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?"

to creep up my cheeks, "Still, I wanna ask you a question too, how can you be so fucking sexy all the time?" he traced his hand from my shoulder

soft gasp escaped my lips, and my eyes widened,

out. But I know I can't..." He sighed, "To

like 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 his hair. God, I was going to miss him terribly! "Maybe it'll take some time, but we'll be together very soon. And when that happens, I won't let you out of my sight, not even for a second. You

eyes. He cupped my face with his hands and kissed my lips. "Do you understand?" "Yes, sir. I understand," I giggled before letting myself fall into

hours had always been too short, and now we

***

standing in the doorway, feeling utterly rooted in place as he packed his things. My heart had never fucking ached so much. He

even begin

times had wished

I knew this had to be done. To mend the relationship between Dad and him, to regain my father's trust, and to preserve the

separation. It was excruciating.

Utterly fucking painful.

to lift my spirits, whether through his silly jokes or his silly attempts to put a smile on my face. But how could any of it work when both our hearts were

had no one ever warned me how much distance could hurt when

as much as 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 be more painful than I'd already imagined it to be, "I know you have a thing for wine, he

Pinot Grigio is excellent as well. Or should I bring all of them? Maybe

smile broke through my tears. "Anything you prefer. But you have to bring...the same Jacob back when you return." A sob threatened to break free, but I

down to pull me into a warm hug. "Time flies, Evelyn. You won't even realise when six months have passed. And the moment you do, I'll

you hadn't been so foolish, we could have spent more time together, you idiot," I blurted out, tears soaking his shirt as my chin rested on

as mad as you want at me when I return. But for now, you have to stop crying, okay? It's almost time for my

didn't want him to

really have to go?" I clung to him tightly, doubts