My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 1 Destination

Evelyn

"You have no right to look this beautiful, Clara," I couldn't help my excitement, "Dad will faint if he sees you in this on the wedding night!"

Currently, Clara, my dad's fiance, was looking through the shopping we'd done since the morning, it was nearly evening when we'd returned to our house.

"Evelyn, you have a way with words," Clara chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She sifted through the shopping bags, her fingers grazing the fabric of the black lacy nightwear she had pulled out, "Seriously though, how about this one?" she asked, holding it up for me to see.

"Well damn! You're surely going to look like a whole damn meal," My eyes widened, and I couldn't help but let out a whistle.

"You and your dad have a similar way of giving compliments, no wonder why he is so fond of you-- you are just like him," Clara burst into laughter, her infectious joy filling the room. She playfully slapped my shoulder, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Whatever you say, after a few years of marriage, I want a sibling. Do you get that?"

Clara's cheeks turned a deep shade of red, and she let out a gasp, clearly caught off guard by my comment. "Evelyn..."

Noticing her furious blush I burst into a fit of laughter. Clara and I had developed a close bond from the beginning. After my parent's divorce, I hadn't seen my dad as happy with anyone until Clara came into our lives. She was genuinely kind-hearted and a better person than my mom, who had left my dad in his most vulnerable moment when he needed her the most-a business loss that led her to abandon him and

me.

Amidst my laughter, I pulled Clara into a tight hug. "I love you, cutie pie."

"I love you too, Evie, "A smile softened on her lips as she hugged me back, "Thank you so much for accepting me in your and dad's life, it really means the whole world to me." She sniffled. Knowing Clara for years, I was aware of her tendency to become emotional even at the smallest things. And at that moment, she was having one of those heartfelt moments again. "So, you're unlocking the waterfalls again, huh?" I teased, a playful grin on my face.

A chuckle escaped her lips, and she nodded. "No, I am not," She smiled through her tears and looked at me before wiping away the moisture that had gathered in her eyes. "No sermons today, my soon-to-be mother," I interjected, a rebellious edge to my voice,

"How many times do I need to tell you that you don't need to thank me for anything? Clara, you're the epitome of perfection for Dad. A thousand times better than my selfish mother, of course." "Don't speak that way, Evie," she pleaded. "Remember, she's still your mother."

I scoffed, throwing myself onto the bed, heedless of the mound

"But, Evie..."

"You better arrange that there'd be a

burst into a fit of laughter. She was right, Dad was super protective about me, he had scared away multiple dates

him off for a few days so that

would fit into any suitcase,"

into the room, catching both

is the master plan here, ladies?" Dad inquired, his impeccable timing never failing

for showing up at just the right

luck, oh well

were just going over some wedding details," I stammered, trying to mask the obviousness of our prior conversation with a forced laugh. Yet, his expression betrayed what he saw through my

were discussing," he said, crossing his arms defiantly. Behind her hand, I could

in, "Samuel, it's not appropriate to eavesdrop on our

my room. "And I must say, it's incredibly

no words came out.

away my dates!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my

maybe you should start finding decent guys instead of little rascals," Dad shot back without missing

the realisation, well...I didn't actually bring any nice guy till now but that doesn't mean I was going to

mean, they were not

they were, "Dad spoke confidently, "Each of those boys was, none of them had good

didn't want the good

twenty, and I have the right to choose who I

the

and his

left tongue-tied at my place and I found