Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 258 -

*Olivia*

"Olive!" Dahlia burst into the guest room I'd taken over with a massive grin on her face.

I looked up just in time for her to jump onto the bed. The comforter bounced as Dahlia landed next to me, giggling like a schoolgirl.

"I'm assuming it went well?" I smiled, looking up from the book I'd been reading to pass the time. I shut it with a snap, turning my attention to my giddy best friend.

"Oh, it was perfect!" Dahlia gushed, leaning on my back as I lay sprawled out on my stomach. "He was so charming and such a gentleman! He picked me up on his moped and took me to see the Piazza! And it was so dreamy when he kissed me in front of the fountain."

"I'm glad you had fun," I laughed as I turned in bed to see her face.

Dahlia was gazing up at the ceiling with a lovestruck face as she sighed. I'd been with her through every crush she'd ever had, but I'd never seen her this happy over one guy. I grinned, happy for her. Even if I didn't like him in the beginning, he was good to her, and even I could admit that he was charming.

Not nearly as much as Giovani, though.

I shook my head, clearing those thoughts away. Now wasn't the time.

"Are you going to see him again then?" I asked teasingly, knowing she had already planned their wedding and future three kids in her head. She'd always been like that, three steps ahead in her imagination.

"Of course!" She smiled. "We've been texting nonstop. I really really like him, Olive."

I knew that look on her face-the blush on her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes as she spoke about him. I was sure I had the same look on my face when I'd met Giovani, though hopefully not as obvious as her. Well, I'd always been better at hiding my feelings than Dahlia, though.

"I'm happy for you, Dolly," I smiled, grabbing her hand and squeezing it lightly. "You deserve a great guy who can sweep you off your feet."

"Thanks, Olive," Dahlia giggled. "So do you."

I smiled, just a bit guilty. I wished I could tell her what had happened with Giovani.

I wished I could tell her about our midnight conversation, how much I'd learned about him, and how he listened to me so intently, like everything I had said was important.

And I wished I could tell her what happened in the bathroom when I first felt his arms around me and his kiss set my skin aflame, how much of an idiot I was for letting him walk away just because I was afraid. I wished I could just tell her how much I longed to have his arms around me, to kiss his gorgeous lips, and have his hands on every inch of my body until I couldn't think about anything but him.

I wished I could tell her about everything.

But I couldn't.

Not only was he so much older than us, but he was also her cousin. If she knew I was even thinking these things, I was terrified that she wouldn't even talk to me again.

Truth be told, I didn't even know what she thought of dating older guys. I did know her parents had a considerable age gap, so maybe it wasn't that big of a deal. Maybe I was just worrying for nothing.

I set the book in my hands down as I grabbed my phone tightly in one hand. I could test it, maybe?

I glanced at Dahlia, trying to be casual despite the uneasiness I felt. She was still busy in her fantasy world, probably imagining Lorenzo as a prince on a white horse coming to sweep her away, just like we used to play when we were little. I had always been the prince, but I was happy to give that position to Lorenzo now.

"Hey, Dolly," I started, trying to be casual. "What do you think about dating an older man?"

Dahlia glanced at me, blinking rapidly in surprise. "What?"

"I saw it in this article online," I lied, smoothly. "I was just wondering what you thought about it."

Dahlia rolled her eyes, "You're an addict, Olive. I told you to stop reading those kinds of female help magazines. They're no good for you. That's what Mom says anyway."

"Yeah, yeah," I sighed. "Just tell me what you think, though."

"Honestly?" Dahlia crossed her arms, getting to her feet as she headed straight for my closet. "Absolutely not."

I flinched, grabbing my phone tightly as I eyed her cautiously. "You wouldn't date an older man? Not even if you really liked him?"

"Of course not!" Dahlia laughed, pulling one of my hung-up dresses from the closet. "What would we even talk about? Plus, I doubt any older man could keep up with me." She winked at me and I laughed.

"But then again, it did work for my parents, so who knows?" Dahlia shrugged. "Hey, can I borrow this?"

She pulled a dress out, one I had forgotten I even had before I'd thrown it in my suitcase, just in case. Dahlia had convinced me to buy it, but I never ended up wearing it. Truth be told, dresses like that were more of Dahlia's style than mine. She held it over her clothes, looking in the mirror with a grin. She raised an eyebrow toward me, and I smiled, shaking my head fondly.

"I just hung that up, Dolly," I smiled, getting to my feet. "Besides, don't you have enough clothes?"

"I wanted something new for my next date with Lorenzo and look, isn't it cute on me?" Dahlia said with a pleased look. "I was just going to go shopping, but this is so much easier."

"Of course, 'cause my closet is a mall now," I said with a grin.

"Please?" she pouted, giving me those big puppy dog eyes she knew I couldn't resist. "I'll let you borrow anything you want from mine-pinky promise."

"All right, all right," I laughed, covering her eyes playfully. "Let me borrow your cardigan then."

"The red one?" she asked, pursing her lips in thought. "Why that one?"

"It's super soft. You did say anything, Dolly," I crossed my arms, smirking as she pondered my offer.

"You drive a hard bargain, but deal." She grinned, throwing the dress onto the bed as she flopped down next to it. She stretched out as if she owned it, grabbing one of my pillows and placing it under her chin as her legs swung back and forth in the air.

"So Lorenzo loves the arts! He was telling me all about Michaelangelo and the David statue. And get this, he's even an artist himself! We just have so much in common," Dahlia rambled on as I took a seat next to her.

"You're not an artist, Dolly," I laughed, "You hate paint 'cause it's too dirty."

"There's more to art than paint, Olive," she struck back immediately. "Besides, don't you remember that art class I took?"

"The required one in high school?" I smirked, crossing my arms. "That you almost failed because you thought it was too boring?"

Dahlia paused, glaring at me as she grabbed my pillow and swung it at my head.

"Don't ruin my fantasies, Olive!" Dahlia huffed as I burst into giggles.

"You like him that much?"

"I do," Dahlia blushed, hugging the pillow to her chest. "We just clicked. I felt like I could talk to him about anything. He was so sweet and understanding, nothing like the American boys back home. I mean, I felt like he really cared about what I was saying, and it helps that he's absolutely gorgeous. I mean, did you see those abs? It took so much effort not to let my hands start to wander on the moped. If there hadn't a shirt between us, I'd-" "Dolly!" I grabbed my pillow, smacking her in the side of the head with it.

"What?" Dahlia grinned, innocently. "You'd do the exact same thing, Olive. I swear he was carved by Michaelangelo himself. I can't wait for the heat wave-sweat pouring down his muscles, his shirt clinging tightly-" "Dolly," I smirked, shaking my head playfully. "Leave the man some dignity, why don't you?"

"Fine, fine," Dahlia waved her hand. "You'd do well getting yourself your own romance, you know. You've been single for too long."

I smiled as Giovani flashed through my head, my hands buried in his dark curls as his arms wrapped around my waist.... The taste of him still lingered in my mouth, the desire in his eyes burning as he devoured every inch of me.

I regretted telling him no, but I knew it was the right thing to do.

That particular romance wasn't going anywhere.

"That reminds me!" Dahlia clapped her hands, turning to me with a huge grin. "Lorenzo said he had a few friends who were single. I bet you'd click with one of them."

Oh no.

"Nope," I immediately shut that down before her fantasies started up. I crossed my arms disapprovingly. "You know how I feel about you setting me up with guys. Remember last time?"

"Oh, come on," Dahlia protested, "That was so not my fault. How was I supposed to know he had a girlfriend?"

"He had two! And he was a total creep." I shuddered. Just the thought of that guy was enough to make my skin crawl. It had been a few years ago but I still wouldn't forget the way he looked at me.

"Fine, fine," Dahlia pouted. "Be a party pooper. I'll still love you."

"I love you, too, Dolly," I laughed, throwing myself back onto the bed. I stared up at the ceiling, my mind heading to where it always did these days-Giovani.

Even just talking with him all night had been amazing. I'd never felt a connection like that before, where I felt his dark eyes on me the entire time. He wasn't like the guys who were only after sex. He actually wanted to know what I had to say. Everything had just poured out of me, things I wouldn't normally say to anybody. But he didn't judge me for anything. He was intelligent, handsome, sexy, and everything I had ever wanted in a man.

But he was also forbidden.

I stared at the ceiling as Dahlia fell onto her back beside me, her sighing as well.

"I have a feeling we'll never forget our time here," Dahlia said quietly.

I hummed in agreement, realizing now there was only one word to call what I had been feeling toward Giovani. I had to admit it, even if I could only admit it to myself.

I liked him.

Well, there was no going back now.