Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 356 -

*Olivia*

"Whoo!" Dahlia yelled out as she slammed her cup down onto the wooden picnic table between us. The glass pitcher rattled with the force, the maroon syrup inside splashing over the edge.

"Are you sure Maria isn't actually a bartender in disguise?" I asked, both curious and suspicious. I was on my third drink already and though there wasn't much alcohol in it, I couldn't stop drinking it.

"Of course not," Dahlia rolled her eyes, pouring another glass of the ambrosia liquid. But then she paused, looking rather pensive. "Or at least, I don't think so."

The orange slices and cubed fruits in the drink plopped into the cup as she poured, and I chewed on what I suspected was a sangria-soaked strawberry from my glass.

"Either way, she makes the best drinks," I shrugged, fully relaxed as I sent her a silly smile.

The high from the alcohol had hit us, but not nearly enough to make us tipsy or drunk-just enough that we were both feeling fucking fantastic. I felt like I could do anything right now, even march into Gio's room and fuck him until tomorrow, and there'd be nothing he could fucking do about it.

I grinned into my drink, my cheeks red as I down the rest of my glass.

Maybe that's all I really needed-Giovani's cock was a good enough reason to keep me tied here. Anybody would do the same in my position.

As my thoughts turned into a hard right, Dahlia leaned back on her palms, shutting her eyes as she basked in the sunlight.

"God, I need a tan," she remarked, and I silently agreed with her.

Her skin had turned two shades whiter since we'd spent so much time indoors lately. I was used to seeing Dahlia in some kind of sun-kissed form, so it was a bit weird seeing how pale she actually was-her mom's genes, no doubt. Tallon had a much darker skin tone, closer to their dad, and Alessandro had been so burned from the sun as kids that there was no telling what skin tone he originally had.

I sighed in relief, all of my doubts and worries from earlier having faded away. They were still there, they could always be there, but no longer could I hear them screaming at me from the back of my mind.

It was quiet.

Peace had returned to my stupid brain.

With my eyes shut, I felt a slightly ticklish sensation on my nose, the tiniest of breezes across my face, like a leaf was falling.

"Oh. My. God," Dahlia gasped. "Olive, don't move."

I stiffened at how awed and shocked she sounded and on instinct, my eyes fluttered open.

I was met with dark beige striped lines, and my whole body tensed as I recognized exactly what was happening.

A pair of wings fluttered, spreading out as a fuzzy little body kept perfectly still and balanced on the tip of my nose. Contrary to the dull underside of its wings, the top side was a gorgeous iridescent shade of purple and blue. My mouth dropped open and inside, I was screaming.

There was a butterfly on my nose.

"Holy fucking shit," Dahlia cursed, then she raised her phone.

I heard the clicks of her taking photos, moving around the bench to get the best one. One of them must have been too much since the little butterfly started to fly off, a tiny gust of air being pushed into my eyes.

I blinked rapidly, my hand immediately going to scratch my nose as the butterfly took off, gently flying away in that graceful way they did.

Dahlia and I turned to one another with wide-eyed looks.

Then we both cracked up.

Laughter bubbled out of my throat, and I was unable to stop it as our combined laughs filled the air. It was funny, funnier than it would've been had we not both drunk almost an entire pitcher of sangria, but my heart was full. I felt lighter than I had in weeks as I laughed with my best friend.

"Care to share what's so funny?"

Someone interrupted the moment, and instead of tensing at the deep, male voice, my whole stomach jumped in excitement.

Giovani stood at the beginning of the path, having just come out by the looks of it and damn, did he look good. He was dressed in a grey suit vest with a black button-down underneath. The top buttons were undone, leaving a view of his chest as his clothes were tight enough to highlight every single muscle. I wasn't sure why he changed, but he looked fine.

His hair was combed back in a way that perfectly framed his gorgeous face. His eyes had latched onto me with no hint that he would ever look away again.

Even the way he was just standing there oozed sex appeal as he smirked, crossing his arms as I devoured him with my eyes.

God, he was so hot, it drove me crazy sometimes.

My whole stomach was doing flips now, and for a moment, I wondered if I hadn't swallowed that butterfly. If I had, it was making a whole racket inside of me right now.

A solid kick to my shin knocked me out of the stupor I had fallen in, and I cursed, clenching my fists as Dahlia sent me a serious look.

"What the fuck?" I snapped at her, feeling like my bone was aching somehow.

"Don't even pretend you didn't just do that," Dahlia huffed. "I don't need to see you two undressing each other with your eyes. No thanks."

I pouted, my cheeks turning a bit red as the tiniest hint of shame washed over me. She was right. If she hadn't done that, I was two seconds from grabbing his tie and fucking him right here and now.

Giovani chuckled. "Hello to you two beautiful ladies."

"What do you want?" Dahlia asked, suspiciously.

He raised his hands in defense, a smirk on his plump kissable lips as he asked, "I just wanted to ask if you would both care to join me for dinner."

Dahlia straightened in her seat, her eyes flashed excitedly at the thought of food. "Yes!" she agreed eagerly.

I wasn't too far behind. I was starving, and since I couldn't have Giovani right now, dinner was a good second best.

"I'd love to, dear sir." I smiled playfully, and both of us stepped around the table to follow him. Giovani offered me his arm automatically as I approached, and my heart did that weird thumping thing it did whenever he was being a gentleman.

I took his arm gratefully, beaming as we followed Dahlia inside. Though she practically beelined for the kitchen, Giovani and I took our sweet time, enjoying one another's company.

"Hey!" I heard Dahlia shout from the kitchen and as soon as we stepped inside, I found out why. The dinner table was completely empty, with not even a sign of food being cooked at all.

"Where's the food?" Dahlia demanded, very annoyed.

Giovani smirked like he had been waiting for that reaction. Knowing him, he probably was. "We're going out, actually," he declared.

At that comment, both Dahlia and I looked at each other and then at our own attire. Both of us were dressed much too casually for any kind of restaurant he might drag us to. We'd get thrown out of a five-star restaurant with the way we looked.

I pulled my hair from the messy bun I had set it in, hoping that would help, but nope, that did nothing.

"Don't we need to get changed then?" I asked, a bit panicked at the thought of being seen with him like this. I didn't look terrible but not nearly good enough for one of the fancy restaurants he would take us to. "Nope." Giovani shook his head, smiling down at me as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. "You look gorgeous."

"Uh... thanks, but there's probably a dress code," I frowned, determinedly.

"No time-the car's already waiting. I promise, you both look fine," Giovani didn't give me another second to protest as he pulled me out of the kitchen and toward the front door at a bewildering pace.

I glanced at Dahlia as she followed behind us, looking just as baffled as I was. Finally, she shrugged, deciding to own her sweater dress and leggings.

I was a little bitter considering I was in my favorite hoodie and jeans. The thought of showing up to fine dining in this was like something from my nightmares, but I only sighed and shrugged back. Oh, well-Giovani always had a plan, and I was sure this time was no different.

True to his word, the black sedan I was growing to associate him with was rumbling away in the front drive, and someone who wasn't Gabriele was in the front seat.

"Alright, food!" Dahlia cheered, slipping into the car.

As I made my way to climb in beside her, Giovani held me back with a hand on my wrist and pulled me toward him. His hand was on my cheek and his lips on mine before I even knew what was happening.

I shut my eyes on instinct, kissing him back as he deepened it, and I could taste unfamiliar alcohol on his tongue, stronger than the sangria that Dahlia and I'd had. Finally, he pulled back, brushing the tips of his fingers down my cheek as he stared at me deep and heatedly.

"I love you," he whispered to me.

"I love you too." The words came out as easily as breathing did, and I was a bit shocked with myself at how instinctually it had been to respond.

"Now let's get some food." He chuckled, kissing the tip of my nose. Before I could tell him he'd just indirectly kissed a butterfly, he whispered lowly into my ear, "I need you sober for what I want to do to you later."

My breath hitched in my throat, my libido hitting me like a truck as he let go and didn't spare another look at me as he rounded to the other side of the car.

My mouth flopped open and closed like a fish for a few seconds, wanting more of what I couldn't have right now, but eventually, I bit my lip and slid into the car.

I glanced at Dahlia sitting in the middle between us, her doing a little wiggling dance as she chanted food under her breath. No doubt he'd separated us on purpose.

Patience had never been my strong suit. But it had been a long and stressful day, and I couldn't wait to let that stress out in a healthy way-hopefully, one that resulted in me screaming his name all night long. For now, though, I was going to enjoy my time with my best friend and my man.