My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 188 Us Again

Evelyn

I drew in a deep breath, feeling the thick silence that had settled over the room. Jacob and I had discussed this trip to Italy at the café earlier, and although nerves hummed beneath my skin, a larger part of me was thrilled. Going back would be a fresh start, a chance for us to be together without the cloud of past events hanging over us. Last time, circumstances hadn't allowed for much happiness, and yet here we were, hoping to rewrite that story.

This trip could be really be different and thousand percent better.

But there was one catch: my dad.

He'd always been protective, and after everything that happened there, I knew he might see this as a risk-a trip he wouldn't want me to take, not so soon. I glanced at Jacob, feeling his hand give mine a small, reassuring squeeze under the table as Dad emitted a long sigh. He reached for more veggies, placing them on his plate with a practiced calm, chewing as though he hadn't heard the question Jacob had asked moments earlier.

Was this his way of saying no? His silence could mean anything...or nothing at all. I found myself holding my breath.

Jacob cleared his throat, attempting again. "Samuel_-"

Dad cut him off, breaking his silence. "You can take her," he said, his words so casual yet shocking, as though he hadn't just flipped our expectations upside down.

Wait, what? Did I hear him right?

That easily?

"Wait, really?"Jacob's eyes widened, a smile already spreading across his face as if he'd won some invisible battle.

"Don't get too excited just yet," Dad added, narrowing his eyes, "Three months only. None of that open-ended vacation like last time."

"Dad..." I began, the protest slipping out instinctively.

"No arguments, Evie," he said firmly, wiping his mouth and pushing back his chair. "What I've said is final. You have three months, or you can enjoy America instead." He turned to leave, but then he paused, glancing back at Jacob.

his voice turning razor-sharp. "If you make her cry again, you asshole, I'll forget every friendship we've ever had and I'll

that, he strode upstairs, leaving the room heavy with a mixture of relief, shock, and

chuckled, breaking the tension. "Congrats, you two. Another

think you could talk him into six months?" he

was dead set against Evie setting foot in Italy again anytime soon. But you managed to snag three months, so enjoy that while it lasts. By

"Almost?" I asked, hopeful.

"Almost. But for now, have your dinner. Skip it, and he might just reconsider those

hope of keeping this trip secure, I couldn't risk

smirk. "Your dad's unpredictable like that. If that

a pointed glare, and he stopped short, looking guilty but

"Piece of what, Jacob?"

innocent smile. "Really, he's the sweetest

her amusement as she focused on the nearly empty

turning my attention back to my food. With Dad's eyes on us, it

***

gentle circles on

of my back

face in the crook of his neck, inhaling the familiar scent that always seemed to calm me. But tonight, overthinking was creeping in, making it harder to relax-despite Jacob's intuition. He'd already asked me twice if something was troubling

did he read me so effortlessly, even in silence?

Jacob murmured, brushing a soft kiss across my temple, "I could carry a bit of that weight for you. Those thoughts look

my head up to trace his jawline, feeling the rough stubble under

this pretty," I whispered, a small

he chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Alright then. Guess I'm 'pretty'

escaped me. "It's not a

don't hear 'pretty' much as a guy," he replied, tracing his fingers down my spine. His touch sent a shiver through me, the

his rings making