Dayton

Chapter 3

Sitting down on the bench of the long picnic table in between Darien and Archer with Abby sitting on Darien's other side. Darien is sitting on his knees, so he can eat comfortably, and see his plate and food.

"Dada, milk p'ease?" Darien sweetly requests, holding his empty sippy cup out toward me.

"Sure, bubba," I say, taking his cup from him with a sweet smile of my own as I take his cup from him to get him more from the kitchen. "Anybody want anything while I am in the kitchen?"

Nobody else wanted anything, so I get Darien's milk before returning to the picnic table, and sitting back down in my spot. 

As I pick up my burger to take a bite, I realize that everyone but Darien are really quiet, and staring at me; "What?"

"Nothing, we, uh, were just discussing going to the cemetery tomorrow," Dakota nervously answers, like I am gonna freak out on them.

"What time are we going?" I ask, keeping my emotions in check.

Our parents happened five years ago when I was fifteen, but I still miss them every damn day, especially during the big events that have, and will happen. Yes, I do not mention them much on my own, or normally join in the conversation when my brothers talk about them.

"Um, we are going at noon, then have lunch out together at mum and dad's favorite cafe," Dalton answers with a teary smile.

"The cafe where they met at, and dad proposed?" I ask for clarification with a nod.

"Yup, that cafe," Dalton confirms with a small, somewhat happy smile.

Giving him a small nod in reply, and my mood plummets even further now with the question Ajax questions; "Dayton, where do you work? Dakota said you are working at a good job, but would not tell me where?"

Glancing slightly nervously at my brothers before focusing on Ajax's confused expression; "Um, I work at 'The Black Rose' as an exotic dancer. The club has been closed for a few days for upgrades."

"I did not realize that place was still open," Ajax replies, surprising me with his words. "How long have you been working there?"

"Almost two years," I say, looking down at Darien briefly before looking back at Ajax. "I started working there two months after D was born. I had been working at a restaurant shortly after our parents died until Darien was born."

Ajax nods in understanding; "Do you attend college, university, or trade school? If so, for what?"

"I attend college at River Valley for my Associates Degree in Criminal Justice to become a Juvenile Counselor," I reply with a tiny smile. "I am in my final year, too."

"That is awesome! Good for you!" Ajax praises, and I know he meant this as a compliment, but crushes my soul a little as I take this as a criticism on my dancing.

Humming at him because I know I will either cry, be an asshole, or both. I think everyone but Darien notices my shift in mood, so the topic of conversation to a safer subject - Darien's birthday that is next week.

"We are still celebrating D's birthday on Saturday, right?" Arabella questions with a wide smile.

Nodding at her, I say; "As long as everyone is fine with this, otherwise I will find somewhere else to hold the party?"

Everyone that lives here, agrees that it is fine to still hold the party here, and once this is settled mini conversations break out with me talking with Archer and Abby.

"Was it me, or did Ajax seem weirded out by your current job?" Abby whispers to Archer and me.

"Oh, thank goodness that I was not the only one who noticed," Archer whisper sighs in relief, and I murmur my agreement.

"Yeah, it kinda hurts that if he really thinks badly or weirdly of me, I really am as hurt as I felt in that moment," I mumble, biting my lower lip in anxiety. "What else am I supposed to do for work that will pay like dancing, so I can care for D and myself, and help with my fair share of the bills here? Sure, when I start my career, it will be close in pay to what I make now, but this will not happen until I graduate, and find a job in that field."

They hum in agreement as we finish our dinner, and so does Darien, and I stand to help Darien onto his feet from the bench. Then I take our dirty dishes into the house with D joining me because he loves 'helping' me load the dishwasher. As everyone finishes their food, they bring in their dirty dishes into the house, and Darien and I load the dishwasher.

"I can load my own," Ajax says when he comes into the kitchen, and I hold my hands out for his dishes.

"That is okay, we got it," I comment, and he reluctantly hands me the dishes. "Thanks, I appreciate this."

"Not a problem," I mumble with a half-hearted smile.

"Are you okay, Dayton? You seem off since we spoke earlier about your current job."

Shrugging my shoulders at him as I avoid his eyes to focus on my task, and watch Darien; "Nothing is wrong, besides I feel like you are judging me for what I do for work. My job is not a bad job. I dance in a controlled environment for a decent wage and tips, I have a great boss, and mostly great co-workers. What I earn weekly is more than enough to pay my share of the bills here, my car insurance, anything Darien and I need, pay for my college tuition and books, and place the rest in savings."

"Are you done?" he asks with a half smile when I finish my rant.

Nodding silently at him, he continues; "I am sorry for making you feel as if I am judging your job. That was not my intention because I am slightly surprised is all since my uncle Apollo owns that club. I was just trying to figure out what stage name you use. I do not know anyone's real name that works there besides my uncle and Anderson."

My jaw drops down into a large "o" shape at his words, and I somehow manage to function to ask; "I did not realize Apollo was your uncle. Is he your mum or dad's brother?"

Ajax chuckles as I fill the machine with detergent, shut the door, and show Darien what buttons to push to start the machine before picking Darien up onto my right hip; "Apollo is not a blood uncle, but my dad's childhood best friend as is Anderson. So, what is your stage name?"

"I am not telling you," I grin with a twinkle in my eyes. "If you truly want to know, then you should come to the club on Wednesday nigh when I work because that is when the club will be reopened. Then perhaps you can figure out what my stage name is."

His grin widens as the slider door opens with Dakota stepping inside with a confused expression at Ajax and me; "Is everything okay in here?"

"Everything is fine, Kota, stop being such a worry-wart," Ajax teases with a laugh as Dakota takes Darien from me since he wants his uncle to hold him.

Darien places his head onto Dakota's left shoulder with a soft smile as he sucks on his left thumb with sleepy eyes.

"Is he about ready for bed?" Dakota questions when he realizes Darien is not talking to him.

"Yeah, it is about his bedtime," I confirm with a nod. ""Give him back, so I can place him to bed."

Once he hands Darien back, I tell Darien; "Tell uncle Dakota and Ajax goodnight, D."

"Nigh' unc Dak, A'x," Darien sleepily says around his thumb with a small, tired wave of his right hand.

"Night D, I love you, bubba," Dakota smiles, leaning over to kiss him gently on his chubby cheek.

"Night Darien, sleep well," Ajax says with a gentle smile, and a wave before I head upstairs to Darien's bedroom, and Dakota and Ajax head outside as they talk about whatever.