Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 43 -

James.

When Allegra called me to tell me what Allison and Tally were doing, I couldn't believe it. I mean, I could believe it... but I couldn't believe one day couldn't go by without them causing issues.

As soon as I got back in the car from handling the situation, I made my way to my house, but found out quickly Tally and her mother were there waiting. There was no escaping the drama anymore.

The two of them were hell bent on making my life miserable, and I was done with it.

Exiting my car, I walked into the house, and was confronted with the two of them sitting in the kitchen. The waterworks were in play with Tally as Allison comforted her. As soon as her eyes met mine, she narrowed her gaze and stormed towards me.

"Look what you've done!" she screamed at me. "You should be ashamed as a father to act the way you have. Choosing that little bitch over your own daughter!"

Laughter escaped me. "How did I choose Becca over Tally?"

"You're sleeping with her!" Allison continued. "You're choosing Becca over Tally."

"Do you hear yourself right now... I'm sleeping with Becca. Tally is my daughter. So how does me f*cking Becca have anything to do with Tally? I wouldn't be f*cking my daughter. That's disgusting," I remarked, watching as the realization of what I said crossed her mind.

"That's not what I meant!" she gasped.

"Then please explain how my sex life has anything to do with Tally. She is a grown ass woman capable of making her own choices. She doesn't need me holding her hand anymore," I replied, shrugging off Allison's emotions as I set my things on the table and took a seat.

I was done with their games, and if they wanted to hash this out right now, then so be it.

"You're dating your daughter's best friend, and you just bought that girl a very expensive designer dress she plans to wear to the gala this weekend. Can you not see the issue?" Allison said with a snarky tone as she placed her hands on her hips.

"Do you mean an ex-best friend? The last time I checked, Tally was done being friends with her long before I started sleeping with Becca."

"That's not true," Tally exclaimed, the waterworks over and anger raging across her face. "We were the best of friends, and you ruined that."

Shaking my head, I cleared my throat and stood. "I want you both to listen to me right now because I am going to say this for the last time. Leave Becca alone and mind your own business. What I do with her is up to me."

Tally and Allison attempted to speak, but I held my hand up, silencing them. I wasn't going to keep going round and round, no matter how much they wanted me to cave.

"James... what are all of our friends going to think on Friday when they see her? Are you really going to expect them to accept this? Are you really going to make a fool of me?"

Allison's words hit home. We held a specific reputation within the community, but no matter the situation, I couldn't allow them to continue dictating what I did.

"That's none of your concern, Allison."

I didn't bother to turn around and look at her. There was no need when I knew she wasn't going to let it go. She would be angry, and I was okay with that.

She could be angry and go complain to someone else.

As soon as my office door closed, I pulled out my phone and called Becca.

"Hello?" The sweet sound of her voice filled my ears, and the stress from Allison and Tally slowly dissolved.

"I was thinking, I will pack some stuff and come stay with you for a few weeks until you head back to college. Tally is being unruly, and I want nothing to mess up the time we have left together. What do you think?" "James," she laughed. "It's your apartment. You can go there anytime you want to."

"I know, I know." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable with everything going on."

"I will admit it's been a lot. I was hoping not to run into them today, and I'm sorry you had to come deal with it. The whole thing is really embarrassing."

Once again, she was as sweet as ever. No matter the situation, she always thought it was her fault things happened.

"Don't worry about it. Eventually, they will see reason and let it go," I replied, hoping it would come true.

She let out a heavy sigh on the other end of the line that gripped at my heart. "As much as I want to believe that could be true, I don't think it will happen." "Don't say that..." I sighed. "We can take it one day at a time, okay?"

The silence on the phone had my heart racing. "Okay... sure that's fine."

"Okay." I let out a sigh of relief. "I will see you there soon."

"Okay, see you soon," she said, then hung up the phone.

Sitting there, I thought about it all. I was going through a lot for this girl, and I wasn't even sure why. Any other woman, I would have gotten rid of her just so I didn't have to deal with Allison and Tally's mouths. This was the reason I always kept things quiet.

Yet, with Becca-I couldn't.

*****

Becca.

The conversation with James weighed heavily on my mind. I didn't want to be that person to always be negative, but the rational part of my mind was screaming at me for being absolutely ridiculous. "Everything okay?" Allegra asked as she stood by the entrance to the shoe store.

"Hmm... oh yeah. I'm okay." I pushed my phone back into my purse.

"You don't look like you're fine."

"It's just a lot. You know everything with James and his family."

She knew very well what I meant, but she had been rooting for James and I to work things out ever since she met me. I wasn't sure if that was because she was friends with James or simply because she really did like me. Regardless, even she had to know I had to have limits to the crazy.

Any sane person would.

"I know it's rough, Becca. In the end, though, if you both care for each other, this will only bring you closer together and make you stronger."

"... And if it doesn't?" I asked, raising a brow in question.

Shrugging her shoulders, she took to a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes. "Well then, at least you can say you tried. Now, what do you think about these? I think the gold buckle accents your dress well." Laughter escaped me at how quickly she could change the conversation. It was one of the things I liked about Allegra so much. She was always quick to make sure she stayed in a positive attitude. "They're cute," I replied, watching her eyes widen in shock. "Cute? Girl, they are divine," Allegra said with exaggeration.

"If you say so. Let's get them and head back to your place."

"Oh, good idea. Neal is still here, and there is no telling what he is getting up to in my place all alone," she laughed. "That man can make a mess sometimes."

I was surprised to hear that Neal was still in town. The last time I saw him was the night at Velvet, and that was the same night that James made it very clear I was his.

I wasn't sure why he was so jealous of Neal, though. The man wasn't interested in me; he was simply being friendly. Neal had clarified that he liked men.

"I thought he was going home," I asked as I glanced at her with curiosity.

"He was supposed to, but then he changed his plans. Not sure why?"

"Hmm... maybe he met someone here, and that's why he is staying," I commented, watching as Allegra's gaze went from concentrating on money to soaking in what I'd said.

Turning to me with wide eyes, her lips parted. "Oh, my god. Maybe he did!"

"It would be nice to see him with someone. He is a very attractive man, and any man would be lucky to have him."

I watched her lips turn up into a grin. "Oh sweetie, if you only knew the truth about him."

I wasn't too sure what she meant about that, but I decided not to pay any attention to it. We paid and quickly left the store to get a cab home.

The entire day had been eventful, but there was nothing like coming back to the apartment and taking off my shoes and relaxing. Pouring myself a large glass of wine, I turned on the music in the apartment and took my shopping bags towards the back room.

Within the walls of the apartment, I felt safe, but it was only when James was with me that I felt I didn't have to worry about anything.

At least most of the time.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't realize the music had turned off until the sound of footsteps in the hallway caught my attention. Furrowing my brow, I slowly made my way towards the door to see James standing there. "You're back early," I said with a smile.

Yet, for some reason, there wasn't a smile on his face. Instead, he cleared the space between us and crashed his lips upon mine. Lost for words, I let him do as he pleased with me, and with as rough as he was being, I could tell that he desperately needed the release.

Placing my hands upon his chest, I gently pulled away to catch my breath. "What's wrong?"

He stared down at me for a moment in silence before shaking his head. "Nothing, I'm just glad that I'm back here with you."

His answer touched my heart, and even though it was sweet, I knew it wasn't the truth. Something was really bothering him, but if he didn't want to tell me, I wasn't going to press the issue.

Instead, I would enjoy the time I had with him, because I had no idea how long it would last. Pushing up on my tippy toes, I brushed my lips against his and wrapped my arms around his neck.

The kiss was slow and gentle, but I could tell he was holding back.

We both were. "Take me how you want me, James. Don't hold back."