Claiming My Father's Best Friend

TR

gives a mysterious quality. I glance around th

out another bar, Ritz, perhaps?" I as

as been texting nonstop, making millions of promises and vowing his devotion. I hate the int

er – barely on the same page with him. If I suggest we visit a certain location for vacatio

enamoured by his charms and the man he pret

f you keep on gripping it like that

lax firmly against the bla

ers and that means, bars, dangerously handsome men," she glances out the window, licking her bottom lip with a dreamy expression on her face as a dar

dless stream of regret I harbor. I tell her this but instead of a politic respon

ulking. Get your as

ave nothing to do back home. I've binge-watched all my favorite movies and tried reading my fa

c that makes my ears ring. Lilly drags me

you feel it?" She

e and happy. But there's no place like that. Dad is out of town and mom is neck-deep in planning some sort of party

ink

ain. "Sp

own. "That won't do. You need

lly

our orders to the bartender.

e uniform and a red bandana

awl home on your tongue?" I

ling, but on something hard and warm. Stay pos

s, trying to read the sign. A man walks in and stops right in front of the sign, preventing m

ut a gasp, palming her mouth as the sound erupts.

eyes lock for a second. He sm

I say, turning

od. Do you imagine what he'd look

hose drinks." I'd rather drink than stand here and talk a

an't fool me. Your cheeks ar

ver, L

and drain it in one gulp. The bartender w

s the

music. Is that Drake's new album? I cock my head and when the l

cleared out, but then, it's still chock full of moving bodi

yell, nodding at the

. "Till I can't fee

it home if she can't walk, except for

gging these down. One of

lass into my hand. "Drink up. It's

g out of sight. I throw back my head and scarf down the face-twisting liquid. I s

" A random guy says, glancing at my h

y!" I s

palm upwards and

e my hands on my knees, lower my back, arch it slightly, and then twist my hips in tune with the beat. Lilly was right. I feel good. I fee

t's getting really hot in here. I scour the room

re you

my side. It's him! The older man with a banging body. Why is he standing so close

towards the barstool. "I think whatever it is yo

t enough to entertain you

shoots back, but his lips betray him, twitching in a smile. Lilly was ri

with a throaty laugh. "Is that

t burning with embarrassment.

n as a pikestaff. You

eye-roll. "Don't

ot to admit it. I know what I saw and th

fe know that

head and massage his ring finger slowly. There's a ring the

. Died a lo

man isn't just wearing pain, he's soaked with it. He must have been so in love. Probably like my parents. Those two make me want

sor

chin upward

that if I didn't mean it. I'm

lost someo

– like

. "Yes. Los

breaku

uess? It's akin to losing. That means the person is no long

be sharing anything anymore. I d

your deci

no

it mu

as a flower and a piece of jewelry in a box i

N

let you slip awa

eways glance. "W

ow you. How about you ask me this q

us expression forces it back

l meet again after tonight? I don't like thi

are oth

there's a fat chance we won'

y to make it work

When I fell into his arms, he didn't allow his hand to drift past my waist. Most men would have grabbed th

ld are

says withou

ng to work out. Wait- - - I'm way over my

ng. Does my ag

back at him. He's definitely not here for friendship – not with that look – hi

y heartbeat heightens, and even my breat

n and one ways he can run his hands over my

ntion to the dee

nd. There were moments when I wanted nothing but to lock myself in the bathroom until h

inty breath

s. The music fades and my mind floods with a make-up image of him naked.

He takes my hands in his and strokes my palms with his th

request overshadows all the th

ne with raw emotion. N

the words, his fingers

fore I can utter the word for

t meeting you." He says, pulling me up

to be wrapped around him. This isn't how I envisioned ton