Share
13
Related chapters
MY DAD'S BEST FRIEND 14
The man whose shirt I probably messed up.He did not touch me back, did not console me, but having him there, even immobile, was enough for me.He still had his body tight and rigid like the day of the kiss. He still refused any contact with me, just like back then, but that is okay.He covered me with his jacket. And maybe I can keep it like I have kept a lot of him with me.Like his notebook, his shirt when he once forgot it, his hoodies from when he runs with Dad. Most of them were my father’s, but if Dan wore them even once, then they became his. Do not ask me why. It is the law. Then there is a scarf that he gave me because it got cold. A book about law. Make that plural. A pen. Okay, pens, plural again.And no, I am not a stalker. I just like collecting. And by collecting, I mean the things that belong to him.But he’s not here now.And there is a hole the size of a continent in the pit of my stomach because now I am thinking he’s abandoned me and I need to deal with these jumbl
MY DAD'S BEST FRIEND 15
DANIELecessity.I have never liked that word. It is because ofnecessity that my brother decided to leave the country, and that got him killed.It is because of necessity that people vote for the likes of my father to represent them in spite of the fact that he only cares about himself.In a way, necessity is the root of all evil. Decisions based on it are a bit impulsive and almost always have dire consequences down the line. Ones that could be dangerous, lethal even.Of all people, I am well aware of the dangerous repercussions of hasty actions. I never decide anything unless I have a 360-degree view of the entire situation as well as all of its possible results. This is the first time I have taken a step into territory that hasn’t been carefully plotted. It is like walking through a minefield with a blindfold on.But just like earlier, I do not think about the possible repercussions. I shove them to the back of my mind and focus on the now. On the present and its own sets of cause
MY DAD'S BEST FRIEND 16
“I can.”She purses her lips, a frown creasing her forehead.“No touching, Genevieve, I mean it.”She lifts a shoulder. “Fine.”“Really?” For some reason, I do not believe that she’d give up so easily. She has the frustrating type of determination that is impossible to break.“Yeah. It is not like you will not change your mind.” “Genevieve,” I warn.She jumps again, startled. And I realize I do that a lot to her. Scare her by being strict and firm and generally harsh. But she’s the foolish one who does not stay away.She takes a step back. “I…uh…I am going to ask the doctor if I can go inside.”She turns around and runs as fast as she can from me. Her shorts ride up her pale thighs and her top stretches against her back. I try to look away, but I can not.I tell myself it is to see what she’ll do as I openly watch the swish of her hair down her back and her legs that do not seem so short now that she’s not standing in front of me.She’s not a small person. Just small compared to me.M
MY DAD'S BEST FRIEND 17
“You do not get an opinion on this since you are his accomplice, Aspen. Hello? Conflict of interest, anyone?”“Then do you suggest we let go of our work and focus on Krew’s thousand pending cases instead? Do you want to lose your job at the firm, Sebastian? Right, that would not matter since you are a rich boy from a prestigious family and your senator grandpa can find you another job, maybe even help you open your own firm. But how about the hundred others whose living depends on us, huh? Do we send them to your granddaddy, too, or do we take the most logical route with less hassle? Come on, you are supposed to be smart. Which choice makes more sense?”Sebastian does not move a muscle at her calmly spoken words. It is like she’s delivering a closing argument. She’s always precise and to the point. Scathing, too. Which is the reason she’s a lonely soul; no one can handle her.I expect Sebastian to come back with his own retort, because my parents raised him to always have the last wor
MY DAD'S BEST FRIEND 18
GENEVIEVEhave not slept all night.And that is sort of a problem because I become jittery and a bit neurotic when I do not sleep.Insomnia and I aren’t strangers, especially since I did not manage to completely desensitize myself to that word. It might be written in a red Sharpie because it is one of the words I struggle with the most.Along with death.I think I also need to add moving on to the red list because I can not do that. I am supposed to, I have to, but my mind is stuck in a different type of loop that I can not escape.So I spent the night in the closet. I wanted to stay with Dad, but Dan said in that stern voice of his to “go home and get some sleep” because tomorrow—today—is a big day. He did not voice the last part, but I figured it out on my own.However, I couldn’t just get some sleep. Not even after I blasted Twenty One Pilots on my headphones and exhausted myself by dancing. Not even when I swallowed like three sleeping pills. Or maybe it was five. I lost count som
MY DAD'S BEST FRIEND 19
I flinch, my heart hammering in my chest, but it is not because I am scared. Not even close. It is due to how he just spoke.How can someone pack so much command in one single word? In the simple way he says my name? And is it creepy that I want him to keep talking to me in that tone?For that reason alone, I contemplate disobeying him just to hear it again. But at the same time, I can not ignore the warning, the severity of it.So I slowly meet his gaze, and I wish I hadn’t, because he releases my elbow and I feel like I am drowning in nonexistent water.“Do you honestly believe that I chose to do this just to be there for you or because I am a knight in shining armor? I am not, Genevieve. Far from it.”“Then what are you?”“Whatever knights in shining armor fight. And that means there is not one noble, sacrificing bone in my body. The reason I am marrying you is not because I want to protect you or King’s legacy. I am protecting my firm. My own legacy. So the fact that you feel like
MY DAD'S BEST FRIEND 20
Marriage is a profound commitment, symbolizing the union of two individuals who choose to journey through life together. It represents the promise to stand by each other in times of happiness and adversity, to support each other's dreams, and to create a home and family.For many, this dream of marriage is a reflection of their belief in the power of love and human connection. It's a vision of a future where they can build a life with a partner who understands, respects, and shares their values and aspirations.While the dream of getting married is beautiful, it's important to remember that it's just the beginning of a new chapter. Marriage brings its own set of challenges and responsibilities. Communication, compromise, and understanding become essential components in the shared journey of a married life.This dream is a testament to the desire for a loving and enduring partnership. It's an aspiration that celebrates the potential for a shared life filled with love, joy, and mutual s
MY DAD'S BEST FRIEND 21
Dan grabs me by the elbow and pulls me back from his nephew. The act is so effortless that I feel like I am floating on air as we leave the scene without another word.Aspen gives me a look that I do not know how to perceive. Is it pity? An apology? But why would she pity me or apologize to me? She’s not the type. She’s a witch.Right, Dad?“Where are we going?” I ask Dan once I am a bit out of my daze. Only a bit, though, because I think those pills I crunched on like candy are starting to take effect.“I’ll drive you home.”“Why?”“Because you are a few minutes away from collapsing.”So he did know about my exhaustion. Yikes. Am I that obvious to everyone else?“I can take a cab. You said you were going back to the firm.”“Since you were late, I rescheduled my morning meetings, so I do not have anything until the afternoon.” He unlocks his car and steps to the driver’s side.I roll my eyes. “Sorry for messing up your morning meetings, husband.”He pauses with his hand on his door’s
Latest chapter
