Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 512 -

*Tallon*

Via dei Fagioli, or as it would be called in America, Bean Street. Tucked away in a quiet corner of the city where the artisans had taken over, it was the last place I expected Natalia to be. But there she was.

She was unmistakable as I spied her through the glass windows of the storefront, the tiny coffee shop too small to actually hide in, drinking something out of a classic white mug, happily in her own little world like she didn't have a care. Like she hadn't been driving me nuts for the past week.

My heart skipped a beat just watching her through the glass, my eyes tracing over her like I couldn't get enough, memorizing every inch of her. Who knew if this would go well? Who knew if I'd ever see her again after today? She'd ghosted me long enough. It was time to get answers.

The coffee shop was clearly local, as signified by the giant chalkboard they hung outside that labeled all of their specials and sales, and the fact that you could only get there through the winding streets of the artisan community.

The whole neighborhood looked like it had jumped out of something from the eighteen hundreds, down to the cast iron street lights on every corner and the unusual shops selling handmade soaps and finely-crafted cheese. There were hardly any people around, and I supposed that was why the place was as quiet as it was.

It seemed like a know-about-it-before-you-come kind of place.

And the coffee shop was no different.

I opened the door, the bell jingling above me as I did so, and the barista behind the counter smiled as I entered.

"Welcome to Bean Street!" she said in a chipper voice. "Can I get you anything?"

I glanced at the corner table where Natalia was, only able to see her back, her long hair falling over the wooden chair she sat in. There were only two other customers-a middle-aged man typing away on his laptop and an older woman with poofy white hair and a cane leaning against the table.

Neither of them even looked up as I approached the counter. The barista just smiled at me, like this was the best day of her life, and I glanced at her nametag pinned to her shirt, which said, "Giorgia."

"Could I have a-" I glanced at the chalkboard menu above her head, picking a random one, "Caramel latte, please?"

"Here or to go?" she asked immediately, inputting my order into the screen with an intense familiarity.

"Here." I glanced over at Natalia again, checking if she was still there or if she had even noticed me yet. She hadn't, of course. Good. The barista told me the price and I fished into my back pocket for my cash, pulling out a bill and handing it to her.

"Keep the change," I said with a nod at her.

She glanced up at me, shocked, then at the money in my hand, with wide eyes. "Are... are you sure? That's over double the price-"

"I'm sure," I smiled at her, watching as her cheeks turned bright pink in response. She could take it as thanks for helping me replace Natalia. "Thank you so much!" she beamed happily, gladly taking the money and stuffing it into the cash drawer. "I'll be right back with your drink."

She turned away, immediately beginning the process of making it. I waited patiently, watching Natalia from the corner of my eye. I could see her phone over her shoulder and watched as she scrolled through some random social media platform that I wasn't on.

"Here you go, sir!" The barista returned with a white mug, identical to the others in the shop.

I glanced at the cup, a little impressed to see a design of a rose made into the coffee and cream.

"Impressive." I grinned and she blushed a bright red.

"Thank you!" She waved fervently at me, then grabbed her own hand, blushing as she stuffed it below the counter.

I chuckled, grabbing the coffee by the handle and the tiny plate below it. I sent her a nod as I turned away, my heart racing as I caught sight of Natalia once again.

The afternoon light was pouring in from the window, illuminating the stones below like a golden path showing me the way to her. I walked around the table and gently set the latte on it, calmly sitting in the chair across from her. Despite it feeling like my heart was about to race out of my chest in anticipation, she didn't look up at all. I felt an intense and slightly annoyed impulse to gently grab her chin and draw her eyes to mine.

It had been too long since I'd seen her.

I licked my bottom lip, remembering the taste of her lips on mine. All of the pining I'd been doing had come back in full force, and I clenched my fists under the table, barely stopping myself from calling her name, hearing its sweet tones in my

ears.

But I was patient. I watched her, laying my head on my fist as I stared at her. The setting golden sun bursting from the windows cast a glow upon her, illuminating the softer tones in her hair and making her seem like she was a burning flame. I could stare at her all day like this, I thought. She was so goddamn beautiful and I'd never met anyone like her before. Maybe that was why I was so anxious to hold onto her.

I knew how crazy I was acting, and how creepy my behavior could come off, chasing a woman who'd rejected me. But there was just something about her that I couldn't get out of my head.

I just had to see her this one time and if she rejected me again, I'd walk away. That was the promise I'd crossed into my heart but now, I was second-guessing myself. The whirlwind of emotions that had smacked me in the face after meeting her again was enough to shake my resolve.

And finally, after a few minutes, I was rewarded for my patience.

Natalia reached out for her mug, her knuckles knocking into my cup and she jumped almost a foot in the air, her eyes whirling up. I witnessed the moment her eyes connected with mine, feeling a jolt of electricity jumping between us.

I sent her a grin, watching the emotions flit across her face in a hurricane-confusion and shock, then realization and uneasiness, and just a hint of hope peeking through it all. I may have been a hopeless fool, but I latched onto the lingering hope in her eyes, ignoring everything else as my heart leaped to my throat.

I swallowed, feeling just as nervous as she looked, and we stared at each other in silence, neither one of us speaking as we stared endlessly into each other's eyes.

And god, her eyes were brighter than the late summer sky, bluer than the clearest waves in the sea.

And though I'd enjoy just sitting here and staring at her, basking in her presence and the triumph that came with replaceing her after being ignored for so long, I had a job to do.

"Hey." I broke the silence in a low tone, watching her wavering eyes.

She glanced around at us nervously, but nobody else was paying attention. Both the patrons and the barista were off in their own little worlds. She glanced at her coffee and then mine, a look of something I couldn't recognize shimmering in her eyes before she glanced at the barista behind the counter.

Said barista glanced up at us with a knowing grin, giving Natalia a thumbs up. Natalia blushed a deep shade of red, sighing as she grabbed her temple with her thin fingers, exasperated for some reason.

I didn't realize why until I glanced at her own latte, the remnants of a heart still showing on top... a rose and a heart.

How fitting, I thought with a twinge to my upper lip. There was no way that was a coincidence.

"So," I started with a pointed look at her. "You ghosted me."

She swallowed uncomfortably, then looked me straight in the eyes with a steely determination. "You should have gotten the hint."

Damn. That was cold.

"You could've at least had the decency to tell me what I did wrong," I shot back, dropping the humor from my voice. I was a bit ashamed as I heard the hurt that slipped in, the note of accusation.

This wasn't how I wanted this to go. I was supposed to charm her, to make her rethink cutting me out of her life, to convince her to give me a chance.

But things were just going horribly wrong right out of the gate.

"Look, I'm sorry about ghosting you." Natalia sighed, looking a bit repentant. "But I meant what I said. I really can't do this anymore."

I stared at her for a few minutes, surveying every inch of her blankly and she shifted in her seat, looking uncomfortable.

Finally, I grinned and said, "Nope."

"What?" She burst out, giving me an incredulous look. "What do you mean, nope?"

"I mean," I said casually, "that I can tell you're not telling the truth and just making excuses. So, until you tell me a good reason for not giving me a chance, then I will sit here and drink my expertly prepared latte."

To prove my point, I leaned back in my chair, placing the latte to my lips and taking a sip. Just as I'd thought, the latte was pretty good. Natalia just stared at me open-mouthed, looking like I was crazy. She was probably right about that.

But I had a feeling she was a little crazy too.

"Fine. You want a good reason?" she huffed, crossing her arms. "Then I'm just not that into you."

"Try again," I countered easily. "We both know you are."

She gaped at my shamelessness, her cheeks burning red, and I knew I had caught her red-handed. I smirked at her, tilting my head and waiting for whatever she would come up with next.

"I'm an exchange student. I won't be here forever. I don't want to start a relationship just for it to end when I go back home."

"Then it won't. I'll come to visit you and pay for your plane tickets to visit me. Plus, there's the internet." I shrugged. "There are a million ways to stay connected when you leave. Besides, who knows when that will be?" "You're too old for me."

"Please, you're what, twenty-three? Ten years isn't that big of a difference," I quirked an eyebrow at her. "We're both adults."

"I don't have to take this! I said no, so leave me alone!" She slammed her palms on the table, avoiding my eyes as she got to her feet, and for a moment, I panicked.

I was going to lose her again.

Before she could lose her shoe and run away from the ball, I reached out to gently place my hand over hers.

"Natalia." I called her name softly and she flinched, finally looking me in the eyes. I could see the fear, the shame in her eyes, and though I didn't know what she was so afraid of, I knew that she was terrified.

"I like you," I told her bluntly, smiling softly as she blushed, her lips twitching into a smile before she tried to forcefully pull them down.

She looked away, completely unsure and anxious, but I got to my feet, circling the table and gently placing my palm on her cheek, guiding her gaze to my eyes.

"I like you, so I spend days thinking about nothing but you. You've driven me absolutely nuts, and I tracked you down just to beg you to give me a chance. So please, Natalia, don't run away again." I searched her eyes, replaceing that little hint of hope in them and praying she didn't push me away.

I leaned forward, keeping an eye on her reaction as I got closer and closer until our lips were just millimeters from brushing. I could feel the heat of her breath, and I waited there for her permission, letting her make the next move.

Her bottom lip wobbled, her blue eyes swimming with anxiety before finally, she shut her eyes, sighing.

"Okay," she murmured but then, just when she leaned forward, her lips brushing against mine just the tiniest bit, she was gone again.

Not even realizing I'd closed my eyes, I opened them, shocked to replace there was no one in front of me.

Panicked, I turned around, intending to chase after her, but I spotted her standing there with her back to the windows, the sunlight pouring in and illuminating her like an angel's halo.

She gave me a mischievous smile, hands tucked behind her back, looking more like a temptress than an angel as she stole my breath from my lungs once more.