Page 53 of Baby By my Best Friend's Daddy

“You look nice,” he said.

I smiled at him. “Thank you. You look pretty hot too.”

He shrugged. “No one has a shit-fit when men wear the same tuxedo over and over again. Celine didn’t even blink in my direction.”

I giggled. “That’s because you’ll always look good. A well-dressed man never goes out of style.” The comic relief made me breathe easier. Despite everything, our friendship was still there. We could get through this.

We climbed into Brad’s car, and he drove me to the venue where the fundraiser was hosted every year. When we walked in, I looped my hand through Brad’s arm. Everywhere, couples were dressed to the nines, with men in tuxedos standing upright and proud, here to donate a lot of money to a good cause. Women in slinky dresses and immaculate makeup fluttered around on their arms like exotic birds, looking down their noses at each other or smiling politely, depending on their relationship and how threatened they felt.

The hall had been decorated with swaths of sheer fabric and twinkling lights that made it look like a night sky above us, with white-clad tables dotted around the room and a dancefloor in the center. A few couples swayed to the music while others sipped champagne around the edge.

“Do you want to dance?” Brad asked.

I nodded. I loved dancing, and tonight, everything felt like it always did. Brad and I were hanging out together, we were dressed up, and he was being sweet and gallant and himself.

When we walked onto the dancefloor, he pulled me close. We swayed to the music.

“Thank you for being here with me,” I said.

“I wasn’t going to ditch you.”

“I wouldn’t have blamed you.”

He took a deep breath. “Look, what my dad does and with who is none of my business. What you do, I guess, isn’t any of my business either.”

“I didn’t want to lie to you or hurt you,” I said quickly. “It wasn’t supposed to come out this way.”

“I just don’t understand what you’re doing,” Brad said.

“I’m in love with him, Brad. I know it’s hard to understand because we seem so different, but I’ve never felt about someone the way I feel about Landon.”

Brad shook his head. “I get that this is fun and new and thrilling… I just don’t think you see the bigger picture.”

He spun me around when the music had an upbeat twist and expertly navigated us between two other couples.

“My dad is in the prime of his life. He built a large company he should be proud of. He made all his money himself. My granddad was a disgrace. He gambled away all his money and got four different women pregnant with no intention of supporting any of them or the kids he had with them. My dad rose above that and made something of himself.”

Landon had told me a bit about his father, but I hadn’t heard the whole story. I was even more impressed with him now. Every time I learned more about him, I had so much more love and respect for him.

“He deserves more, Rebecca,” Brad said.

I looked sharply at Brad. Henevercalled me Rebecca.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re amazing. We’re close, and I know you, and you’re a stunning person. Any man would be lucky to have you.”

“Just not your dad?” I asked with a frown.

“It’s not about luck with him. He’s twenty-two years older than you. He’s raised his kids.”

“Kid. It’s just you.”

“Yeah, you’re right. He raised me. I’m out of the house and on my own two feet, working alongside him as a business partner. In another couple of years, he can retire, travel, see the world and enjoy all his hard-earned money. You, on the other hand… you’re only at the start of your journey. You want marriage, kids. You’re still working on your career, right?”

“I haven’t thought as far as marriage and kids,” I said.

“Yeah, well, at some point, you will. Do you really want to do that to my dad? Do you really want to be the person who ties him down? He’s going to have to start over with you.”

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