Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 907 : Clingy Boyfriends

*Bianca*

Clingy doesn’t even begin to describe Leo over the past few days. It started when he came back home in a rush one night, waking me in the middle of the night and smelling of alcohol. His flustered appearance and the flurry of apologies from his mouth alarmed me even at three o’clock in the morning but he refused to tell me what was wrong.

It took a lot of coaxing that night just to get him to fall asleep with me and even then, it was only when I was wrapped suffocatingly in his arms that his eyes closed. In the morning, his behavior turned one-eighty as he pretended like nothing happened and he was perfectly fine.

But after that, much to my confusion and suspicion, Leo became joined at the hip with me. Taking days off from work to spend at home with me on the weekends, no more late nights as he came home promptly on time every day. He even made sure to silence his phone when we were together, even if it kept buzzing with what I suspected were important calls.

As happy as I am to see him trying so hard to make it up to me, something felt off about the whole ordeal. He’d become almost obsessive, wanting to know where I was, what I was doing, and who I was with at all times.

It felt suffocating.

“Staying late, again?” Taylor grinned as he took the seat next to me, laying his head on his hand as he watched me carefully. I shrugged as I dug into the bag of chips I’d fished out of the vending machine.

“It’s a day for staying late, I guess,” I said ominously, not wanting to get into it.

Taylor just laughed and I sent him a smile. He somehow always found a way to brighten my mood, though I still couldn’t get rid of the inkling that he felt familiar somehow. The courtyard is full of students at this time of day, most heading for night classes or scheduling parties at the dorms.

Since I didn’t live on campus, I naturally wasn’t invited.

I spotted Isabela in the distance power walking straight towards her and I waved her over with a grin. She slammed her books on the table, giving me a fevered look as she blurted out,

“Emily Dickinson, lesbian or not?”

After a moment of shocked silence, where Taylor and I stared at her in complete confusion and disbelief, it was Taylor who cracked first.

He burst into laughter, holding his stomach as he curled over in his seat. Meanwhile, I blinked at Isabela a few times, struggling not to laugh myself.

“Most likely, yes,” I answered her as best I could. I wasn’t exactly an expert on Emily Dickenson but when all signs point to yes, it’s most likely a yes.

“Thank you!” Isabela threw her hands in the air, hugging me as she sat down. “Some idiot kept arguing with me about it in English class today. I bet you he’s never even read any of her works before, just thinks ‘she was hot’. Jocks and their small ass brains.”

“Brian Mattsen, right?” Taylor grinned widely, “Overheard him telling the Gym bros yesterday that if he had a time machine, he’d have a threesome with Dickinson and Cleopatra.”

“Gross!” Isabela reeled back in disgust.

“I have to second that,” I shook my head. “Besides, they aren’t even from the same period.”

“Yeah, the finest example of species of men, are they?” Taylor joked with a laugh. He grabbed one of my unopened juice boxes, ignoring the stink eye I sent him as he stuck in the straw in one go.

“Isn’t that...” Isabela squinted her eyes together, looking over my shoulder with a tilted head and Taylor followed her gaze, raising his eyebrows at the same time. Bewildered by their expressions, I went to turn around but before I could, an arm slid around my shoulders and a familiar voice whispered in my ear, “Hey, baby.”

“Leo? What are you doing here?” Surprise, I whirled around to see him and there he was. Standing out like a sore thumb in a formal suit and tie, the whispers and pointing that now followed from him to us had me flushing in embarrassment.

Leo, however, only stared at Isabela and Taylor with narrowed eyes, despite having met them before. Taylor smirked, drinking his juice as he stared back completely unaffected but Isabela shrunk in her seat, looking nervous at his fierce look.

“Leo, you’re freaking them out,” I frowned at my boyfriend, snapping my fingers to get his attention and he glanced down at me for a moment. I flinched as I saw the harshness behind his eyes, looking at me halfway in suspicion and betrayal.

“You’re late again,” he said simply like I’ve done something unforgivable. “You didn’t tell me you would be.”

“I just wanted to hang out with my friends,” I glared back at him, not liking this side of him one bit. “Is that really so wrong?”

“Right, your friends,” he said, still acting all weird as he turned to my friends with a calm but sharp grin. “Isabela and Taylor, right? English major and what major are you again?”

“Leo!” I call sharply but he didn’t even look at me. His rude bluntness isn’t like him and I open my mouth to scold him when Taylor let out a chuckle.

“Haven’t decided yet. Is that a problem, Mr. Valentino?” Taylor challenged him with a smirk and Leo’s gaze darkened on my friend like he was seeing a threat in front of him.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever told you my last name,” Leo said grimly.

My heart thudded rapidly in my chest as the tension between them was like sparks of electricity, more like enemies meeting on a battlefield and not on a college campus. My stomach churned unhappily and I felt like I’m going to be sick again.

I don’t know if it’s because of the baby or because of how utterly appalled and embarrassed I am by Leo’s behavior. Either way, I didn’t want to stay here one more minute less things get physical.

“Enough, both of you!” I snapped harshly, glaring at Leo. I knew that Taylor shared a bit of the blame as well, provoking him but I couldn’t take this from Leo anymore. His behavior reminded me strongly of...

My ex.

I shut my eyes for a moment, struggling to push that thought back before I made a firm decision. I shove the rest of my vending machine snacks over to Taylor and Isabela and shoulder my bag before I grab Leo’s hand.

“Just stop, Leo,” I told him quietly and he finally looked at me, a worried look crossing his features as I got to my feet and tugged on him to follow me. “Let’s go.”

“You shouldn’t have to leave if you don’t want to, Bianca,” Taylor scowled, glaring at Leo but I just shook my head as his words only made things worse. Leo’s sharp glare fell on him and I knew I had to get him out of here now.

“I’m fine, I want to go home anyway,” I plastered on a fake smile to reassure Taylor, but he frowned, looking like he didn’t believe me one bit. “Bye, you two. See you later.”

I didn’t give them time to answer before I dragged Leo out of the courtyard and down to the parking lot. Leo followed me tensely, only a step behind as he hovered protectively around me.

I squeezed back the humiliated tears in my eyes, and my mind couldn’t help but go back to when I was with Matteo. It’s unfair, I knew that, especially since Leo was only doing this out of concern for my safety but...

All of this hovering, watching my every move, and now even following me and vetting my friends?

It was too similar to Matteo’s behavior in the past before I realized how isolated I’d become. I never wanted to feel that helpless again.

We were in the car before I broke out of my racing thoughts and I glanced over at Leo who’s silent as we pulled out of the parking lot. I don’t know how to convey my feelings to him anymore. How to talk to him about how nervous and anxious his behavior has made me.

I don’t know if I even want to anymore.

I squeeze my eyes shut, laying a hand over my stomach. It’s still flat, too early to be showing and I’m terrified that I’ll never be able to tell Leo. Or maybe it would be better if he never found out.

I ran from Italy to escape Matteo. I can’t believe I’m even thinking of running away from Leo now. Even after his actions, I still loved him.

But my temper flared up as I thought back to the humiliation that still lingered over my body, turning to a deep anger.

“How could you do that to my friends?” I broke the silence with a cold glare at my boyfriend.

Leo frowned, glancing at me as we stopped at a red light. “What do you mean?” 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

“You were rude and basically tried to interrogate them! They’re my friends, Leo, they don’t deserve that kind of treatment from you!”

Leo snorted. “And you think you know them so well, do you? I’m just looking out for you to keep you safe!”

“No, you’re acting like a jackass and trying to control every aspect of my life. It’s been days of this and I’m fed up, Leo!” I shouted at him, my feelings all pouring out without me being able to stop. “I’m tired of all of it! I can’t even spend a few hours with my friends without you following me like a stalker! I hate it!”

Leo gritted his teeth, hands tightening on the wheel. “I’m sorry my priority of your safety is such an inconvenience to you.”

We pulled into the driveway, the tension between us reaching a new high and I glowered over at Leo as I grabbed my bag and slipped out of the car. I gave him one last glare as I told him, “Well, it is, Leo. I’m not going to let you walk all over my boundaries just because you can’t get yourself together. I’ll sleep in my old room tonight.”

“Fine!” Leo snapped.

“Fine!” I stormed into the house, leaving him behind as I followed the familiar path back to my old room. I threw my bag onto the floor and fell onto the bed as I pushed a pillow straight into my face and screamed as loudly as I could.

It didn’t make me feel any better.

Maybe it’s the hormones or maybe it’s just all my stress spilling out at once but I lay there like that for a few minutes, not even wanting to move as I brood in silence.

It wasn’t until my phone rang in my pocket that I finally moved, snatching it up and answering with a grumpy, “What?”

“Excuse me? Is that any way to talk to your mother?”

I scrambled to sit up, guilt rushing through me. “Sorry, Mom. It’s just been... a bad day.”

“You want to talk about it?” she asked, as caring as ever and I smiled sadly. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. Between the baby and Leo, there was so much she didn’t know. So much she couldn’t know.

“Not really. What did you call for? Everything okay over there?” I changed the subject, hoping she’d let it go.

There was a pause before she sighed. “Yes, of course. Your aunt and uncle just arrived with your cousins and they’re all asking about you. Your holiday break is coming up, right? You think you’ll be able to make it back home for Christmas?”

I hesitated, my thoughts trailing back to Leo’s recent overprotective behavior and then the threat with Michael that still loomed over both of our heads.

“I don’t know,” I told her honestly. “I...I have to see if Leo already has plans.”

“Well, alright, but get back to me as soon as you can.”

“I will,” I said quietly. “Give the family my love.”

“Oh, you bet I will!” Mom’s chipper voice brightened my shitty mood like it always does and we chatted for a few minutes, before hanging up.

Once I was alone, however, my smile fell.

Home. I wanted nothing more than to go, and spend Christmas with my family but...

I wasn’t sure Leo would be okay with that.