Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
“I’m just teasing, dear,” Mom chuckled. “But it is getting late, and you need to get some sleep. I can tell time just as well as you, and it’s way past your bedtime.”
“Okay, Mom,” I laughed. “I’ll try.”
“No, try–you will,” she said sternly, a strong sense of nostalgia filling me at the order.
“Yes, Mom.” I nodded obediently, even if she couldn’t see me. “I love you.”
“Love you, too, baby. Goodnight.”
“Night,” I said.
I waited until I heard the phone call end. I sighed, placing my phone on the nightstand as I collapsed into bed.
I felt free in a way, like the pressure I’d been carrying had been lifted off me. I wondered if this was how Atlas would feel if he had someone help him hold up the world.
With a smile on my face, I curled up into my bed and quickly drifted off.
I finally slept–without any nightmares this time.
*Olivia*
Morning came as it always does. The light of the sun filtered through the open curtains and onto my sleeping face disturbing my slumber. I scrunched up my face from the sudden brightness and yawned as I rolled over onto my side.
I was so close to falling asleep again, until I heard a soft rumbling. My eyes snapped open, and I stared blankly at the wall, unable to recognize the sound I’d just heard.
But it happened again and this time, I felt a rumble in my stomach.
I blushed as I sat up in bed, barely glancing around the room. I made my way to the closet and pulled out the nearest clothes I could find. Since I took a shower last night, I decided to forgo one this morning, and I pulled on a top and some leggings.
I wiggled my feet once I pulled my slippers on, watching the furriness bounce under the fabric. As soon as I opened my door, I was hit with a delicious mouth-watering scent–breakfast.
My stomach growled, and I patted it softly, a bit embarrassed at how loud it was. I didn’t really eat much yesterday, so that explained its sudden rebellion.
I stretched out my arms, feeling relief as my bones cracked with stiffness. I took the steps two at a time, following the smell of food before I entered the kitchen.
Everyone was there. Tallon noticed me standing there first and grinned at me.
“Hey, sleepy-head! Gio made breakfast!” he cheered, lifting up his plate of food to show me.
My mouth watered as I spotted the fluffy, jiggly pancakes, muffins, and links of sausage.
It looked just as delicious as it smelled.
“Here.” Alessandro smiled at me as he patted the seat next to him, wide open for the taking, and I smiled gratefully at him as I grabbed the seat.
As I settled in, a plate full of food was placed in front of me. The scent of freshly ground coffee beans topped off the delicious atmosphere as the whole spread of food was laid out before me.
Jams and butter for the toast and muffins, syrup in three different types for the pancakes, and even a steaming cup of hot coffee were placed in front of me. The kitchen island was full of food and drinks for everybody.
I glanced up at the hand of the man who’d set it all down with a huge smile on my face.
Giovani winked at me before he took his seat next to Tallon with a hot mug of coffee in front of him. He’d liked it black, I noticed.
“Good morning.” He nodded to me, then poured a little cream into his coffee.
“Morning.” I smiled back, turning to the food.
I saw Alessandro glancing between us with a suspicious look in his eyes, but I was focused on getting this delicious food in my stomach.
“How’d you sleep, Olivia?” Alessandro asked innocently. “After our talk last night, I mean.”
I grabbed the bottle of syrup, a hint of annoyance going through me. I didn’t know what he was trying to do, but I could sense his question wasn’t as innocent as it appeared to be.
“Fine,” I said curtly as I doused my pancakes in syrup until they were practically drowning. I happily cut into them before taking a bite, and I melted at the taste. Sweet and warm and fluffy, it was everything a pancake should be. I even detected hints of cinnamon in them.
“It’s delicious,” I told Giovani after I’d swallowed. “Thank you.”
“No problem. We’ve all had a stressful week, so I figured, why not splurge a bit?” He shrugged casually, even with Alessandro staring him down.
“Splurge, you say?” Tallon grinned, leaning his head on his hand. “If so, how about treating us to that one gelato spot you used to take us to? What was it again?”
“Gelateria La Carraia?” Giovani asked in surprise. “I didn’t know you guys still remembered it.”
“Of course we do! That stuff is to die for,” Tallon told him energetically. “Plus, Olivia’s never had it, so it’s the perfect time to eat it!”
I swallowed my bite of pancake, then frowned.
“Gelato? But I thought we were going to visit Dahlia today?” I swerved my gaze from Tallon to Giovani.
“We are,” Giovani responded immediately.
“I want to go too,” I told him firmly.
After so many nights of being left alone and having to wait with no answer, I could finally chase after my best friend. I was not going to leave her alone again. Not even Giovani could stop me this time.
“Fine.” He nodded, not even putting up a fight.
I frowned at him, a bit wary that he didn’t try to stop me, but I guess this was different. It was a hospital, and Dahlia was safe now. Most importantly, there wouldn’t be any guns.
Well, I hoped not–I didn’t know if I would ever have the courage to hold a gun again, and I wasn’t in a hurry to.
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t do both. I’m sure Dahlia would appreciate some, too,” Tallon insisted.
“Dahlia isn’t allowed outside food or beverages yet,” Alessandro said, glaring at him. “Besides, the gelato isn’t that good anyway.”
“Are you kidding me?” Tallon’s jaw dropped. “It’s amazing! What was the kind you used to get? The one with pastry pieces in it?”
“Tiramisu,” Giovani answered with a smirk. “It’s made with an actual tiramisu cake.”
“That one!” Tallon grinned, then turned to me excitedly. “You’ve got to try it. It’s awesome.”
I laughed. “I’m more concerned with eating these pancakes right now, Tallon. They’re also awesome.”
Tallon pouted, and I spotted Giovani’s grin from the corner of my eye.
