Dayton

Chapter 23

Ajax joins us in the living room, but instead of sitting on the floor with Darien and I, he sits on the end of the couch. I can feel his eyes on me, but I ignore him for the time being because I do not want to say something I will regret later.

"What are your plans for today?" Ajax asks, and I sigh softly.

"I need to purchase Darien some new clothes, some hygiene items for all of us, groceries for the house plus groceries for the meal on Sunday with the family. Things like that," I shrug, avoiding his eyes.

Ajax hums in acknowledgement, but seems to be battling with himself in his brain for a few seconds before asking; "Should I be letting you drive yourself and Darien around? I am not sure you are awake enough to do so."

"I have had enough sleep to not endanger Darien or myself, and I am a little offended that you even asked this," I murmur with a deep frown while crossing my arms over my chest in anger.

"You cannot blame me for my concern," he replies with a raised eyebrow as if challenging me to argue with him.

"Fine. If you do not trust me, then how do you suggest I handle this?" I demand, my anger creeping into my tone.

"I have taken the day off, so I will drive you and Darien where you need to go," he states, and by the tone of voice he is using, he feels there is no room for me to argue with him.

"If that is what you want to do with your day off," I shrug, trying to act like I am unfazed, instead of the anger I am feeling.

"Not really, but it is better than a horrible alternative that I am worried might happen," he snaps, raising his voice slightly at me.

Glaring at him, I growl; "Do not take that tone with me, or raise your voice at me. I am not a fucking child, and I will be damned if I tolerate the man I love, and who says he loves me to speak that way toward me."

He does not respond, and the longer he remains silent, the angrier I become, and I decide to leave before I say something I may regret later.

Stopping at the entrance of the living room, I turn to look at him over my shoulder; "Do not bother taking us as we will ride the public bus there and back. I do not want you to take us anywhere if you are going to be an ass the entire time. And no, I will not reconsider this, or leave D here with you because you took the day off. I can understand your level of anger toward me if I had unalived someone, but I did not, and I cannot handle being around you right now with everything else that is going on."

Ajax sighs at my retreating back, but I am trying not to break down into sobs, and a screaming fit at him at the moment. I am trying to remain somewhat calm for my son, so I do not scare him, and I am also trying to act like an adult.

"Come on, D, let's get dressed, so we can go on an adventure today," I murmur to the toddler while he plays with his toys.

He stands from the carpet with the 'Superman' stuffie that Dalton bought him before coming over to me, grabbing my hand, so we can walk to his room together. When we come back to the kitchen to slip on our shoes, Ajax is slipping his phone into the front pocket of his dark blue jeans as he watches us. Opening the closet by the front door, I pull out the folded stroller, open it, and place Darien inside before buckling him.

"Will you at least wait five minutes, please?" he gently requests as I grab the door knob.

"Why, so you can remind me more of how much I have screwed up lately?" I snap, opening the door to push the stroller out ahead of me, not planning on waiting for Ajax to answer.

"No, not to do that, but for you to wait for Dalton to pick you up, and drive you and Darien," he replies in a sigh.

"I do not need to be driven like I am inadequate on managing this for myself and Darien," I flatly answer.

"I know you are, Day, but I would just rather you are driven by someone instead of taking the bus, and since you are not comfortable being with me at the moment. I thought Dalton would be a better option since he has the day off," he gently says, some of the anger no longer in his voice.

"Sorry, but that is not happening," I reply, stepping out behind the stroller, and shutting the door behind us.

I know I am being an asshole right now, but I am frustrated and in pain. I know this is not an excuse, but I feel Ajax is blowing what happened out of proportion, and is not listening to me. Walking down the sidewalk toward the bus stop, I ignore the fucking honking horn from Dalton's car horn."

Clenching my jaw to keep myself from snapping at my brother because I know he is just trying to be a wonderful brother and uncle.

"Go home, or wherever you want, Dal! I appreciate you wanting to help me, though," I say as I pass by his now parked car to sit on the bench at the bus stop.

Keeping my eyes trained on Darien who is playing with his 'Superman' stuffie, I do not notice Dalton climbing from his car, stalking over to us, taking the handle of the stroller, and pulling Darien and the stroller toward his car.

"Hey! He is my son, only your nephew, so why are you taking him?" I growl, stomping off toward Dalton who is at his car where he is placing Darien into the car seat from my vehicle.

"Yup, he is my nephew, and you are my brother, and I want to spend time with you both today," he calmly states.

Growling at him in frustration, I yank open the passenger side door, sitting in the seat with a scowl the entire time we are together.