Page 12 of Daddy's Best Friend

“Todd, why don’t we go discuss that deal you talked about. The one where I get the oil from you and save some money, and helpyou out?” Alan’s eyes flicked nervously between my dad’s face and my surprised expression. There was a bit of tension in the air as even Trevor and Alex looked up. I hadn’t meant to draw his ire; I wasn’t sleepy.

“Sure…” Dad stood and strolled toward the front of the yacht. Alan shrugged at me and followed him.

“Listen, Trevor, I have to pee, and I don’t know where the toilet is. Can you show me?” I stood, swaying a bit but still totally in control of myself. Mom looked down at her feet like I was shameful or something, but she hadn’t made that face when Dad called me out like a buffoon.

“Sure.” Trevor stood, and I grabbed my purse and followed him. He led me through a door into a massive bedroom. The oval-shaped room was decorated in gold and cream, a king-size bed against the wide curve of the north wall. Light streamed beneath a door at the far end into the dimly lit space. Trevor gestured at the door and flopped onto the bed. “It’s there.”

I grimaced. My plan to relieve my sexual tension in order to survive the rest of this party was not going to work if he sat on that bed and waited for me.

“You can go back. I know the way now.” The door squeaked as I opened it and stood in the light bathing the room.

“Nah, it’s okay. I don’t mind. Car TikTok’s is sort of Alex’s thing. You’re saving me, honestly.”

I scowled after turning my back and locked myself into the tiny space. It was half the size of a normal bathroom—no bath, only a glass-encased shower. More cream and gold had been vomited all over the interior: tile, trim, even the toilet and sink. I set my purse on the edge of the sink and relieved myself, though it feltodd sitting on that toilet peeing when I knew Trevor was on the other side of the door.

After washing my hands, I stared at myself in the mirror. I wanted a quick release so I wouldn’t be sitting around fantasizing about Alan the rest of the night, but my plan was ruined. So, realizing I was not going to do anything but stare at myself and wish Trevor would leave, I picked up my purse and opened the door, expecting him to be somewhere across the room.

He wasn’t.

Trevor was so close to the bathroom door that when I opened it, his toe stopped the door from opening and he had to step aside. He did, but he draped his arm on the doorjamb and leaned in like he was some suave gentleman. His cheesy smile would have made me laugh under normal circumstances, but I’d already shot him down once, at the office in front of his father. The fact that he stayed to listen to me pee annoyed me, but the reason he had done it became painfully clear when he rested a hand on my hip.

“Hey, so I know you said you didn’t want to, like, hang out with me or anything, but maybe just a little fun?” His greedy fingers dug into my hip, pulling me toward him. “What do you say?”

I pushed his hand off my hip and forced the door open far enough to squeeze through it. “No thanks, Trevor. You’re really not my type.” I wanted to add “but your father is” just to prove to him exactly how not my type he was. I held my tongue and started across the long room, but he caught up to me and stood in my way.

“Listen, I know you like to have a good time. I’ve seen the pictures. You gotta let me in on that, Ella. We are like best friends or something.”

I scowled at him. “Since when are we best friends? Your father and my father are friends, and we spent time together growing up. I don’t go to the same college as you, hang in the same circles. Hell, I don’t even have your number in my cell phone.” Sidestepping to get around him, I clutched my purse tightly to my stomach.

“You don’t get to treat me like that. Like I’m beneath you.” He grabbed my arm and pulled on it, yanking me back toward the bed. I fell backward, landing on the mattress, which was deceptively hard. “Just play along.”

I almost screamed, fearing what he would do to me, but I didn’t want to cause drama. And my father would just blame me for drinking too much, when it was obvious that Trevor was the one in the wrong. He came at me, prying my purse away from my grasp and tossing it. I kicked at him, but he grabbed both of my wrists.

When the door jerked open, I had never been more relieved in my life to see Alan’s angry face.

“Trevor, what the hell are you doing?” Alan grabbed his son by the back of the neck and pulled him off of me. Trevor winced but complied.

“Look, it’s not what it seems like.” As soon as Alan let go of him, he straightened his collar and backed away. “Okay? I’m sorry.”

Trevor slunk out of the room as I sat up and started crying. Alan shut the door and came back to me, sitting down next to me onthe edge of the bed. He put an arm around me, and I clung to him.

“Are you okay? Don’t worry. I will have words with him, alright?” His hand smoothed across my back in a large circle. “Talk to me.”

I didn’t know whether to be scared because of what Trevor did or comforted by Alan. Or worse—highly aroused after an evening of light drinking at a party in my honor, where the host made eyes at me and clearly checked me out, and now he was holding me as I cried softly. I turned my face up to see his expression in the dim light. My makeup had to look atrocious, but I didn’t care.

Alan was inches from me. We were alone. I was in his arms.

It made sense.

I rose up and kissed him, and not just a peck on the cheek for saving me. This kiss communicated everything I needed him to know. And as my tongue traced over his bottom lip, I felt him return the kiss—he didn’t even hesitate. In fact, he pushed the kiss further, biting my lip and growling as if he enjoyed the snack.

10

ALAN

The kiss took me by surprise, though I wouldn’t say I didn’t like it. I’d had my share of second glances as Ella walked past, times in the office I had to force lustful thoughts about her away. But tonight, we were both on the tipsy side, and I was certain this was not the result of genuine affection or attraction. She was acting out because of what Trevor had done.

“Ella…” I swallowed hard, trying to scoot away from her as her lips and teeth attacked my neck. I’d have liked nothing more than to pin her down on this bed and have wild sex with her, but this all felt so wrong. “Ella, stop.” Taking her by the shoulders, I gently held her at arm’s length.

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