Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
I wanted her to laugh, to tuck that laughter into my pocket and bring it with me on rainy days. Dahlia should always be smiling, pulling me along onto whatever scheme she happened to think of next, and no matter what happened, I would be her rock.
I was the normal one, the sensible one, the one who always knew the right thing to do, who was always calm and able to help everyone else.
I couldn’t fall apart.
The denial faded away like waves on a shoreline, and for a brief moment of clarity, I realized that this is what that was.
“I’m scared, Dolly,” I admitted to her, and to myself, “of the men who are after you, of losing you or anybody else, of just walking out the front door. I can’t fight them off. I don’t know how to keep you safe or even myself.”
She nodded slowly like she had been waiting for this–for me to fall apart in her hands.
“Olive.” She kneeled down in front of me, grasping my hands in hers. She looked up to me with so much care and understanding, the free-spirited best friend who loved me to pieces gazing at me like she was ready to catch me if I fell apart in front of her.
“I understand, Olive.” She squeezed my hand. “I feel the same way. Some days, I’m so terrified I can’t even get out of bed. Sometimes, I’m so scared to be alone–even if it’s just my room–that I feel like I’m choking. I have nightmares of them coming to get me, grabbing me, or worse, Tallon or you, and torturing you in front of me.”
There was a raw honesty in her eyes, a hoarse truth in her voice. She was letting me see behind the fearless bravado she always put up and into the real trauma that she’d been dealing with.
I was both honored and sad.
Her lips folded into a determined line, gazing up at me fiercely. “But I won’t let them win. They don’t have me locked up anymore, and I’m not going to let them have any control over my life. I’m scared, Olive, but I won’t let that stop me. We’re young, free adults in Italy, and we should live like it.”
I felt odd as I watched the bravery shining in her eyes, like how a mother might feel as she watched her daughter stride across the graduation stage.
The courage she possessed seemed like a fire that would never go out. Even after so many people had tried to snuff it out, it only burned brighter.
That was the thing I loved the most about Dahlia.
“So I’m going out tonight,” Dahlia declared stubbornly. “You can stay home if you want, or you can come with us, but I’m not going to let the fear of what might happen stop me from having a good night out.”
She gave my hand one last squeeze and got to her feet, intending to leave.
I sighed, shaking my head fondly as I realized there was no winning against her. After so many years, you’d think I’d have learned, but she was always surprising me.
“Wait,” I called out just as she reached the door.
She paused, looking over her shoulder with a hopeful look.
I smiled, giving up completely, “So what should I wear?”
She squealed, turning around to grab me into a tight embrace and I laughed as she attempted to smother me with a hug.
“I was thinking we’d just go out to a simple dinner, no fancy stuff. I already picked the place and I have your dress picked out already,” she rambled on, excitedly. “Plus, I know you’re concerned about safety so I already invited Tallon and Alessandro. They said they’d go if you go, so now everything’s all set.”
“You set me up,” I sighed, as I realized I was once again played by my best friend.
“Maybe just a bit.” She grinned sheepishly. “Plus, I got us both new dresses for tonight. Oh, let me go tell Tallon to set up the reservation! I’ve got to show you the dresses!”
She jumped to her feet, already flipping her phone out and dialing who I suspected was Tallon.
“She agreed! I was thinking six, six thirty?” Dahlia said to the phone, then held her hand over the speaker as she glanced at me. “What are you waiting for? Do your hair and makeup, and I’ll bring the dresses over! No dilly-dallying.”
Honestly, who said dilly-dallying in this day and age?
But I couldn’t tell her my complaints because she was already racing out of my room and down the hall. I glanced at the vanity mirror, sulking as I realized I would have to redo my hair and makeup all over again.
So much for comfortable clothing, I thought as I tugged at my soft, old T-shirt. I wasn’t worried about the dress she had picked up, Dahlia had a good fashion sense, so I was sure it was going to be stunning.
But I hesitated in spending any time with Alessandro. He was already on my nerves with how he had been acting lately, blackmailing us, taking control of the organization away from Giovani, and arguing with everyone about everything.
Even his lame attempts at wooing me were shameful at best and nearing sexual harassment at this point. I wished he would just go back home or at the very least leave me alone.
We had enough problems with Alessandro digging up drama whenever he could.
I sighed, reaching for my mascara when the door burst open once more, and I dropped the tube as it clattered under the vanity.
I huffed, turning to stare at whoever had intruded but my eyes widened in surprise instead. Dahlia had returned, and she was holding a dress out for me to take.
“Like it?” she said coyly.
It was gorgeous, one of the fanciest dresses I’d ever seen. “Is that really mine?” I asked in disbelief.
“Of course. You’re gonna look stunning in this baby.” She giggled, pushing her way through and shutting the door behind her.
Gazing at the dress she’d chosen for me, I couldn’t help but agree.
*Olivia*
Dahlia left me to get dressed, practically bouncing with excitement on her way out. I wondered how she had known that she’d be able to convince me to go out. It seemed like she could damn near convince me to do anything.
But if I was being honest with myself, I kind of loved it. Her carefree attitude and determination to keep living her life no matter what happened was a good reminder that I couldn’t spend the rest of my life being so scared, especially if I hoped to have any kind of future with Giovani. Danger was just going to be a part of my life. I hoped it would be a small part, but I had already learned that there were no guarantees.
I pulled on the little black dress that Dahlia had picked for me and looked at myself in amazement. Somehow she had managed to find a dress that hugged my body so well it looked like it had been tailored to my exact measurements. It had a structured bodice that pushed my boobs up just enough to make them look phenomenal, and it came down to the middle of my thighs, just short enough to be sexy but not so short as to look inappropriate. I had no idea how a simple black dress could make me look so good, but Dahlia had always had a shopping superpower. She was amazing at spotting gorgeous clothes that she knew I’d love, and this dress was no exception. The fabric was clearly extremely expensive with a lace overlay that looked to be handmade.
I did a slow spin in front of the mirror to admire myself and make sure that I looked how I wanted. I had decided to pull my hair up into a simple twist with just a few strands framing my face. My makeup was a classic smokey eye that complimented the dress perfectly. I wasn’t usually one to get caught up in my looks, but I really did feel exceptionally beautiful.
I just wished that I was going to dinner with Gio instead of Alessandro.
I completed my look with a simple chain necklace that matched the bracelet Tallon had given me, then headed downstairs to find Dahlia. I realized that she might need help getting her hair done. I wasn’t sure how well she could raise her arms with her injury.
On my way to Dahlia’s room, I glanced into the kitchen and realized Giovani was standing right there, just staring at me. I desperately wanted to know what he thought about my outfit, but I walked past as if I hadn’t even noticed him there. If he wanted us to be a secret, then we’d be a secret.
I wasn’t truly angry with him anymore, but I wasn’t happy either. If he had agreed that we could just out our relationship, he could be coming to dinner with us right now.
I peeked into Dahlia’s room and saw that I had been right; she was struggling to get her hair done. I could tell she was frustrated as she kept having to take breaks to give her ribs a rest from stretching.
“You need some help in here?” I asked.
She turned back toward me, an expression of relief on her face.
“Ugh, yes,” she said. “My stupid ribs are almost healed, but it just hurts to hold my hands up for too long.”
“That’s what friends are for,” I said, brushing my hand through her silky hair. Then I added, “Maybe if you’d stop jumping on beds.” She narrowed her gaze at me, and we both laughed.
She had almost finished putting her hair into a half-up, half-down style, so I was able to complete what she had started in only a few minutes. As I worked, she finished putting on her makeup. She had gone with a bright pink lipstick that matched the sequins on her dress.
