Page 19 of Thanksgiving With Dad's Best Friend

I know that the future is hazy when it comes to her. I know we can’t just stroll down the street hand in hand without if being a problem. I’m a public figure, and if anyone catches wind of our romance, it’ll be all over the internet. We can’t ever let her father know, at least not until things are more solid between us. But she’s not just a want for me. She’s a need. Touching her gives me a satisfaction that extends beyond sex. I want to have her in my bed every single night. I want to fuck her until the early hours of the morning. I want to savor being inside her tight little pussy. Last night wasn’t enough. I’m not even sure that sex will be enough. While it’s happening, I have everything I want. But as I slipped out of her room last night, I felt some kind of withdrawal from her body right away.

What the fuck is wrong with me? I’ve never been this way before. I don’t know what it’s like to want to stay with a woman in the long term. I’ve never been in love. The only marriage I’ve experienced is that of my relationship with my work. All my life, I’ve put that first. But now that I want something more, it’s hard to understand how I didn’t feel the absence of her this whole time. It’s like a hole in my heart, and I need her to fill it.

I need a distraction today, so I head downstairs and decide to make a large breakfast for my guests. Since Lexi is interested in cooking, I guess it’ll impress her to see me slaving over a stove for her. The idea that it might make her happy fuels me, and by the time Eddie comes downstairs, I’ve almost prepared a whole spread. He rubs his hands together and smacks his lips.

“Mmm. Exactly what I need to cure me of my hangover,” he says. “But you’ve made a lot for two people.”

I frown. “There’s three of us.”

“Lexi didn’t tell you? She’s headed out early today. She said she won’t be back until late.”

“Where has she gone?”

Eddie shrugs like it’s not important and it fills me with annoyance. Why is he acting so cool about this? I turn back to the frying pan, glaring at it in annoyance. It’s suddenly clear to me what’s happening. She’s avoiding me. But why? Last night was incredible. I know she felt good after it. Even that last kiss we shared before I headed to my own room was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. So how can she just walk away from this before we’ve even gotten started?

“It’ll be nice to have some time just the two of us, right?” Eddie says, clapping a hand on my back and making me jump. “There’s a game on later, right?”

“I don’t want to watch the fucking game,” I growl. Eddie blinks at me in surprise, and no wonder. I’ve never been sharp with him before. In fact, in our entire friendship, he’s never pissed me off before. But now, he’s the one thing standing between me and Lexi. He’s the reason she’s bailed out this morning. I can tell that the chat they had last night has shaken her. Now, I have to accept the fact that I’m spending an entire day without her.

“What’s with you?” Eddie asks sharply. “I was just being friendly.”

I sigh, shaking my head. It’s so unlike me to lose my cool with anyone. Now, in the space of twenty-four hours, I’ve gotten into a physical altercation with a stranger and shouted at my best friend for no reason. Fuck, I’m in too deep already.

“Sorry…I’ve just got woman problems on my mind.”

Eddie’s eyes light up. “You mean you’re seeing someone? I’ve never known you to date…and God knows there’s women throwing themselves at you left, right and center. She must be a pretty special woman.”

“She is,” I growl, feeling my fury rise inside me again. I know it’s not Eddie’s fault, and it’s completely irrational to blame him for my predicament right now, but the part of me that’s becoming obsessed with Lexi is desperate to land the blame on him for not being able to have what I want. She’s my woman and yet I’m fully aware that she’s out of my reach.

But I have to keep a lid on my anger. Making things sour between me and Eddie isn’t going to make things better with Lexi. I ask Eddie to set the table for me as I dish out our huge breakfasts, and I try not to be bitter about the fact that Lexi is missing it. As we sit down at the table, I’m praying Eddie will change the subject to anything at all so that we don’t have to discuss his daughter inadvertently. As he tucks in to his food, he has a secretive smile on his face.

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