Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>
Hearing him explain how he was the one suffering with my absence, and how everything was left off really tore at me. He sounded like he was trying to make himself the victim, when in reality, I was the victim in all of this.
Granted, I hadn’t been the easiest person to work with. I was an adult, and I was responsible for my own actions, but he knew what was going on with his ex-wife and his daughter. None of them would have ever found out had he not purposely set it up so they would find out.
“So, you only called to try to make things better between us so you could turn around and feel better about yourself and about what had happened?” I asked in confusion as I tried to understand what exactly it was he wanted to say.
“No, it’s nothing like that. I just don’t want there to be bad blood between us. I do care for you, Becca. More than you realize.” The tone of his voice sounded more than exhausted.
“If you cared for me, you would never have let Tally find out the way she did. If you cared for me, you would never have let Allison treat me like scum. If you, honestly, cared for me at all, you would have come after me and told me you were sorry in person, and not just over the phone.”
A groan of irritation escaped him on the other end of the line. “Becca—”
“No, James. I don’t know what it is you’re looking for, but unfortunately, I have plans today, so I’m going to have to let you go. I hope you find the closure you’re seeking. It just won’t be with me,” I explained as I quickly hung up the phone.
Standing on the sidewalk, I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as I let things sink in. I wanted to call him back and apologize for the outburst.
But I couldn’t. I wasn’t crazy, but he made me crazy.
Never had a man, or anybody, ever complicated things in my life to the point of a mental breakdown, until I met James Valentino.
Groaning with irritation, I grabbed what I was needing at the bodega and paid for it, quickly making my way out, ready to recluse back into Neal’s apartment.
However, as soon as I returned to the apartment half an hour later, I found a suitcase sitting just inside the door.
A smile crept upon my face as I turned the corner to find Neal standing there, staring out the window.
“Oh, my gosh!” I squealed with excitement. “I knew you were coming home today!”
He laughed as I wrapped my arms around his waist, giving him a hug. I didn’t mean to seem overly excited, but Neal and I had grown close over the time we spent together since I met him in Miami.
“Yes, I was trying to surprise you, but when I got here, you weren’t here.”
“Sorry,” I said sheepishly. “I ran down to the store to get a snack, I have been craving these Hot Cheetos.”
“Hot Cheetos?” he replied with a raised brow. “When did they make them hot?”
“Oh, my god. Are you being serious right now? Open your mouth,” I demanded, wanting him to try my favorite chips.
“No way. I will just take your word for it,” he laughed, shaking his head.
It was nice to be back on familiar ground with him. I had missed the banter we had the first two days we were together before he left for London, and now that he was back, I was curious to how long he would stay.
“So, how long do I have you for before they snatch you away again?” I tease as I move towards the kitchen to get a glass of ice.
He was quiet for a moment, and when I turned around, I saw the way his blue eyes stared at me as if he was lost deep in his thoughts. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking about something.”
“Oh, yeah?” I grinned. “Who has your mind all fogged over? Are they cute?”
Laughter escaped his lips as he shook his head no. “I’m not dating anyone right now, Becca. I already told you that before. Stop trying to play matchmaker for me.”
“I’m not, I’m not.” I giggled. “Just saying—”
“You’re merely acting like my sister, Becca,” he quickly added, causing me to sigh and roll my eyes dramatically with a smirk.
He was right, though. I was trying to play matchmaker, but only because I didn’t want to see him alone. He was quickly becoming one of the sweetest men I knew, and I wanted him to end up with the right person.
“Why don’t we do something fun tonight?” I suggested as he dragged his suitcase towards his room with me following behind him.
“Fun? I don’t know. I was kind of hoping that we can sit here and order in food or something,” Neal said as he pulled the items out of his suitcase, and put them where they belonged. “I’m here for about a week. So plenty of time to hang out.”
Hearing he was here for at least a week made me smile. I had to head back to school next week and being able to spend time with someone rather than be alone sounded nice.
“Movie and a pizza it is, then,” I said, causing him to laugh. “No f*cking pineapple on the damn pizza, though, Becca!”
“I’m sorry… did I hear you wanted extra pineapple? Okay… yeah, extra pineapple.”
Picking up my phone, I looked over my shoulder just in time to see him coming running out the door at me with a smile on his face. Screaming with laughter, I moved quickly but not fast enough before he caught me wrapping his arms around my waist.
“No, damn pineapple woman,” Neal almost growled in my ear, and the sound itself did something else to me I wasn’t expecting.
Freezing in his arms, my heart racing, I bit my bottom lip, refusing to look at him.
He seemed to get the gesture, and quickly he let go of me and ran his hand through his hair. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be silly, it’s fine. I’ll make the call, and you finish unpacking?” I asked as I peered up at him, slightly unsure.
“Sure thing.” He didn’t waste another moment as he turned and headed back towards his room. I found myself slightly confused by the way he was acting, but overall, I shook it off as overthinking.
Neal was a good friend to me as well as being Allegra’s brother. There was no way the situation would be weird between the two of us. He knew where I stood with everything, and he saw me as nothing but a friend.
As night settled in the city, Neal and I found ourselves curled up on his sofa laughing at a sitcom he found on one of the movie platforms, a box of pizza in front of us. We enjoyed each other’s company, and even FaceTime’d Allegra to check in with her.
Spending time like this was amazing, and I was pleased with how quickly things changed by simply removing myself from a complicated and nerve-wracking situation.
“I can’t believe you have me watching this!” I laughed as I glanced over at Neal.
He sat on the other side of the sofa with a slice of pizza in his hand, shrugging his shoulders. “This is a classic. I don’t see what your problem is.”
Rolling my eyes, I stood from the sofa and made my way towards the kitchen to make myself another drink. “Do you want another whiskey?”
Neal looked over his shoulder at me and nodded. “Yeah, just bring the bottle with you.”
“The bottle?” I replied, raising my brow. “What are we getting drunk?”
“Maybe,” he shrugged as he continued to eat.
It was different seeing him like this. Before, he had been so serious, back when I’d first met him, but with a laid back personality. Then I saw him carefree and fun loving when we went to Club Velvet. Then more serious when I was hurt.
In the end, though, he was always worrying about me being okay.
Walking back towards the sofa, I sat down next to him, and put the bottle of whiskey on the table with his glass, then brought my wineglass to my lips.
I wasn’t much of a drinker, but Neal had gotten me hooked on a brand of Zin I couldn’t get enough of. It wasn’t too sweet, but it was just strong enough to take the edge off.
“Thanks,” he said as he sipped on his fourth glass.
The blackened sky outside made for a scenic background outside the large floor to ceiling windows. One movie after another, we laughed amongst each other as we talked about how poor Neal’s movie choices were and also what I was going to do for accommodations.
“You can’t live in that neighborhood, Becca. It’s horrible.”
Rolling my eyes for the hundredth time, I sighed. “I don’t have much of a choice. That’s what I can afford.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I will find you something.”
Neal’s comment was very nonchalant, and even though I appreciated him wanting to help, there was no way I could allow him to do something like that.
“Absolutely not,” I said, giving him a pointed look. “I’m not letting you help.”
“You don’t have a choice,” he replied, giving me a stern glare as he grabbed his phone off the coffee table. “Let me make a call.”
Before he pushed any buttons and called anyone, I snatched his phone and jumped up from the sofa. “No way!”
“Damit, Becca!” he yelled, laughing. “Give me back my phone.”
Turning, I stood on the other side of the sofa, staring at him. “No way. I’m not letting you get me a place. I will figure it out.”
“It’s just money. I need more investment properties, anyway. Now give me my phone.”
I stood wide eyed, looking at him in shock. He wasn’t talking about helping me find one. He was going to buy me a property to use because he wanted a future investment.
“I’m definitely not giving you your phone back now. There is no way I’m letting you buy a property just for me.”
“It’s not just for you,” he said, as he took another bite of his food. “It’s also an investment.”
“Still not giving it back,” I replied, stuffing it in my back pocket.
“You know I can take it away from you if I want to.”
I knew he could, but I wouldn’t let him. There would be no way I could pay him back for taking care of me in that way. Not to mention it just seemed so much more personal between us.
Placing down his plate, he chased his food with the rest of his drink and slowly stood to his feet as he wiped off his mouth. “You have two seconds to hand over my phone, or I will take it from you, Becca.”
The stern warning was meant to be serious, but he couldn’t keep a straight face with how much he had been drinking. Taking a step back, I smiled at him.
“Careful, Neal. With the amount you have drank, I would hate for you to hurt yourself.”
As soon as the last word left my lips, he bolted towards me, causing me to squeal as I took off running. Round and round the kitchen island, he chased me. “Give it back!”
“Never!” I replied with laughter as I bolted for the nearest bedroom door. The only problem was that with the lights mainly on in the living room, the rest of the house was dark, and I quickly stumbled over things. “Ow, shit.”