Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>
“Oh, no, I heard what you said. I want to know why it matters what I’m doing, though. Since when did you care about who I was seeing?” I asked her, trying to make a point, but the groaning from the other end of the line was making it clear she wasn’t impressed.
“Since always,” she scoffed.
Liar. You have never cared.
“Uh-huh…. Well, I’m not going on a date with anyone. I’m actually going shopping today. I wanted to get my dad something while I was down here and figured I would do it while you were gone.”
“Oh,” Tally said, seemingly surprised by my answer. “That’s it?”
“Don’t sound so disappointed. I may go get lunch, too.”
It was my turn to be sarcastic, and she didn’t seem to know what to do with the way I was acting. So instead of addressing it, she went back to why she had originally called.
“So about my dad’s secret lover—”
“Enough, Tally. I need to get ready, so we can chat about this later. So far, I haven’t seen anything, but I will let you know if I do okay…? Bye.” I ended the call.
Sighing, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and shook my head. If I didn’t get a hold of myself, I was going to end up screaming. Every moment spent with Tally lately was becoming a pain in my ass, and I wanted nothing more than to drop her.
After all, she hadn’t given a shit when it came to me.
*****
A few hours and about ten shops later, I walked with my bags down the boardwalk towards a restaurant on the beach to grab something to eat.
It was nice to get out for a bit and get away from the chaos. My mind had been so clogged lately with thoughts of James, I hadn’t really given myself time to do much of anything. Not that I was complaining.
James was absolutely sinful in bed, and I loved everything he did.
But sometimes I needed something of my own. Something away from the issues….
“Becca!”
You have got to be f*cking kidding me right now…
Groaning, I slowly turned around, coming face to face with the one person I didn’t want to see.
Chad.
How was it this man seemed to find me around every turn?
“Chad,” I said coldly as he approached, “what do you want?”
His eyes seemed to twinkle with interest as he stalked towards me like a predator circling his prey. As usual, there wasn’t a single thing about him out of place, and even though he was gorgeous—his personality made him ugly.
I was glad he no longer held that hypnotizing effect over me.
“I just wanted to apologize to you for how I acted on the boat,” he said in a very calm and almost convincing manner…. Almost.
“I see. Well, now, that you have… I need to be on my way,” I replied with a smile before turning. His hand reached out, grabbing my arm and stopping me in my tracks.
“Where’s the fire? Can we just talk?”
Jerking my arm from his grasp, I turned to him with a disgusted look on my face.
“Talk? Yeah, no, I don’t think that’s going to work for me. You see, I have this thing called standards, and if I was to lower myself to where you are right now thinking I actually believed that bullshit you spread…. Well, that would make me no better than you.”
Shock was written all across his face at the way I had spoken to him. Never in my life had I had the courage to speak to him like that before. Yet, right now… he was beneath me with the way he had treated me.
For once in my life, I was putting myself above this man, and I was going to achieve more. Because I was worth more.
“Who do you think you’re talking to? I apologize to you. I’m offering to let you buy me lunch to talk this out—”
“Whoa… whoa. What did you just say?” I asked, laughing. “Did you just say you offered to LET ‘me’ buy ‘you’ lunch?”
“You heard what the f*ck I said, Becca.” His confirmation was all I needed to burst into laughter.
“You are f*cking delusional…. Why the hell would I ever buy you a damn thing? We aren’t together and never f*cking will be again. You are an asshole, Chad. You don’t deserve any woman with a kind heart because you are a cheater, a manipulator, and an abuser.”
As he stepped towards me with clenched fists, I raised a brow at him.
“I will sue you for slander, Becca. I have never hit a woman in my life,” he replied.
“Well, I’m sure you’re lying about that. However, abuse doesn’t just mean physical, Chad… mental abuse, verbal abuse…. Those are also types of abuse you HAVE participated in. I should know… I was your victim.”
There were no words between us as I stood up for myself. Internally, I was dying. My heart raced against my chest with panic that something bad was going to happen. Yet, at the same time, I felt free.
Chad didn’t bother to say anything, and rather quickly, he turned, walking off after he realized he had no control over me. Tears slowly streamed down my cheeks with pure happiness that I had stood up for myself.
Deciding to ditch lunch, I made my way towards the taxi ramp and ordered one before heading back to the house. I no longer had an interest in being out.
Right now, I was running on pure adrenaline, and I knew once it wore off, I was likely to break down and need a nap. Surviving trauma was never an easy thing to experience, no matter how small it may be.
As the taxi pulled up outside of James’ home, I smiled seeing his car was already here. I had picked up a couple of cute lingerie items while I was out to tease him with, even if I was conflicted about what I was doing.
Internally, I couldn’t make my mind up. Physically, he did things to me I couldn’t resist.
Stepping out of the car, I hastened my pace towards the front door. Just as it opened, it revealed a very unhappy James.
“Where have you been?” he asked with a stern tone that confused me.
Holding up my bags, I raised a brow, walking past him towards the stairs. “Shopping?”
If he wasn’t in a good mood, I was going to bypass the small talk. I didn’t understand why he would be upset, though, because it wasn’t like we were together.
“Shopping where, Becca?” he asked as he followed behind me towards my room.
“In town. What’s your problem? Did I do something wrong?” I asked with confusion as I placed my bags down on my bedroom floor.