One night stand with my daddy's best friend
pte
v
bell at Dad's h
va!" Dad barreled out and
fed out of my lungs as
le pulled at my lips. His hug probably cracked my back in
ut?" He dropped me
styling my hair and simply opted for ponytails. Dad's many hugs and
ree hand through my hair. "
n eyes crinkled at the
aper bag that had somehow
xhaled. "Did you make this?" "I wish. I
"Classic Ava
home. Everything was warm-toned, cream and brown, with the occasional p
with the place?" I shrugged
the door. "Unless you count th
ntel, doing a Vanna
e photos and keepsakes
as shaped like a bee, but with the head of a woma
at it, eyes soft. "Isn't it glor
rth of cereal in return." "Dad," I chuckle
rocery store and coul
ed up and he pressed his lips together. "Well
still smiling. "G
've never felt so alive. I'm trying new
my arm and
ped my hand and turned c
and now I'm sore in places I didn't know I could be, I t
t a disbelievi
d his shoulder. "Tell m
d into action and I
tomorrow. It would be a challenge at work
anger was what I'd needed-and got. I'd had my once-in-a-li
nd pains. At least they came with the memor
va
" I bl
ing into space." A line had
the kitchen, smiling to hide my wi
led delicious. My stoma
cook lik
m could see me now, she would be so proud," h
his amazing meal
broccoli as a main, and for dessert-" he pulled out a glass contain
singing with rays beaming f
t makes this different from all the
t's a fresh new ingredient." "Jeez, Dad,
ized mousse back in the frid
was always a lot when Dad cooked, but tonight, it
aving a-" The
you. We're having a guest." He
d him, a smile on my fac
"You never told me." "Ava!" He went red
eally? What a
friend from out of town who's v
brows pulled down. He started spea
." I reached a finger into the casse
thing. Tonight h
back of my hand with a rub but s
aleck-y daughter but headed off. I
ered. I threw a glance at the archway that led
ed his
uld take
the table and snagged a piece of chicken. Score! T
date. He was just
ghter, Ava," Dad a
n one quick motion. "I w
caught. What the hell was stormy stranger doing in my
ned. Something was in my t
s ch
y throat, chest heavin
ghing, my eyes watering. My hacking fail
distance, Dad y
t my entire being ju
nd my middle, and a body
g bre
ribs dug into my side. The pain b
he third squeeze, the food dislodged. It
d it. "Ava." He collected
g breaths as I s
pinch something you can
did
eyed
I mumbled
ou were here." Dad
t my lip. He w
king is quite common. Helps t
d to remain anonymous. Now he was at my dad's house.
. "But I should learn to do that instead o
d. Liam. Oh my God. I could put a
ty and one-night stands? Dad woul
am. He's the frien
cringe, I inched my wa
pants with dress shoes. This time, there was no tie.
shot up to his face. He was a
like a storm ready to unleash its power. High cheekbones.
e out choked, my h
ter." Dad scrambled behind me
nd chugged, avoi
to my spot at the table. I dropped
need
d him a thankful smile. The moment his steps receded, I
my Dad's friend?" I hissed at
ved carelessly,
't be serious. "If he finds out what
to tell him," he
econd. "Did you know?" "That you were my
You don't need to spell it out."
uched me if he'd known. But his e
sed my thighs together and clenched my teeth at th
r find out. Ever." "Ava," Dad s
g. "Yes?" Did he hear us? "You'l
throat sudden