Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 1023 : Haven

*Bianca*

The phone rang as I tapped my pencil on the college-ruled notebook in front of me. I glanced from the page filled to the brim with my tiny scrunched-up handwriting to grab my phone. Leo’s ID flashed on the screen and I grinned as I tucked it between my ear and shoulder.

“Hey,” I greeted sweetly.

“Are you okay?”

I rolled my eyes with a soft smile. Of course that was his first question.

“Of course, Leo,” I said exasperatedly. You’ve called four times this afternoon already. I’m okay, and the baby is okay. We’re just hanging out on the couch.”

Which was true though I hadn’t even bothered turning on the lights in the living room as I sat on the couch all cozied up under my favorite blanket.

“With my laptop in front of you no doubt,” Leo said knowingly. I grinned, having no defense. He was right after all. Leo’s laptop screen was bright amid the dark room and I squinted to see the words on the page, scribbling away in my notebook as another idea came to me. Even with the page so full, I managed to cram a little bit more using the space at the top before I flipped the page.

“I’m having fun, you know you could probably increase your profits if you focused less on maintenance and using a marketing promotion–”

“Bianca,” Leo said exasperatedly, cutting off my exciting rambling in the middle.

“Leo,” I used the same voice playfully to mock him in response.

“I’m happy you’re excited about this but don’t neglect what’s really important, Baby. Did you remember to eat like I told you two hours ago?” Leo said plainly.

“I had some crackers and a bowl of fruit,” I said sheepishly, glancing over at the small plate which still had half-eaten food left on it. I could hear him groan over the phone. “Fine, fine, I’m sorry but on the bright side, I did fill up on all this amazing tea you bought me.” 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

I grinned widely as I grabbed my mug to sip on the said tea. It was my new favorite tea of all time. A peppermint and raspberry leaf infusion, supposedly great for women just about to give birth though I didn’t know all the details on why myself. All I cared about was how sweet and refreshing it tasted.

Leo had scoured everything to find it for me once he knew I wanted to try it out.

“You need more than tea, Bianca. Take a break and go eat something or I’m leaving work and I will come and force-feed you,” Leo threatened.

“Okay,” I laughed, knowing he would do exactly that. I moved out of the files I’d been working on, finally taking a break as I stretched back into the comfy couch.

I suppressed a yawn, the satisfaction of having worked so well and not just lazing around giving me a boost to my mood.

“I heard that,” Leo said, his voice softening, “I let you look over the files, Bianca but don’t push yourself too hard okay? You can put it off until the baby is born–”

“It’s okay,” I smiled. I knew he would prefer if I rested and did nothing until the baby was born in a couple of weeks but I honestly enjoyed having some kind of work to focus on. Having something to do while he was at work didn’t make me feel as lonely as before.

Plus the sense of accomplishment and rush of dopamine was a great boost to my health. Or so I told Leo to convince him.

“I have a lot more energy this way,” I told him as I closed my notebook filled with notes and possible improvements to the company, “Besides, it’s not like I’m doing anything strenuous, it’s just looking over some documents–”

My voice cut off as I closed out of the browser on Leo’s laptop. Immediately, his screensaver hit me like it did when I first saw it this morning. I hid my blushing cheeks behind my hands as I stared at a photo of myself, fully asleep. It was not a flattering photo - drool slipping out of my mouth as I clutched onto Leo’s arm, my hair wild and unkempt.

“What happened? Are you–” Before Leo could go off on his spiel, the words flew out of my mouth.

“You need to change your screensaver,” I said, bluntly.

I heard his quiet laughter on the other end of the phone, no matter how much he tried to hide it from me. If he was here I’d be glaring at him in embarrassment.

“Absolutely not. You’re adorable,” Leo chuckled.

“I look like a sloth!” I complained, shutting his laptop so I wouldn’t have to stare at the unflattering photo of myself. “At least choose a better-looking one! Why’d you have to go with the one that makes me look so terrible?”

I could practically feel his grin on the other end of the phone.

“But a cute sloth,” He just said all sweetly in reply.

I sighed, giving up on this conversation as I pulled out my own. “I have class soon. Are you going to be home in time for dinner?” I asked.

“If everything goes as planned,” Leo said cryptically. He’d neglected to tell me what they were planning but I knew something was up. I didn’t push him though.

“Okay then, I love you. Be safe.”

“Love you, too.”

As soon as we hung up, I logged onto my account with a smile on my face. I always checked my grades first thing. I beamed as I noticed the new quiz grade in the book. An A+ this time. It had only been a week of classes since we changed professors but my grades had already sailed above and beyond.

Professor Matten took over our classes after what happened with the previous professor. He was a jolly fellow with a big belly and long beard, he reminded me of a cross between Santa and an old wizard, actually.

But he was a fair teacher too. Though I was excelling at my schoolwork lately, He never minded taking the time to explain what I got wrong to me. As he did with every student. He’d told me he was impressed by how quickly I had taken to the class. He’d even offered to place me in the advanced course after my maternity leave was up, which I was all too happy to take.

But that was still several weeks and three months away.

The hours went by quickly as I attended class and then took a nap after eating a little more. It was relaxing but also tiring, my spirits high after all the progress I’d made in the past week or so.

I didn’t wake until sunset, the glow coming in through the windows and keeping me warm as I heard a car pull in the driveway. My heart fluttered with excitement as I knew who it was. I struggled to my feet, having to roll like a roly-poly just to get off the couch and I felt a little pang in my belly as I did so but I still got up to greet Leo at the door anyway.

“Welcome home,” The words were out as the door opened but my smile fell as I saw the gloomy look on Leo’s face. It was clear he was in a very bad mood. Leo barely even glanced at me as he swerved around me and headed straight for the stairs.

“Leo?” I asked, concerned as I reached out to grab his hand. He jerked away from my touch and I couldn’t help but feel a little hurt as he tried to just brush me off. But he should know I was more stubborn than that.

I pursed my lips together, brushing away the hurt as I chased after him as best as I could, and finally grabbed hold of his arm entirely. He paused in his long strides but still refused to look at me.

I sighed, knowing it would be like pulling teeth to get answers from him right now.

“Come on, help me to the couch,” I coaxed him gently, keeping his arm firmly in my grasp. He didn’t say a word but nodded silently just as I knew he would. I directed him towards my little cozy nest on the couch, gently pushing him to sit down and he collapsed like the whole weight of the world was on his shoulders.

I hummed a bit as I sat next to him, getting comfortable as I maneuvered him however I wanted. He didn’t even try to resist as I pulled him to lay on my side, careful of my belly. I watched his eyes close tiredly as I buried my fingers into his hair.

It was getting longer than he usually liked but I didn’t mind so much as it allowed me to twist and pull his hair into a small braid. I giggled a bit as I made more little braids in his hair and I saw him slowly starting to relax.

“What happened today?” I asked softly, focusing all my efforts on his hair. He tensed but then relaxed again as he sighed.

“I hesitated,” He said quietly. I could feel the shame in his words but I didn’t judge him at all as I waited for him to open up. Slowly, bit by bit he did. He explained how they set a trap and it worked. How he was forced to use his weapon against the assailant as they fled - how he found out that it was a woman.

“Why did that shake you up so much?” I asked, a bit confused. The pieces weren’t adding up here. Leo had gone against plenty of women before it shouldn’t be that much of a shock. Leo’s lips thinned into a white line and I knew instinctively he had shut down again.

“Okay, want to hear about my day instead? Even if you already know most of it since you called me at least ten times,” The bit of levity served its purpose to lighten the mood as Leo finally cracked a smile, meeting my eyes gently. I continued to brush and braid his hair as I told him everything I’d done- even down to the silliest things like what I ate or the dream I had when I napped.

“So Mom’s going to be here tomorrow to move in and she’s made plans to fill up the nursery. She already told me she brought everything she kept from when I was little to show you.” I cringed at the thought but Leo just chuckled. “Oh, By the way, Mia and Alessandro just arrived in town. They said they’ll be here tomorrow to talk.”

Leo groaned, obviously feeling better as he nuzzled his head into the crook of my shoulder. “I don’t want to,” He grumbled unhappily.

“It’s a quick conversation,” I laughed, gently moving my hands up his back. “Then you can have me all to yourself.”

“I’d rather have you all to myself now,” Leo smirked, eyeing me fiercely.

“Leo!” I laughed as his lips touched my neck, hands wandering but I didn’t push him away at all. I wrapped my arms around his neck as we fell back onto the couch intertwined as one.

"I love you," He whispered gratefully into my neck and I couldn’t stop the beaming smile that spread across my lips. I pressed a kiss to his forehead, just as he always did for me.

"I love you too."