Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
“He said he doubted that she would even be mad.” I smiled, holding my hands behind my back as I swayed over to him. The sound of the running shower made it hard to hear, but I was near positive that I heard him gulp.
“So I was thinking,” I said, smiling at the floor and then gazing into his eyes. There was no fear or doubt left inside of me. Just assurance.
Giovani was the man I loved, the one I wanted to spend my life with. It was time to let everyone know that.
“What do you think about just telling everyone about us, Gio?” I asked, brightly, laying my hand on his suit as I stepped closer. I could feel his erection pushing against my stomach and I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck.
Giovani stiffened, an odd look crossing his face beneath the desire.
“Gio?” I asked, frowning as I laid a hand on his cheek. Our eyes met, and I saw a hesitancy I hadn’t before.
He sighed, deep and heavy, and I felt his shoulders slump as he avoided my eyes. Pangs of insecurity shot through my heart. Wounded, I stepped away from him, removing my hand from his face.
“You don’t want to?” I asked timidly, my eyes wide at the uncertain look he gave me.
“No, I want to.” He grabbed my hand, pulling it back onto his cheek as he stepped closer, boxing me in. I couldn’t decipher the emotions he was radiating, a complicated whirlwind of doubt.
“I’m just unsure,” he finished lamely, his emotions finally settling on guilt. “Things are just complicated right now.”
“Complicated?” I repeated, a fire lighting up in my heart as I realized what he was trying to say. “It’s been complicated since the day we met, but I love you, and you said you loved me. So what’s the problem?”
“Look, can we talk about this later?” He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he backed away from me.
I grit my teeth together, incredibly unhappy now. I had finally figured it out… and now he was the one backing away?
I was tired of keeping secrets, of hiding and being blackmailed. I just wanted this to be a normal relationship, or as normal as I could get.
“It’s either we tell people or we stop, Giovani,” I crossed my arms over my chest, annoyed now at his lack of confidence. I thought we’d finally got past this hurdle.
But I was wrong.
Giovani stared at me, a lost look in his eyes as if he didn’t know what to say.
I sighed, irritated as I brushed my hair over my shoulder, tapping my fingers on my arm unhappily. “Fine. We’ll talk about this later. I’m getting in the shower. You should go before someone else catches you.”
It was a low blow, I knew it, but he only sighed, glancing at me one last time before he turned away without another word.
I waited until I heard the sound of my door shut before I slumped in defeat. It felt like there was always one problem after another. When were we ever going to be together for real?
I stepped into the shower, pushing the heat to the highest setting. My skin turned an angry shade of red underneath the hot water, but I didn’t care.
It matched my mood perfectly.
*Olivia*
The hot shower relaxed me more than I thought it would. I stepped out of the steam feeling more refreshed than I had in days. I grabbed a fresh towel and wrapped it around me.
With my thoughts centered, I pulled out the comfiest clothes I had, and I got dressed. I sat down at the vanity to blow dry my hair, staring at myself in the mirror as I did so. The sound of the dryer was deafening and perfect for me to get lost in my thoughts.
I thought deeply about my relationship with Giovanni. It had surprised me that he wasn’t willing to go public with us, after all that bravado he’d shown. It made me think for a moment that he really was ashamed of me… of us.
But I knew better. He wasn’t that kind of man.
I regretted acting so aggressively with him. Ultimately, we both needed to be comfortable and happy in this relationship before we did anything. And if Giovani wasn’t willing to, I couldn’t force him, no matter how frustrating it was.
Giovani had waited all this time for me. The least I could do was do the same.
I sighed, dropping my hairdryer onto the table as I moved on to my makeup. I decided to go rather simple for today, not in the mood to doll up at all. I wasn’t going anywhere.
When I was done, I smiled at myself in the mirror, satisfied with my look. As I was deciding just how to confront Giovani about this when we inevitably talked later, my door burst open with a bang.
“Look who can make it up the stairs now!” Dahlia said in a sing-song voice as she burst through the door with a huge grin.
“I’m guessing you,” I laughed, turning my seat to face her.
“That’s right!” She laughed as she took a running start and launched herself onto my bed. The whole thing shifted with her body weight, a loud screech from the wood on the floor. She bounced on the comforter, sending a few pillows flying to the floor but I rolled my eyes.
“You still have to be careful,” I warned her. “You could still pull your stitches.”
“Come on,” she huffed. “Don’t be a worrywart. I’ve got two brothers and a cousin to do that for you. Could you at least sound like a young woman who just became an adult? I swear, people would think you’re, like, fifty.”
“Rude,” I stuck out my tongue, but I had no defense.
“But true,” she shot back, crossing her arms.
She was right. Even when we were kids, I’d always been the most mature and sensible one, probably due to my mother’s influence, if I was being honest.
“I’m the only thing that kept you guys alive,” I told her, grinning as we reminisced about our childhood. “You three are the most reckless group of siblings I’ve ever met. You’re lucky none of you died.”
“It’s a talent.” She shrugged, leaning back on her hands. Then she shot me a sly look, “And speaking of reckless ideas….”
I frowned, wondering what she meant until it dawned on me. The look of excitement in her eyes and the way she bounced her leg quickly. I knew her like the back of my hand and I quickly caught on the bad idea in her head.
“Oh, no,” I immediately shook my head, putting my foot down. “Absolutely not!”
“Oh, come on,” Dahlia whined, stomping her foot childishly. “We’ve been stuck in this house for ages! I wanna do something!”
“Last time I let you talk me into going somewhere, you almost got stabbed, and I had gelato ruined for me for the rest of my life!” I scowled, pinning her with a glare. “The answer is a hard no.”
“Olive,” she pouted.
“Nope.” I turned my head away, not letting her convince me. Not this time.
“Olive,” she whined, pulling at my arm, but I shut my eyes tightly, not giving in.
“Olive….” Her voice softened, and my eyes snapped open without thinking as I glanced at her worriedly. She was holding my hand in hers, just resting it on her palm. There was a sad look in her eyes, and it took a minute to realize why.
I thought maybe I was hallucinating, or just seeing things, but no, I wasn’t. My hand was shaking in her palms, just the slightest bit, enough to be noticeable, and I frowned in confusion… until I realized the heavy pit of anxiety sitting in my stomach wasn’t normal.
I grabbed my hand back, swallowing uncomfortably as I realized just how afraid I was. The terror and fear had become so normal to me since the incident, since Dahlia had gotten kidnapped, that I hadn’t even noticed it was off.
Something was wrong with me.
“Are you that scared of leaving?” Dahlia asked, quietly, a somber look on her face. I hated the way she looked at me, sympathy mixed with understanding. I didn’t want it.
