The best friend

Three weeks before he was supposed to arrive, I'd never thought about him in that way. My father told me his name is Ace Hardens, he'd been Vice Admiral in the Navy. He's a few years younger than my father was, so I'd expect a pleasant surprise. The two of them have been best friends since middle school. My grandparents and his grandparents lived next door to each other, and ever since they've stood thick as thieves. While my father grew up to become a famous literature professor, Ace had taken off to the Navy. At first, he'd only gone because of a scholarship, but then he, and others above him saw his potential to go further along.

He's been there for ten-plus years serving, now he's decided to retire. Seeing as he's young and has already accomplished his goals in life, he finds it's time for something to change.

He and my father have been keeping in touch, so it's very exciting to him that we will have a familiar friend around for a while.

These last few weeks have been a run-around for us, meaning my dad running me all around. He decorated the guest room due to the room was meant for a friend of my mine that was staying at one point. Currently, the room is beige and black, meant for anyone who stays.

It's around five pm, Ace is meant to arrive soon so I begin to prepare dinner. I'm making peppered steak, rice, and gravy, it's one of my favorite meals to cook. I love almost any meal with rice and gravy, it's a weakness for me. When my mom was still alive she made this meal for me whenever I accomplished anything. Slicing up bell peppers I toss them in adding an aroma to the juice created by the peppers. I breathe it in loving the smell, getting excited to eat as I continue preparing dinner. About an hour later, dinner is finished, and now we're waiting on the apple crumble pie to finish baking.

Leaving the kitchen I look at the digital clock posted on the wall, 6:25 pm. Making my way to the living room to check in on my dad, the doorbell sounds off. Dad shoots out of his seat racing to answer the door. A grin plastered onto his lips, I smile from the sheer excitement my dad's showing at this moment. Once dad leaves the living room I hear him unlocking the door for our new guest, my nerves instantly go to shits. Palms start to sweat from my anxiety closing in, I make my way back to the kitchen. The Apple crumble pie has five more minutes before it's finished. Dinners still hot and steamy, I began to set the table, getting our fancy clear plates down, along with the mint green placemats. Once the table is set, I hear muffled talking coming from the living room, making its way into the kitchen. Once I'm done placing everything where it should be, I hear my dad say the last bit of whatever he was saying to Ace before calling my name.

"Lilah, come introduce yourself, darling. " Attempting to casually walk from the table, I walk the fifteen feet distance between us. Looking up, my breath damn near caught in my throat making me have to clear it before speaking. "Hey, I'm Lilah, It's nice to meet you. I hope you enjoy your time spent with us, my dad has been going on and on about how great you are." smiling trying not to drool like a dumb-ass blonde, Ace smiles before speaking. "Hi Lilah, My name is Ace. It's also very nice to meet you, it's been quite a long time. " His voice is like hot butter, a smile was all I could manage at the time. Afraid if I open my mouth, my father wouldn't recognize the woman speaking such foul words.

Whipping around quickly I regain my pride, "Dinners ready just in time, I know you've got to be starving for something nice and juicy Ace." Plates are already set, and Apple pies cooling down as we speak. Dad sits in his usual seat at the head of the table, while I sit in the middle. Ace decided to take the one just opposite of me, giving me a hell of a few view while I eat. "wow this looks ravishing, I'm very grateful miss Lilah" Ace purrs to me about the dinner I've made in his honor, and let me just say this; I've never been so turned on from a man complimenting my food. He's way too good-looking to be real, who were his parents, and what did they look like? I could just sit on his face and rub my- "Lilah, the food tastes amazing honey would you take a bite now silly goose" my dad joked from my zombie-like state. Smiling and shaking my head "Sorry, my head went for a moment." my dad and Ace both chuckled stuffing their face with steak and rice. Stuffing my own face I render in the tenderness of my steak, moaning from the flavorful delight I've prepared. The rice and gravy top it off making me feel like it's my first time making this again. "Best home-cooked meal I've had in over ten years," Ace tells me wiping the juice from around his mouth, Lord everything this man does is like porn when it replays in my head. Ace scoots his chair back since he's done eating, he quickly grabs all the plates stacking them on top of each other. Before he can make his way to the kitchen sink dad, and I are on his heels. "Ace it's no way your washing dishes, you're a new guest in our home," I say trying to pry the dishes out of his hands. His grip is beyond tight making it pointless when even his fingertips overpower my hands. Getting my mind back from the deep end, I tell him it's no way I'm letting him way the dishes. Not that I wouldn't mind, just not on this night. "I'll wash, you rinse then, final offer." was all he said to dad and I before proceeding with washing the dishes. Dad and I stand baffled already at our new guest, seeing as my dad just shrugged his shoulders I'm guessing it's very common for him to give orders. Then again he was in the navy for most of his years.

"Great so while you two tidy up I'm heading to the corner store for some drinks. Lilah, would you like anything special?" dad asks me, I think for a second before replying. I need him to drive kinda distant, I smile and look to my father, "I'd like a bottle of that citrus patron please daddy." I poked my bottom lip out, pouting at my dad. While speaking with my dad, I've been standing next to Ace. He's been running dishwater filling the sink with dishes.

Dad gives me a pointed look before smiling and saying he'd get it for me for making a delicious dinner. "thanks, dad ." Waving me off before saying his goodbye, I let the demon in me grin widely. Dad went and we're alone, I must have been in la la land for some time. Without my noticing Ace has taken his white collard button-up off his body, leaving his top half bare.