paor of trainers, I intend to participate in the gym. I wish that Chrissy could come with me, it would help. I stride to her bedroom, twisting the door handle, I step right in.
I see her tying her hair into a messy bun, I can't lie it's beautiful on her. How is it messy when the shabbiest things find a way to compliment her beauty?
“Dayle, you could always knock!” she tells me offhandedly but nicely looking into the mirror in front of her.
“Sorry but not sorry!” I tease leaning my shoulder on the pane and pocketing my hands. She veers around to face me. She's wearing black shorts and a white round-neck crop top. She looks very hot in the outfit. It's not so much yet her body is one to die for.
“What's up? Do you want something or wanna talk...”
“Fuck, Chrissy, I'm fucking tired about everyone trying to talk! Those conversations don't IMPRESS me!” I blurt and she chuckles. “Come with me to the gym...”
“I don't... Workout—”
“You mustn’t! Just come with me, keep me company.”
She looks indecisive but shrugs a shoulder.
She rolls her eyes. “Alright! You win!”
“YES!”
“I'm just going to get dressed, roughly two minutes!” she adds
“Can I... help you with that? I'm good at it!” I tease and she smiles broadly twisting her finger around some strands of her hair.
“I doubt!”
“I can help with that! Honest!” I find myself smiling at her regardless before I walk away closing her bedroom door.

It's only past 4 o'clock, ambling past the securities who seem to be doing their jobs. Great, I don't have to clash with anyone.
Dad, Dom and Bobby are in a deep conversation but I walk past.
Dom clears his throat. I fucking swear that his guts irks me, Dad placed him over me. That man spreads his wings wider than an eagle. I could plan his death without thinking twice.
I ignore him, I stop by my car—the black sports one. A man walks up to me, I know what he's about to say.
“I'm sorry sir, you can't drive in that car!”
“Who the fuck are you? Like, what the fuck is this about?” I ask almost yelling at him.
“Sir Owen’s orders, sir.”
“Apparently!” I snap angrily.
“Come with me sir, he's asked to see you!” he adds and I squint to press my anger. I start walking off in the direction of my father. He's giving me a sarcastic glare, he is acting crazy towards me except that I can't hit my Dad.
Chrissy scurries towards us dressed in a pink bikers short, black hoodie and pink sneakers. She's fucking beautiful. Damn! A car pulls over to where we are all standing.
“Enter the car!” Dad says
“I'm headed for the gym. With Chriss!” I snap
“For once Dayle, just listen and do as you're told!” Dom interrupts.
“Fuck, don't talk to me, you're not my Dad.” I snap angrily. Chrissy motions with my eyes to at least not say a word. I do as she implies. Not say a word. We all enter Mercedes Benz truck. Dom, Dad, Chrissy and I.
What is this all about?
I rest my arm on the board looking through the window as the car zooms off. I don't have an idea where we are headed and I'm FUCKING upset.
A text enters, I lazily take a look at it.
*Fucking calm down, you look like a dragon breathing fire...*
It's Chrissy. I lift a brow then I stare at her, how could she say that right now? My lips part to speak but another text enters.
*Don’t speak. Text only!*
I shift my gaze from my screen to her face and then to my screen again.
*Fine! I'm pissed off! No two ways!!!*
I text her then she replies instantly.
*Just breathe. We’ll get thru this! XOXO!*
A faint smile rests on my lips, I reply back.
*You’re the death of me! XOXOXO!*
*I love you!*
Our eyes meets and then smiles at me.
“Princess, do we stop at McDonald's?” Dad asks and she nods yes.
“Burgers, please!” she adds
“Gotcha. Dayle?”
“Never mind!” I snap
“Come on,” Chrissy whispers tucking my arm and I shrug declining their offer. As far as I know, my day has been ruined.

~
We stop at my Dad’s penthouse, it's empty. It's safeguarded. Dad bought it in my name but not in my possession just yet. Before the semester began, he retrieved it from me because I screwed on several occasions but he didn't hinder my access into it. Dom and Chrissy leave Dad and I just to munch on their snacks.
Dad motions for me to take a seat but I ignore.
“I'll stand!” I snap
“Okay, rebel. Stand!” he snaps back, he pours himself some wine before taking a seat.
“The joy of a father...” there we go again, that one speech I listen to every time we have a misunderstanding. “...is to see his son progress in the rightful manner. I've been absent for a couple of days only to return home to a son who wishes death on you!”
“That's expensive to joke with!”
“Your eyes says better. Why can you not get your shit together?”
“What's the wrong thing that I did? Dad, what's this about?” I ask getting tense, he's tensed as well.
“Regardless of the others things you did, you destroyed glasses with God knows what... That's an psychotic act if you ask me... Are you mentally stable? ”
“I'm not asking!” I say under my breath.
“Don’t fucking give me that Dayle, you could have harmed your sister and you disrespected Dom as well! Isn't that psychotic?” he yells at me rising.
“I didn't hurt Chriss, I would never!” I indignantly tell him
“That's good to hear but how do you explain the incident? What happened?” he asks.
I'd be damned if I tell him that it was because she rejected me. I'm not stupid.
“Dad, drop it. We fixed things... We were arguing... School based and I got out of hand but I apologized. We. Are. Good.” I explain
“And Dom?” he walks up to me looking me on the eyes. “You were goddamn rude to him! Even an hour ago... What's the PROBLEM?” he yells.
“Oh, you wanna know the actual problem?” I move closer too. “I hate that big guy, I hate him so much that I just want him out of my life at all costs!”
“Dayle—”
“Yes Dad, Dom is my fucking problem. You put him in control over me, he monitors me and controls me like a puppet. I'm not a child anymore... I've got rights... I deserve a fair treatment! I... I hate the way he makes me feel... I don't understand why I have to go through him if I need shit!” I stop to catch my breath.
“I don't like him.” I add offhandedly, he heaves a deep sigh.
“Dom is good man and literally the best man, everything he does is for your good. I placed him in that position to protect you—”
“No Dad, I need to be free from that GUY. FOR ONCE!” I demand
“Okay Dayle, anything you want! I'll discuss with Dom as well... Maybe I went extreme with my protocols... Everything is for your good. You caused lots of havoc earlier and I'll need you to fix every single thing. Prove to me that you can be a better man before I let Dom off your ass!”
“No way,”
“Yes way, be a better man!” he says
“You don't see anything wrong with the things he's done to me? He wanted to hit me—”
“That was because you deserved it. He told me everything that conspired, you were wrong! I don't remember raising a son who cusses people around him. That's not you, Dayle. You are losing your sanity and I pray that I'd be able to cope with you when it's too late!” he says offhandedly
I scoff, I'm not so shocked. “I can't believe that you are siding with him. I'm your son and he not! If you're gonna treat him better than me then who am I?”
I turn to leave and that's when I bump into Dom. Has he been listening, I would be happy if he was.
“Dayle, you hate me that much?” he asks me calmly but I'm not moved
“Get lost!” I walk out of the living room. I see Chrissy on the lawn talking over the phone. She puts away the call and turns to me. She looks nonplused. She's staring daggers at me.
“What happened, Chriss?” I ask
“You leaked Steve’s sex tape?” she scoffs. “You’re a son of bitch not the son of your father!”
She angrily walks into the living room while I try to digest her statement. I'm blank. Where did that come from? What sex tape? How?