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.

your affection on Dad and call me a drama queen, huh? That's not fair,

know, he needs affection," I mused and she burst out

with a teasing threat, "Remember, little lady, that's definitely going to

time. With a month full of functions and travels to various locations, I did not need an

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

about it till then," I couldn't hold onto my laughter anymore and the same went for Clara,

He rolled his eyes and focused his attention on cooking again but this time with

was indeed

cute, Samuel," she giggled as

the spot where she left a slight pink tint. "What the

seemed to increase Dad's irritation, evident by the

my nerves, Clara," Dad groaned, trying to maintain his faux sternness, though a hint of a smile tugged at the corners

her voice brimmed with 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

that if they continued their playful banter for too

circus for today," I decided to speak up, "I'm starving, and if I don't get food now, I'll

her arms over her chest, asserting herself. "You heard that, Chef? Cook

for a moment, but he soon shifted his attention back to the task at hand,

to grab some orange juice. As I

the

off as a familiar yet foreign voice resonated

voice of the Italian man

entire body froze, my heart racing in my chest, and the room suddenly felt devoid of oxygen, despite the gentle

too petrified to turn and face him, my grip tightening around the juice bottle in

Clara greeted him with a

to look

as

voice broke through the tense silence, and my worst imagination became

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

chuckled, finally glancing at Jacob. I, too,

jawline, the full, tempting lips, and those bewitching green eyes that had ensnared me for

times, fell casually on his face. And that same maddeningly attractive face that had haunted my dreams, and I had visualized between thighs, now stood

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

to hold my breath so that the gasp didn't slip past my

daughter, Evelyn." Dad's voice made his lips part in

asked, looking heavily dumbfounded," She

still capable enough to

Evelyn, did you fail to recognize Jacob too?"

him. Unlike me, he hasn't changed even a little bit. He looks the same as before." The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. I tried not to let my gaze linger on Jacob for too long, but my eyes

words, and perhaps because of my