My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 78 One Last Time

Evelyn

His fingers traced along my spine as our bodies remained entwined under the duvet, the warmth of our skin mingling to make up for the times they had been apart. I gazed up at him, reaching out to brush back a few stray strands of hair that had concealed his sharp, green orbs-the very ones I had fallen for on the first day.

"What are your plans after leaving?" I asked, my thumb lightly grazing his stubble.

"I suppose I'll return to Italy for a while. We know Samuel is taking Clara on a two-month trip to Paris, so things should settle down by then. There are also some upcoming business-related issues; it turns out Chloe has purposely slept with one of the investors, and she mentioned he might withdraw his funds, which kinda proves that she'd been planning to blackmail me for a while, even before getting here. We'll need to handle that, whether it's over the phone or face-to-face," he said, taking my hand and kissing its back. "But hopefully, in around six months, I'll have everything sorted out."

"She did what?" I was shocked. Could this woman be any more shameless?

A chuckle escaped his lips. "Is it really that surprising? She has always been an opportunist, Evelyn. And don't worry, I don't think a one-night stand is enough to make an investor pull out of a profitable business. Trust me; I've been there."

He has been there?! This man....

"Such a dog," I slapped his chest, a chuckle escaping my lips as well. "You make it sound like one-night stands are your specialty."

"They were, before you," he grinned before leaning down to plant a kiss on my lips. "But after you, I think I'm ready to be a family man."

"You'll have to put up with me for the rest of your life, then..." I teased, "Are you willing to make that sacrifice?"

"Sacrifice?" He laughed and pulled me on top of him, my body now resting over his. As my hair fell to the side of his face, I watched him inhale its scent before he tucked it behind my ear. "That's an absolute privilege. If I could, I'd take you to the marriage office right now and make it official. Fuck, I am obsessed with you!"

"Silly," I smiled, placing a tender kiss on his lips, then at the corner of his mouth, and the other corner before giving him a quick peck on the nose, "You know you're just so...adorable sometimes?"

the kind of compliment you should give a man who made you come thrice even a few moments ago," he chuckled causing a blush to creep up my cheeks, "Still,

and my eyes widened, "You'll never

scent. "I just want to stay with you and go nowhere, even if your father kicks me out. But I know I can't..." He sighed, "To do things right, we have to spend some time apart. Even though I admit your father is super annoying, he's still my buddy and always will be. I

it had been-I didn't want him not even an inch away from me let alone miles, "I know," I kissed his temple, holding him close, my fingers brushing through

mine too, Evelyn. I don't want any stupid jerk around you while I'm away," he said, now looking into my eyes. He cupped my face with his hands and kissed my lips. "Do you understand?" "Yes, sir. I understand," I giggled before letting

hours had always been too short, and now

***

as he packed his things. My

couldn't even begin

times had wished to

had to be done. To mend the relationship between Dad and him, to regain my father's trust, and to preserve the harmony in all our relationships,

separation. It was excruciating.

Utterly fucking painful.

smile on my face. But how could any of it work when both our hearts were throbbing with

warned me how much distance could hurt when

it could to shield me from the depths of his own inner turmoil these six months, or if we turn to be unfortunate more, were going to

della Valpolicella? Oh, Pinot Grigio is excellent as well. Or should I bring all of

melancholic smile broke through my tears. "Anything you prefer. But you have to bring...the same Jacob back when you return."

softened at the sight of my tears. He stepped over to me, his hands encircling my waist, and he bent down to pull me into a warm hug. "Time flies, Evelyn. You won't

chin rested

seen them earlier, "Alright, love. You can be as mad as you want at me when

want

clung