Page 18 of Daddy's Best Friend

“Ella, are you okay? Where are you?” He sounded concerned.

“I’m at the Liquor Lounge. Please don’t lecture. I’m not totally wasted, but my friend ditched me, and I am scared to Uber home alone.” I sighed, realizing how immature and desperate I seemed. I wasn’t the grown woman who was independent and dependable. I was a kid, calling her dad’s friend, asking for a ride home. I was a baby to him, or at least my self-confidence had me feeling like one.

“Okay, stay there. Stay somewhere in light, where the bartender can keep an eye on you. I’ll come get you.”

I didn’t plan on moving a muscle, except to pick up this Mai Tai and sip it casually while the pretty lesbian made eyes at me. Alan would be here soon, and that was all I cared about.

14

ALAN

After having tucked Ella into bed last night in such a deliriously drunken state, I knew she would wake with a hangover. So, I trod carefully, opening the door to the guest house as quietly as I could. The former pool house served as a place for Trevor to host parties or have friends over when I was not in the mood for him to invade the main house.

Nestled at the back of the property, past the pool and close to the waterfront, it provided the necessities—bathroom, kitchenette, TV, and a bed to sleep on. The only thing missing was a mini fridge, but Ella hardly needed that just for sleeping off a bad night of partying.

I set the tray on the small nightstand next to the bed and watched her sleeping for a moment. Her hair lay strewn across the pillow, her mouth agape as she snored. She had no overnight bag with her when she came, so I took one of my t-shirts and a pair of my boxers for her to sleep in. Unfortunately, she’d passed out wearing only the t-shirt and her panties.

Ella stirred a little, swiping her hand across her face and pushing a few stray strands of her red hair out of her eyes. I thoughtabout retreating, leaving the tray of eggs and hash brown potatoes for her. But I didn’t want her to freak out. She hadn’t been in our pool house since we converted it. Likely she’d have anxiety until she left the guest house and walked past the pool.

So I sat as gently as I could on the edge of the bed, expecting to wait a while until she woke, but she stirred more, her eyes blinking open. She looked startled, and she sat straight up. Her eyes caught sight of me, and I saw the panic resolve and a wince of a smile take its place.

“Fuck, I’m so sorry.” She pressed the heel of her hand against her right temple and squeezed her eyes shut. “Fuck, my head.”

I tried not to laugh, but I remembered plenty of days when I was younger where I’d done the same thing—felt the same regret. I picked up the lid off the tray and set it to the side, carefully collecting the orange juice and placing it in her free hand.

“Drink. You’ll feel better.”

With a trembling grasp, she held the juice tumbler to her lips and sipped out of it. And lowering her hand away from her head, she blinked her eyes open to peer at me over the cup. When she was done drinking, she handed me what was left.

“God, Alan. I’m sorry. I should go. This is embarrassing.” Ella started to slide off the bed, but I grabbed her knee, still covered in the sheet that had been tangled around her legs.

“No, you need to eat and hydrate. It’s late morning, but it’s not late. I think 10 a.m. So, whatever you had planned for today, I hope it wasn’t early.” I set the juice on the tray and picked it up, nodding my head at the bed.

“Sorry, I need to…” Ella shrugged and grimaced.

“Sure.” I pointed at the bathroom door. “There.”

After a few minutes, she returned, her hair somewhat coiffed, and her face washed. She smiled at me, clearly not at all embarrassed that she wore no pants. After she climbed back into bed, I set the tray across her lap and watched as she dug into the food.

“This is so delicious.” Talking with her mouth full, she grinned and chewed.

“I’m glad you approve. Trevor made some extra for you.” I snagged a slice of bacon off her plate and popped it into my mouth as she winced.

“He knows I’m here?” The way she swallowed her food slowly made me chuckle.

“Yeah, you sort of drunk dialed me last night.” I watched her embarrassment devolve into full-blown mortification. She covered her face with her hands and groaned. “Don’t worry. I told him not to tell your father.”

“What happened?” Ella dropped her hands, staring at me with expectancy.

“Well, he picked up the phone and I had to pry it away from him. I went and picked you up and when we got back here, Trevor was out for the night. I went to my room to get you something to wear, but when I came back you were naked in the pool.” I chuckled remembering how her clothing had been strewn one piece at a time from the back door to the deck.

“Oh, god.” Ella chuckled. “Thank god Trevor was gone.”

“Yes, well, you put the moves on me, so I brought you here. We started… well, you know.” I smirked. “And before I got mypants off, you passed out. I tried to dress you, but the t-shirt and panties were all I managed. You’re a feisty drunk.” I winked at her and stole another slice of bacon. “What had you so upset you got wasted and called me?”

Ella took a bite of eggs and shrugged. She looked saddened to hear about our uncouth adventure. “I had a day with Mom and Dad. He’s just really obnoxious about me ‘wasting my life.’ I was pretty upset with him by the time dinner rolled around and my friend Whitney called me to go clubbing with her. She ditched me and—voila!”

I sympathized with her. Though I’d never had friends that would have ditched me, I could at least appreciate how frustrating that must have been. “And Dad?” I took her napkin and dried the bacon grease from my fingers, patiently waiting for her to finish her bite before answering.

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