Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 95 -

Весса.

The moment I took my last exam was the moment I felt a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. I couldn't believe after all the hard work I had put into getting my degree, I was one step closer to finally being done with everything. A smile filled my face as I walked out of those doors for the very last time and made my way towards my apartment.

I would move in just two days down to Neal's apartment to live with him while I did my internship with his company, something that, after much thought and consideration, I had accepted without hesitation because I felt it was the best move for me.

It was strange making those choices for me. For so long, I had followed in Tally's footsteps, but only because I had been so blinded by the truth of everything. For once in my life, I was doing something for me.

Not to mention being around Neal made me smile. Made me forget about... someone else.

"Hey there, gorgeous," a voice said from behind me, causing me to jump as I spun around to see Neal standing with a bouquet and a smile on his face.

"Holy crap, you scared me," I said, placing my hand over my heart. "What are you doing here?"

Laughing, he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close to him, kissing the side of my head. "Did you really think I would miss out on your last day of actually being in the school?"

"I don't know." As I kissed the side of his face, I smiled and took the flowers from him. "I guess I didn't expect you to be here. I thought we were going to see each other in two days."

Roses were my favorite, and not just any roses. White roses. To see him with them made my heart warm with the thought that he'd remembered something small like that. They were beautiful, and as he took my free hand, he walked with me towards the apartment where I saw a moving truck currently set up with people coming in and out of the building.

"Jesus, people are already moving out, and school's not even done yet."

"Not people. Just you," Neal replied with a chuckle, my eyes darting towards him as he stared at me with a raised brow and a mischievous grin. "What are you talking about?"

"Well, considering that you had already agreed to move down in two days, I figured, why not push that up? Plus, I have a surprise for you I want to share, and the only way I'm going to do that is if I have you down in New York by tomorrow," he replied as I stood absolutely dumbfounded by what he was saying.

"Neal, I can't go tomorrow. I still have to clear everything with admissions for the internship," I said as I looked around at the things being moved in utter disbelief.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. I took care of everything. I knew you were stressing over it yesterday while trying to manage these exams, and I took it upon myself to send over all the paperwork. I told them I wanted you starting Monday."

Most women would have thought he was overstepping his bounds, and a part of me slightly did. However, I also knew he was simply trying to help, and he wanted to make sure everything was perfect for me.

So regardless of being utterly surprised by all of this, I turned and kissed him with a smile. "Thank you for helping me."

"Was I doing just a little too much?" he muttered against my lips with a small frown.

"Maybe just a little, but I appreciate it, nonetheless." I giggled. "So I take it we're leaving tonight?"

"Yes, actually we leave in an hour."

Staring at his excited expression, I slowly questioned him. "An hour? That doesn't even give me enough time to pack."

Yet, by the look on Neal's face, I had a feeling that he was well aware of this and also had a way to fix that problem. Before I could even ask another question, Neal turned to the black car sitting at our right and hit the button on his key fob. "Got that taken care of, as well," he said proudly, causing my eyes to go wide with shock as I questioned whether or not he was going way overboard.

More overboard than I initially had expected.

"How in the world did you know what to pack me?" Hesitation filled me with the idea he took it upon himself to go through my things and make sure everything private had been packed. I mean, I had slept with him, but even then, some things are left private.

"Oh, I didn't pack any of that stuff."

"You didn't pack it," I whispered in confusion. "Who packed it then?"

Before he could say another word, I heard my name being yelled from the balcony upstairs and as I looked up towards the balcony of my apartment, there stood Allegra.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" I laughed as I looked up at her. She was gesturing for us to come inside. Of course, this girl would be here with him.

"You two have been plotting, haven't you?" I questioned with a raised brow as Neal closed the trunk of the car and smiled at me.

"Perhaps," he said, shrugging nonchalantly, We walked towards the building. I wasn't sure what to expect heading up, but knowing the two of them, they had something up their sleeves.

As soon as I stepped inside, I was wrapped in Allegra's embrace, her smiling face glancing at me as I looked around the apartment. It was quite obvious they must have gotten here this morning right after I had left to go take all of my exams. There were boxes piled everywhere, as well as wrapping paper for things that were fragile and plenty of packing tape.

"You were in on all of this?"

"Technically, yes. I took a red eye flight this morning, so I'm extremely tired. However, I have been drinking a lot of coffee, which is something I rarely do, just to make sure that I could get everything packed for you to move down with my brother," she rambled, not able to stand still for more than a minute.

"You really have had a lot of caffeine, haven't you?" I laughed as she nodded her head and continued packing away at a box sitting on my coffee table.

"But I'm completing a lot. I'm to stay here under the strict order of my brothers to make sure that the movers have everything packed properly, and then I am to take a flight back home."

Slightly confused, I furrowed my brows, looking at Neal. "He had you come up here to pack my apartment and then turn around and leave? Allegra, that's a lot."

"Oh, heavens no. I have a lot of things to do, but I actually volunteered for this position, and I'm glad that I did, because let me tell you, you have some naughty, naughty things in your bedroom."

The statement she made caused my cheeks to flush red as Neal chuckled behind me. It was obvious the two of them were overly excited about me moving down to New York City and living with Neal.

However, we were only going to be friends with benefits per se until we were one-hundred percent sure a relationship between the two of us was exactly what we wanted. Honestly, I was happy he had agreed with that because after everything with James and now being pregnant with his baby, I wasn't sure if I was ready to take anything super serious.

I only wanted to take things one day at a time, and if things did blossom between Neal and I, then I would be thrilled with the turnout.

"Alright, you two," Neal said with a sigh as he interrupted our conversation. "Go ahead and continue your little gossip. I'm going to hurry downstairs and make sure that the guys know the agenda for everything."

Neal disappeared from sight before I could even say anything regarding his comment. Every time I saw him, he surprised me, and it made me wonder what else he had planned for me.

"I'm so glad that everything is working out with you two," Allegra said, pulling me from my thoughts.

Turning to her, I shook my head and took a seat on the sofa. "Well, don't get overly excited. We're taking things one day at a time."

"Oh, I know, sweetie. Don't worry. He filled me in on everything. However, I want you to know that you need to do what's best for you. Don't worry about hurting anybody's feelings. At the end of the day, it's what makes you happy that matters." Her motherly tone was warming, but I couldn't help but feel if Neal and I didn't work, I would lose her, too.

"I just don't want to lose you if we don't work out," I admitted, watching as she turned towards me with a frown.

"Oh, sweetie." She hushed me as she sat next to me. "You're not going to lose me."

Since she seemed sincere in her comment, I couldn't help but wonder if there was more to all of this. If the whole thing with Neal and I was... I don't know... official already?

It can't be, though. Not with my situation with James.

"Can I ask you something?"

Her eyes met mine with a smile as she nodded. "You don't ever have to ask if you can ask me something, just simply ask it."

Nodding, I hesitated for a split second, wondering if I should even ask about James. My mind had been swirling back to him over the last two days, and I couldn't help but wonder if things were well enough that I'd be able to tell him about... our baby.

"Have you heard anything about James or Tally?"

It wasn't a question she was expecting, and as she straightened her shoulders, staring at me for a moment, she shrugged. "Yes, I have. Slightly... Tally had the baby, and she's doing really well. It's actually driving Allison insane because she refuses to see her. As for James... I'm not one-hundred percent sure what's going on, but I know there's something big brewing. I've heard whispers of issues with the Russians again, but I'm not sure."

It wasn't the response I was actually looking for, but hearing there may have been a possibility he was still tied up in all of that mess solidified me staying away from him. I would never keep his child from him, but I didn't have to be with him for him to be part of his child's life.

He would simply just have to understand where I was coming from.

I didn't want to bring a baby up in that world.

The thought broke my heart. I was living with this mess, but I was glad I had Allegra and Neal here to support me. Without them, I don't know what I would do.