Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 916 : A rift forms

*Bianca*

Leo’s eyes were locked on mine, even from across the beach and my heart pounded in my chest as I realized all of a sudden exactly what this looked like.

With the glow of the firelight cast over our expressions, my hand outstretched to Liam as his body leaned towards me as he offered up his dark leather jacket. From far away, it would be easy to overlook the unknown details.

We didn’t look like a pair of strangers and Liam didn’t look like a guy trying to do the right thing.

I’m sure that, in Leo’s eyes, I looked like a betrayer.

I jolt to my feet, pushing Liam’s outstretched arm away from me in sheer panic. I stepped forward, my sandals digging into the sand and before I could even think about running towards my boyfriend and explaining what was going on, I started to tilt.

You’ve gotta be kidding me, I thought, not even raising my arms to defend myself as I glared at the sand now rushing toward my face at full speed.

“Whoa there!” Liam dropped his jacket onto the sand, and his arms wrapped around me, catching me before I fell. However, I froze up even further as I glanced up at him with wide, shocked eyes.

His handsome face stared down at me with a grin, and this scene could be from any romantic comedy ever. If only my male lead wasn’t watching us from afar as I fucked this up as far as I could.

“I’m sorry! I have to go!” I scrambled out of Liam’s arms, ignoring the fall of his expression as I turned back to where I saw Leo. My heart nearly stopped as I see nothing but his back as he walked away from us. “Wait!”

I take off my stupid sandals, wishing I’d been sensible, and wear my tennis shoes before I take off barefoot across the sandy beach. I dodged past the dancers and I swear I even heard Taylor or Isabela shouting my name as I ran but my blood pumped in my ears as I ran determinedly towards Leo.

I can’t lose him. Not like this.

“Leo, please!” I cried out helplessly, reaching my arm out towards his large back but his long legs and tall figure gave him quite the advantage. The sandy floor turned to concrete as I followed him onto the asphalt of the parking lot and I finally caught up to him.

I latched onto his arm and he stopped finally, going utterly still but he didn’t turn to face me. I struggled to catch my breath, keeping a tight grip on Leo like he might walk away again if I let him go.

“Wait, please, it’s not like that...” I coughed out raggedly, more out of breath than I thought and I glared at my belly which I suspect is the main cause. I looked up at Leo pleadingly but he didn’t even look at me, head downcast. “It was just a misunderstanding, Leo, I swear! He offered me his jacket because I was cold and I turned him down!”

I pulled on his arm, rushing around to his front while still holding onto his arm and I attempted to look up into his eyes, hoping he would look at me but he stared fixated over my head. His jaw is clenched, mouth set in a grim line and my heart ached painfully as I see the hurt he’s trying to hide.

“Leo, please, I would never-” I tried to explain again, my hand traveling down his wrist to his limp hand when I felt something soft and cold in his hand. I frowned, glancing at his hand and my breath caught in my throat.

Holding tightly onto a bouquet of flowers, most of the plastic casing and stems are crushed around his tight grip but the beautiful flowers remain as bright and healthy as ever. A light blush of pink color, the twelve flowers are ones I didn’t recognize but that didn’t make them any less gorgeous to see.

Unfurled petals by the hundreds, all curled around a tight yellow center, they resembled a rose and didn’t at the same time.

“Oh, Leo,” I said softly, “They’re beautiful.”

I reached out for his tightly bound hand still clasping the flowers tightly and I felt him flinch at my touch. I felt like my heart was being painfully squeezed at how utterly hurt and distraught he looked.

“I-” I go to explain more, to try to make him understand that I would never do anything behind his back. I never meant to hurt him and it was a simple misunderstanding but Leo finally looked at me, his eyes filled with an ice that chilled me straight to my core.

“I don’t want to hear your excuses,” Leo glared at me more angrily than I’ve ever seen him in the past. “Do you know what kind of danger you put yourself in? Coming to a party like this when you know I have enemies after you! Do you know what could’ve happened?”

I winced but didn’t let go of him, knowing this could be my only chance to set the record straight. Even though I knew that he was right. I flushed with shame as I felt Leo’s angry burning eyes on me and I knew that as upset as he was, most of it was out of concern for my safety.

“The cherry on top of all of your bad decisions lately, Bianca,” Leo said harshly, “is that I have to see you getting cozy with a complete stranger right in front of my eyes.”

Tears sprung to my eyes as he looked down at me and for the first time since we’d met, I couldn’t see any traces of that sweet, lovable goofball who made me fall in love with him. Still, I grit my teeth, not letting go as the unfairness of it all hit me like a punch to the gut.

“I just wanted to go out and have some fun, for once!” I yelled at him, tearfully, “I’m so tired of just being stuck inside, waiting for you at home all day, and having you ignore my calls over and over again! It sucks! I can’t do it anymore!”

“I’m sorry that my life is such an inconvenience to you, Bianca,” Leo snapped back, the flowers clutched in his hand snapping one by one from how hard he gripped them. I tugged on the bouquet, wanting to save what little of it was left but Leo’s destructive grip was more powerful than mine. “I’ve been working my ass off to keep you safe while all you want to do is go out and grind on some guy’s dick!”

“I’ve never–” I stared up at him in horror, both offended and hurt at his harsh words. I stepped back, finally letting go of his hand and flowers as I wrapped both of my arms around my waist. I felt like a rift had opened up between us, putting us on opposite sides with a chasm we couldn’t cross between us.

There was a flash of regret across Leo’s face as he watched me but he was as still as a stone, not willing to back down this time.

My lip trembled as I glanced at the floor, the petals of the flowers and snapped stems catching my attention. I felt as broken as them right now and within that bitterness, a rush of anger welled up.

I wiped the tears from my eyes as I glared up at him in fury.

“I would never betray you like that and you know that, Leo,” I said fiercely, clenching my fists by my side. “You wanna talk about betrayal though? How about we talk about what I overheard last night?”

I watched his face crumble in confusion and then realized as guilt crossed his handsome features.

“What are you going to do when you get your hands on me, Leo? Strangle me too?” I retaliated with just as much viciousness as he’d thrown at me. It felt horrible and good at the same time as his face fell at my words.

“That was completely out of context,” Leo tried to fight his way out of it but I only sneered at him, feeling just as badly as he did right now. I knew how terrible I was being, I knew that none of this was fair to either him or me but I was so hurt, I couldn’t stop.

“I don’t want to hear your excuses!” I threw his words back at him and he flinched, his anger draining away as he paled in front of me. “You’ve been hiding things behind my back too, Leo. So get your ass off your high and mighty horse! When were you going to tell me about all of that bullshit, Leo?”

“It’s different,” Leo argued but flailing as I pierced him with a harsh glare. “I only hit it to protect you! You know what the people in my business are like! I don’t want them to target you and ruin things!”

“No, because you’re doing a good job at that yourself!”

Silence fell between us with a burdening heaviness and we both looked away from one another, our emotions brimming like an overflowing cup. I shut my eyes, my shoulders falling exhausted as the anger disappeared and all I could feel was sorrow and regret.

I hate this.

I hate it with all of my heart.

“Bianca!”

We both flinched as we heard my name called out and I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or worried as I saw Isabela running over with Liam trailing behind her.

“Are you alright? This guy said you took off after-” She halted in her tracks next to me as soon as she saw Leo. “I’m so sorry. Are we interrupting something?”

I glanced at Liam with a frown, wondering how he knew Isabela was my friend and who she even was but I shook it off as I remembered we came in together. I glanced at my friend, worriedly looking between me and Leo but a protective stance to her like if I said the word, she’d jump in to protect me.

I smiled a bit, feeling exhausted and empty inside though.

“I’m not really in the mood to party anymore so I’m going to go home,” I tell her quietly. “You and Taylor have fun.”

“But-” Isabela said hesitantly but I just shook my head with a small smile, letting her know I’d be alright.

I avoided Leo’s eyes as I walked over to his side, not touching him but just barely grazing his arm as I said lowly, “Let’s go.”

Leo nodded stiffly, heading out to his car. As I followed, I couldn’t help but glance back at Isabela who was speaking quietly to Liam. I found it odd but shrugged it off as I turned back to chase after Leo’s fast form.

I settled into the passenger seat of his car, buckling up and there was still nothing but silence between us until I felt Leo drop something into my lap. The bouquet of flowers, now utterly messed up and broken, lay motionless.

As the car starts up, I can’t help but feel sorry for the poor ruined flowers.

Sympathy and guilt wouldn’t restore them though.