Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
“Iceland?” He raised an eyebrow at his wife, a small smile playing on his lips.
“Just Reykjavik! I want to see the street art,” she pouted. “It’s not that weird!”
“Of course not,” he chuckled. “We’ll plan a trip after the baby’s born.”
“Hopefully once they’re a little bigger, though,” Elena said brightly. “Traveling can be dangerous for small babies until their immune system is strong enough.”
“Really?” Olivia frowned, looking unsure now. “Well, we don’t have to go soon. I don’t need to see Reykjavik. It would just be nice, you know, in the future maybe.”
“Parents who put their children’s needs over their own wants are truly wonderful. I’m sure you’ll be a wonderful mother,” Elena smiled, and I stiffened, finding it all just a bit awkward.
“Uh… thanks,” Olivia frowned, her mood dropping a bit.
I glanced at Gio, a frown on my lips, and he looked at his wife, his expression a bit concerned.
“So what’s your favorite place you’ve been to, Giovani?” Elena asked, drawing him into the conversation and away from the awkwardness she’d caused.
“I liked Edinburgh well enough,” Gio said, turning his back to Elena as he said to Olivia, “I’ll have to take you some time.”
Olivia beamed, her bright mood back, and Elena smiled as well. She seemed innocent as she smiled brightly, completely unassuming, and between her and Olivia, anyone would think they were similar at first glance.
Elena did not have that sunshine-like quality. That ability to find the good in every person and thing and bring it to the surface as Olivia’s alone. There was something uncomfortable lingering behind Elena, especially when she took the chance to lean forward and giggle, laying her palm over Gio’s arm.
He frowned at her uncomfortably but said nothing, and I saw Olivia’s smile dim at the action. It was subtle, but enough that I caught it.
I clenched my fists under the table, my instincts proving right. I hadn’t wanted to jump to conclusions, but my observations weren’t wrong at this point.
Elena was trying to seduce Giovani.
My heart burned with unadulterated rage, and the woman who I’d seen as a friend just a couple of hours ago quickly morphed into an enemy.
I kept my mouth shut despite wanting to scream at the woman, to kick her out and never have her come back, but I couldn’t do that. Elena was still their surrogate–she was carrying their child, and there was no way Gio and Olivia could kick her out or cancel that now.
My little niece or nephew was what was most important.
But every time Elena caught Gio’s attention, getting a little too close to him and giggling like a schoolgirl, Olivia’s brilliance flickered just the tiniest bit. It was clear she had noticed something was wrong and was very uncomfortable, but I knew her.
She would never assume anything bad of Elena, even if it was right in front of her nose.
But I did. I wanted to deck her in the face and tell her to stop. I was angry, not just at Elena for making Olivia upset but also at Gio, who kept trying to keep the peace. He could’ve pushed Elena away, but she was a master at making it seem like she was just overly friendly, pretending to be innocent.
I wrestled inside my mind over what to do. If I said something, if I shared my concerns with Olivia, I could cause her to get mad at me or t o panic and worry, to start distrusting the woman carrying their child for the next few months. That would end badly for everyone involved.
However, my loyalty remained to Olivia and her happiness. My best friend deserved the world, and she would get it. I couldn’t stay silent, not if what I suspected was actually happening.
I sighed, finally grabbing the cup of iced tea in front of me. All the ice had melted, making it just lukewarm tea. I downed the glass, gulping it until the last drop, and slammed the cup onto the table.
Elena and Olivia jumped, startled, and Gio glanced at me with a weird look.
I pinned a smile on my face, laughing it off. Elena relaxed, her eyes turning back to Gio, and this time, I caught the blush on her cheeks as he smirked… and the way her eyes sparkled like a woman in love.
It would have been cute–if she wasn’t staring at a married man, and specifically, a man married to my best friend.
I made my decision right then and there. I had to tell Olivia, no matter what it did to their relationship. Either she believed me, or she didn’t, but I wasn’t going to keep silent and let this woman come in here and steal my best friend’s man.
Not if I had any say about it.
*Olivia*
“There’s no way!” I crossed my arms, my lips pressed together until they hurt as I stared at my best friend straight in the eye. She sighed, clearly unhappy but in a way that let me know she had been expecting this.
Of course, she should have.
What she was suggesting was ridiculous, preposterous, absolutely absurd….
Dahlia sipped her cocktail through a swirly straw shaped like a heart, a glum look in her eyes, and I felt a little bad for not immediately believing her. Dahlia had never lied to me before, and I doubted she ever would.
But this… I just couldn’t believe this.
“You could at least hear me out,” Dahlia said bitterly, “before shutting me down like I offended your ancestors.”
“What is it with all of you?” I snapped. “First Gio and now you! Why are you so against believing that Elena is just a good person who wants to help us out? She’s been nothing but kind.”
“Gio?” Dahlia asked, surprised, then smirked. “Figures he’d pick up on it first. Good on him.”
“Dolly!” I frowned.
“Look, Olive,” she sent me a firm look. “I know what I saw, and if Gio is telling you the exact same thing I am, then doesn’t that mean there has to be something off about her? I know you don’t want to believe this, but burying your head in the sand won’t make it go away. Besides, I’m your best friend. Shouldn’t you believe me over someone you’ve only known for a month?”
Guilt shot straight through my heart, and I saw the hurt in her eyes from my vehement refusal. She was right… Gio and she had seen something that I clearly didn’t. And it was true that a few of Elena’s actions lately had made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
I shook my head, resisting the doubts I could feel building inside me.
“I’m sorry, Dolly, but there’s no way I can believe this. Elena is a wonderful person! You liked her just yesterday, and now you’re saying….” I swallowed, not even wanting to say the accusations Dolly had leveled at her. “You must have seen wrong. You must have.”
“Olive.” Dahlia sent me a pitying look.
“No, Dolly. I just can’t believe it… I can’t,” I shook my head stubbornly, not wanting to consider the possibility.
“Look, Olive, you can either believe me or not, it doesn’t really matter,” Dahlia frowned. “I know what I saw, and I know I had to tell you, even if you didn’t believe me. You have to remain vigilant, Olive, because I’m telling you the truth. You need to consider that maybe Elena isn’t as selfless as you think she is. Maybe she has ulterior motives.” There was that phrase again.
“There’s no way,” I murmured, overwhelmed by what my best friend in the world was telling me. “There’s no way… Elena is—she wouldn’t. Elena can’t be trying to steal Gio from me.”
Just saying it aloud sent a pang of guilt straight to my heart, and I clutched my chest, my shoulders slumping under the heavy weight. The rejection of the concern was visceral, and I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
Elena was a good person. I knew she was. She was the surrogate I had chosen, entrusted with carrying our child, and letting her into our lives. If there was any chance at all that Dahlia was right. That Elena really could be trying to replace me—to steal my life, my husband, and my baby—then it was all my fault.
“It’s not true,” I said stubbornly, clinging to my own beliefs and thoughts even with all the evidence and apprehensions Dahlia had expressed… even with the concerns Gio had told me about. “I appreciate you telling me about this, but I have to believe in her, Dolly. She’s my friend.”
Dahlia sighed, sending me a soft, helpless smile. “I should’ve known you would say that. You’re too caring for your own good, Olive. I’ll drop this for now, but please, be on your guard. Your optimism is one of your best qualities, but not everyone is as kind as you.”
“I have to believe they are, Dolly.” I smiled. I knew I was being stubborn, that I was digging my heels into the sand despite all the evidence otherwise, but either I believed in people or I didn’t.
And I did.
