My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 2 The Arrival

Evelyn.

The morning sunlight infiltrated the room through the window, its warm rays rousing me from my slumber. I reluctantly pried my eyes open, only to have them promptly shut again in protest against the intrusive light.

Letting out a disgruntled sigh, I buried my face in the pillow, hoping to shield myself from the unwelcome morning.

Mornings. Ugh! I despised them with a passion.

Even more than my periods.

Groaning, I finally dragged myself out of bed, deliberately averting my gaze from the blinding sun, I stumbled my way to the bathroom. As usual, I brushed my teeth at a tortoise's pace, trying to delay the inevitable start of the day.

As usual, I brushed my teeth at a tortoise's pace and took a shower. I made sure to scrub away any remnants of sleep, unwilling to risk looking like a ghost amidst the uncertainty of potential guests.

While the gathering had mostly been arranged amongst family members, I vaguely recalled my dad mentioning a few of his friends being invited, too.

I included a few of my friends who would come a day before the wedding day.

I dried my hair and threw on a casual spaghetti-strap tank top and shorts before venturing out of the room. The mansion seemed eerily quiet, signalling that no guests had arrived yet. However, as I made my way towards the kitchen, I couldn't help but overhear fragments of conversation between Dad and Clara, their voices carrying through the stillness of the house.

"Good morning, lovebirds," I greeted with a smile as my eyes fell on Dad and Clara. They were preparing breakfast, with Clara seated at the counter and Dad taking charge as today's chef. "Good morning to you too, sweetheart," They responded in unison.

"So, what's on the menu, Mr. Chef?" I playfully inquired, walking closer to them and stealing a glance at the pan.

"Pasta, apparently it's the only thing I know how to cook well," Dad replied with a hint of self-deprecating humour in his voice. This remark elicited a small chuckle from both Clara and me.

"Well, that's not a problem at all. You're still the best," I giggled, hugging him from the side.

"Finally, you're admitting it, huh?" Dad chuckled, returning the embrace and planting a tender kiss on my forehead.

"I've never denied it, though," I giggled, "By the way, I'm sorry for joking about packing you in a suitcase the other day. I didn't mean it, really." I kissed his cheek, and he let out a gentle laugh before reciprocating with a smooch on my left cheek.

"I know," He ruffled my hair, "You are still too childish to commit a crime like that."

This made another laugh tear from my throat.

"All love for Dad, huh?" Clara's dramatically sad voice interrupted and my eyes shifted to her direction, "Nobody loves me."She melodramatically declared, averting her eyes from me, as if to express a hint of resentment. I could notice the small frown that'd appeared on her lips.

Unable to resist the opportunity to tease her, I walked over to Clara with a grin on my face. "Oh, come here, my drama queen," Laughing I wrapped my arms around her and planted a kiss on her cheek.

I watched as she tried to maintain an unruffled expression, but a smile inevitably made its way to her lips, and she hugged me back.

drama queen, huh? That's not

little childlike you know, he needs affection,"

to play his cards, responded with a teasing threat, "Remember, little lady, that's definitely going to affect

the slight difference this time. With a month full of functions and travels to various locations, I did not

I called you childlike, Dad. You seem to have forgotten that I don't need any money for this entire period," I pointed out, reminding him of his own

hold onto my laughter anymore and the same went

eyes and focused his attention on cooking again but this time

dad was indeed

just too cute, Samuel," she giggled

where she

bear," She tapped Dad's nose and this only seemed to increase Dad's irritation, evident by the small frown that

trying to maintain his faux sternness, though a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of

mischief. It was a familiar dynamic between the two of them, one that I had grown accustomed to over the years. However, at this moment, with the hungry rats in my stomach causing a commotion,

banter for too long, I would be left

the family circus for today," I decided to speak up, "I'm starving, and if I don't get

asserting herself.

he soon shifted his

way to the refrigerator to grab some orange juice. As I raised

none of the guests have arrived

really, except for..." Clara's voice trailed off as a familiar yet foreign

the voice said, unmistakably the voice of the Italian man who had

my heart racing in my chest, and the room suddenly felt devoid

too petrified to turn and

Jacob," Clara greeted him with

sleep, mate?" Dad asked casually, not bothering to look

feel his gaze on me as well as Clara's, who seemed

tense silence, and my worst

he saw me, I was just fifteen years old. These past five years had transformed

finally glancing at Jacob. I, too, mustered

The same devilishly handsome jawline, the full, tempting lips,

hair, which I had imagined running my fingers through countless times, fell casually on his

a simple t-shirt that accentuated his sculpted muscles and paired with trousers,

had to hold my breath so that the gasp

Dad's voice made his lips part in

looking heavily dumbfounded," She was so

enough to

fail to recognize Jacob too?" He looked at me and

and shook my head. "No, I recognized him. Unlike me, he hasn't changed even a little bit. He looks the same as before." The words slipped out of my

words, and perhaps because of