Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 1017 : A Moment of Perfection

*Bianca*

“Are you alright?” I asked Leo as he climbed into bed with me.

I had been asleep for a couple of hours already. I glanced at the time to see it was just after midnight. This was around the typical time Leo finally made it back.

“I’m fine,” he said tensely, his whole body language screaming the opposite of the curt words.

I frowned but didn’t immediately retort, allowing him to settle in bed. He clearly had a lot on his mind, even more so than usual. As much as I wanted to just poke and prod so I could help him get it off of his chest, I knew that he needed to sit with his feelings.

I shifted so that I was facing him. He wasn’t looking at me but he was facing me. I could make out the glint in his eyes even in the dark. I raised my hand and cupped the side of his face. “I’m always here if you want to talk,” I murmured to him.

I felt his cheek move as he smiled at me. “I know,” he said and his arms wound around my waist so he could pull me in close, immediately bathing my entire body in delicious warmth. His nose buried itself in my hair. He inhaled deeply and then kissed the top of my head. “I really don’t deserve you.”

“Don’t say that,” I scolded gently, burying my face in his chest and bumping my head against his chin. “We deserve each other.”

“I love you,” he murmured and while it wasn’t quite in agreement with my statement, I decided to take it, snuggling deeper into his warmth.

“I love you too,” I said, my eyes drooping.

I hadn’t been sleeping the best. With everything going on lately, it was difficult to rest deeply but now that I had Leo with me, I instantly relaxed. I decided to push those darker thoughts out of my mind for now.

All that mattered at the moment was us.

With that beautiful thought, I fell asleep, bathed in the warmth of the man I loved.

It felt like I barely blinked when the sound of our bedroom door flying open caused Leo and me to shoot up in bed.

“Good morning!” Amara chirped loudly, dancing around the room.

I blinked at her, my brain clouded with sleep as I tried to make sense of what was happening. “Amara,” I groaned. “What the actual hell-”

My best friend didn’t let me finish and I gasped in shock as she grasped my arms and pulled me from the bed with relative ease, considering that my rounded tummy added several extra pounds.

“Careful!” Leo cautioned, his voice gruff.

“I’m fine,” I told him quickly, not wanting him mad at my friend. I frowned at Amara. “What’s going on?”

“No time for explanations,” she told me, her bright eyes gleaming with excitement. “We’ve got a busy day ahead of us and you need to get ready.” she thrust a bag into my hands. “There’s an outfit for you in there. Once you’ve changed, I’ll help you with your hair and make-up.”

I raised an eyebrow and then glanced at Leo but my fiance just looked amused and maybe a little bit annoyed to have been woken up this way.

“I’ll be back in five minutes,” Amara sang, skipping out of the room. She poked her head back into the room a half-second later. “Oh, and I will be timing.” Then, she shut the door behind her.

“She’s a force to be reckoned with,” Leo muttered, moving around the room to get ready himself.

I looked into the bag to find a floral maternity gown with soft Violet flowers. I smiled at it and pulled it out of the bag. I lifted the gown in front of me and then winced, looking over at Leo. “Would you mind helping me put this on?”

Leo immediately dropped what he was doing to help me. It was difficult to do anything while I was this pregnant. Leo slipped the dress onto me with ease, the soft fabric sliding along my body. A shiver went up my spine when his rough fingers trailed along my bare flesh.

Leo wrapped his arms around me from behind, his hands resting protectively over my stomach. We were facing the full-length mirror and I watched as he rested his chin against my shoulder. “You look absolutely stunning, love,” he said, kissing me on the cheek.

I gave a little twirl in the flowy dress, pleased that it was actually quite flattering on me. I grinned shyly. “Amara is a freaking miracle worker,” I muttered in amazement.

Leo scoffed. “You don’t need a miracle worker,” he said. “You are beautiful, even without that dress.” His voice dropped an octave. “In fact, I would definitely like you better with this thing puddled on our bedroom floor.”

I shoved him playfully, my cheeks pink. As much as I constantly just wanted to jump him because of how little time we’ve been able to carve away for ourselves, I did not need my best friend to see me flustered. She would tease me to no end.

“Time’s up!” Amara announced, suddenly bursting into the room. She grabbed my wrist and started to drag me away from Leo.

Leo chuckled and then bent to kiss me before Amara could pull me completely out of the room. “Good luck,” he said with a wink.

I gave him an unamused look before following my friend out the door.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “You’ll see him a little later.”

My eyebrows flew upward. “I will?”

Amara froze like she said too much and then giggled. “Forget I said anything,” she said. “Now, c’mon! I thought I’d take you to brunch and then for some much-needed shopping.”

I had a sneaking suspicion that this had something to do with the baby shower that she and Isabella had been planning but I kept my mouth shut.

Amara had to stop at a couple of places on our way to brunch. She ordered me to stay in the car and made me close my eyes when she returned to stuff some things in the trunk. I just smiled and shook my head. She was being so obvious but I wasn’t going to ruin this for her.

“I had to pick up some embarrassing girly stuff,” she said by way of explanation as she got back in the driver’s seat. “You know how it is.”

I did but I also knew that Amara was not the type to care about that kind of thing but I once again didn’t call her out on it.

Despite the craziness of the morning, Amara did grace me with a relaxing brunch. She insisted on paying and let me order whatever I wanted. I ate my strawberry and cream pancakes happily.

Amara grinned at me, seeming pleased that I was having a nice time. She put her fork down and then gave me a serious look. “How are you?” she asked. “And I mean, really. I know things have been stressful for you lately and being pregnant can’t be making things any easier.”

I swallowed my bite of pancake before looking down, considering her question. “Things have been kind of crazy lately,” I said, thinking the words as I said them. “But Leo’s been great and I’ve been feeling a lot more hopefully recently.”

“That’s good,” Amara said, smiling kindly at me. “I’ve been worried about you. How’s my little niece or nephew doing?”

I giggled and set my hand on my rounded stomach. “They’re doing well,” I said. “He or she is going to be pretty big. I’m so excited to meet them though.” I stroked my tummy, my throat tightening with emotion when I thought about holding mine and Leo’s child for the first time.

We went straight to the mall after brunch, Amara insisting on holding all of the bags for me. I didn’t want much but she insisted that I get whatever I wanted for myself and for the baby.

“I snatched this from your fiance,” Amara said with a grin, handing me Leo’s credit card.

I laughed, shaking my head. “Amara, I can’t possibly-”

“He told me to tell you to get everything you wanted too,” she said firmly.

I sighed but nodded. There were some things that I wanted. I got some new clothes for the baby and a couple of things for myself before Amara announced that she should probably get me back home so I could rest.

Amara checked her phone and her eyes widened. “Let me make a call real quick,” she said, leading me over to a bench and helping me sit down. “Be right back!” she said, rushing off.

I shook my head, more sure than ever what this was all about but I wanted to let Amara have her moment. She has been working hard to plan this.

“Ready for a nice relaxing chill day at home?” Amara asked as we pulled up to the house.

“Sure,” I said, playing along. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Amara was practically bouncing as she helped me out of the car and pulled me up the steps to the front door. She pushed the door open and I was unsurprised to find my friends and family on the other side, brightly colored streamers hanging from the walls and ceiling.

My loved ones rushed over to me, patting my back and pulling me in for hugs. I laughed and hugged them back with energy.

“You surprised?” Amara asked, bouncing over to me and tossing her arm around my shoulders as she led me deeper into the house.

I looked around at the gorgeous animal-themed decorations, noting that a lot of them had platypuses on them. I smiled, my eyes pricking with emotional tears. “I am,” I told Amara. “Everything is perfect. Thank you. You’re the best friend ever!”

Amara looked ready to cry herself and she hugged me tightly.

“You are glowing, sweetheart!” Mom gushed, rushing over to me and hugging me tight. She put a hand on my stomach. “I can tell this is going to be a rambunctious little one.”

“Hi Mom,” I said, hugging her tightly, amazed that they came all this way for my baby shower.

Leo came over, looking dashingly handsome in a casual navy blue button-up and dark jeans. I was so used to him dressing more professionally. It warmed my heart to see him looking so relaxed. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me firmly.

My friends and family members cheered at the display of affection, causing me to blush. “You really took the day off for this?” I asked sweetly.

He nodded, grimacing as he glanced over at Amara. “Your friend is quite the slave driver. I had to enlist Taylor and Darion to help me get the damn streamers on the ceiling.”

Amara stepped forward, clapping loudly. “Alright, males need to get out so we can officially start this baby shower,” she announced, already shooing Taylor and Darion toward the door.

“No, the boys can stay,” I said quickly, grabbing Leo’s hand and pulling him toward me. I grinned up at him. “The baby is both of ours so we can celebrate together.”

Amara sighed but smiled at me. “Whatever you want,” she relented.

Leo laughed and wrapped his arms around my waist, his chuckles tickling my ear.