Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 621 -

*Caterina*

As a college student, there was really no better feeling in the world than finishing up with finals and knowing that the semester was truly over. Naturally, the only thing better than that was that I'd gone ahead and aced all of them, which I happily had.

Maybe all that arguing with Elio before inspired me to study harder just to prove him wrong. The second he'd marched out of the house, I had permanently planted myself at the table and dove right back into my studies. Only resurfacing for occasional food breaks and sleep, my mind revolved around nothing but my classes for the rest of the semester.

My anger was what fueled me. But the moment my finals were finished, I felt utterly drained. My body was physically exhausted, and my head throbbed from the lack of sleep. I was more than happy to let myself crash the moment it was all over.

My mother was, of course, happy for me that I was finally finished. Yet, the person I wanted to speak to the most was someone who'd lashed out at me and hurt my feelings for some unknown reason. As sad as it sounded, I missed Elio.

There was hardly anyone in the world who supported my studies more than him. And with all my academic success, I couldn't replace the courage-much less the energy-to reach out and talk to him.

Each time I tried, I was instantly struck with the thought that he'd yell at me again for some reason. I knew he was busy, and I wasn't going to risk the chance. Nevertheless, I missed him and wanted so badly to see him and talk to him again. But in the meantime, I was more than ready to put the past behind me, and I eagerly looked forward to my transfer to UCLA. And while my world shifted from books and homework assignments to Christmas lights and party planning, my new classes had already been selected and my books purchased.

I felt ready.

My mind was still somewhat reeling from having seen Elio yesterday. Seeing his name pop up on my phone screen nearly made my heart jump into my throat. I didn't know what to expect when I answered the call.

Part of me half anticipated Elio to tell me that a relationship between the two of us was just not worth it. Maybe he still really thought of me as some immature child. But when I heard just how heavy his voice sounded, I knew that wasn't the

case.

And when I saw him standing on the other side of my doorway, any previous assumption I had bouncing around in my head instantly vanished. Aside from looking exhausted and rundown, Elio appeared distressed and... desperate. My stomach twisted in knots when he outright apologized for his behavior from the last time I saw him. I had honestly never thought I'd see the day when Elio would own up to his actions. It made me want to reach out and snatch him from the doorway.

I wanted to remind myself what his arms felt like around me.

Thankfully, Elio shared that same interest. He'd wrapped his arms around me, and I became consumed in his warm embrace.

What I hadn't fully expected was him moving us into the living room, where I ended up full-on straddling the man on the couch. Granted, yes, I was the one who started tearing away at our clothes. But I sure as hell didn't think that Elio would follow that up with sliding his hand into the band of my leggings and feeling just how badly I wanted him.

Oh, how my stomach fluttered at the memory of seeing his eyes filled with such raw arousal. Thank God, we made up. I didn't think I could have handled never feeling his touch again. I still couldn't believe that this was truly how I felt toward him after leaving to get away from him.

And yet there we were, most likely in the throes of nearly having sex out there in the open space of the living room... well, that was until Anna basically walked in on the whole scene.

No. I genuinely did not think I was going to recover from that form of embarrassment. Even after Elio and I collected ourselves and proceeded to go our separate ways, trying our best to downplay the whole scene, Anna had been quick to drill me for details.

It was only two days before Christmas, and the final details of our dinner party were just about finished up. Anna confirmed that nearly everyone whom we'd reached out to had accepted the invitation.

This had me feeling a mix of excitement and pure anxiety. It had been so long since I last connected with our other friends. I'd planned on telling everyone about my transfer to UCLA and hoped they'd be interested in rekindling our friendship as a group.

"Oh, Cat, would you please relax?" Anna shouted from the kitchen. "Everything is going to be great tonight."

I took my bottom lip between my teeth. "I just want everything to be perfect tonight," I told her. "Anna, it's been over two years since I've seen everyone. What if... what if"

"What if they decide to give you hell and curse you off for not keeping better contact with them and basically shun you from ever trying to be in our friend group ever again?" My mouth fell open. My eyes widened in startled bafflement.

"Well, shit, Anna. Tell me how you really feel, why don't you?" I stammered.

Anna playfully rolled her eyes and gave me a reassuring smile.

"Seriously, Cat. Cut yourself a break. Our friends know that you went away for school because it was the best option for you at the time," she said. "They're not going to begrudge you."

As if it weren't nerve-wracking enough trying to connect with our old friends, Anna had gone ahead and invited some new people from campus to introduce to me as well. I wanted to make a good first impression.

Anna finished stacking some plates in the kitchen, and she proceeded to join me in the living room. I carefully glanced around the area to make sure that everything was where it needed to be. But my eyes tended to linger on the couch too long for it to go unnoticed by my friend.

Anna smirked and nudged me on my shoulder.

"So... you and Elio," she said suggestively. "I take it that the two of you are really back on good terms with one another?"

A slight blush touched my cheeks. "Yes, Anna. It's like I told you yesterday. Elio came by after work and we both apologized for acting stupid to each other, and now we're good."

She tilted her head in thought.

"You're sure?" she asked calmly. "I mean, aside from clearly looking embarrassed, I feel like something was still slightly off when he left. I don't know, maybe it was something in his expression. It looked a little solemn."

Normally, I would be quick to deny and brush off anything that involved my relationship with Elio. But the more I let myself dwell on the idea, the more I felt she was right. Elio did look a little off before he left yesterday. His features appeared drawn and slack, as if he were... disappointed?

At first, I didn't know why. Yet, the more my mind circled around the matter, the more I got to thinking.

Oh, shit.

"Do you think it may be because I didn't invite him to our dinner party tonight?" I asked sheepishly.

Anna took a sudden step back from me and stared.

"Wait. Cat, you didn't invite Elio? Why?"

I planted my hands on my hips and let out a complicated sigh. Anna knew that we were still keeping things on the down low, which had to have been why he had looked so stunned when Anna walked in on us.

"Well, for a few reasons. One, there's a good chance that my mother will be floating around tonight."

"Okay, so?"

I raised a brow. "As far as my mother knows, she believes that I still hate Elio," I explained. "I'm pretty sure it's going to raise some questions if she manages to catch the two of us kissing." My stomach twisted into knots at the thought of having that exact moment actually happen.

She slowly nodded her head. "Alright, I see your point there. And the other reasons?"

"He and I are still trying to keep a low profile on our relationship. For him to even be here would cause people to question things. I know that if he was going to be here, I would want to spend most of the night by his side." "Yeah, I can see how that would be a bit suspicious," she commented with a gentle smile.

"Believe me, I would love nothing more than to have him here tonight, but... I feel like it's just too much of a risk right now."

As Anna went off to double check on something back in the kitchen, my gaze continued to linger on the spot where Elio and I had our intimate moment before. A strange heart-warming sensation swelled in my chest.

***

My previous worries about the evening gradually eased as the night went on. Once the sun finally set behind the tree line and festive lights were turned on, the whole place really felt magical. We had light music playing in the background, and everything was ready in place.

At first, my nerves were on edge as people were beginning to filter in. But much like my initial reconnection with Anna, many of our other friends reacted the same way.

"Cat! Oh, my God, you look great!"

"Is it true that you're really starting the new semester at UCLA?"

"What are your classes? We should totally pick a place on campus and make it our study spot."

Any trace of anxiety I thought I was feeling naturally melted away as time went on. And Anna, in between her role as designated bartender, was sweet enough to introduce me to some new people that I could be sharing classes with in the future. A couple of them even had the same major as me. It was good to know that I at least would recognize some people when I started up at my new school.

Yes, everything seemed to be going perfectly.

But the thought of Elio not being there really stuck in my mind. As I suspected, my mother waved her way into our night simply to say hello to a few people. I kept trying to remind myself that it simply wouldn't have worked out if he were there.

But that didn't stop me from wishing otherwise.

A little more than halfway through the evening, I heard a knock at the door. Anna turned to give me a questionable look because everyone who was invited was already there.

We both shrugged our shoulders as Anna went over to the door to answer it.

I turned back from the scene, thinking nothing of it. Suddenly, I noticed the strange shift in Anna's tone change when she realized who it was standing there.

"Paul?"

My heart dropped into my stomach as I turned around to see the familiar figure standing there.

'What the hell is he doing here?' I thought angrily to myself.