My Best Friend's Dad

by Cassandra Dee

  But a man has to face up to his responsibilities. I sigh heavily into the phone. “Put her through, Lisa.”

  “Right away, Mr. Jones.” She patches Adele’s call into my office.

  “Chris, why haven’t I heard from you?” Adele immediately whines into the phone. I cringe at the sound of her voice. She’s a forty-year-old woman who behaves like a child.

  “I’ve been really busy with work,” I say smoothly. Sometimes, it’s just easier to use a white lie than actually get into the weeds of the why and the how. It’s true that work can get pretty hectic, but if I really wanted to, I could have made time for Adele. Of course, I’ve actually been avoiding her.

  “I was thinking,” Adele begins. Oh no. Here it comes. Whatever is about to come out of her mouth is going to cost me a pretty penny. “We should get away this weekend. Maybe to Vancouver or to Cabo.”

  She’s always finding ways to spend my money, and although I have plenty to go around, it still grates on my soul. She doesn’t give a damn about me; it’s my millions she’s after.

  “I’m busy this weekend,” I lie smoothly. The last thing I want to do is spend an entire weekend with Adele as she spends my money. I’d rather sneak a glimpse of Marie as she parades around in that damn Snoopy T-shirt.

  “Doing what?” she snaps. “Are you too busy for your girlfriend? It’s a vacation, dammit.”

  I sigh. I need to get her off my back about this trip she has conveniently planned on my dime. Smoothly, I speak. “I’m hosting a foreign exchange student at my place for the next few months. She just arrived yesterday, and she’s not used to the city yet. I can’t just take off for the weekend, Adele, not when she just got here. I’m like her father during this trip. It’s a lot of responsibility.”

  “So she’s more important than me?” Adele whines. I roll my eyes. I want to say yes, but for the sake of not arguing, I don’t.

  “She’s a kid, Adele. I have to make sure she’s okay and settles in fine. Maybe next weekend,” I say vaguely.

  “Do you promise?” she shrieks. “You can’t take it back!”

  Oh God. Who’s the child here? Adele reminds me of a whiny teen girl who has managed to trick her parents into taking her to a boy band concert.

  “We’ll see. I have to go, Adele. I have another meeting,” I lie once again. Luckily, she believes me this time.

  “Okay, but don’t forget about our dinner tonight.” Shit. I’d already forgotten. “Remember, Reynaldo’s at eight,” she chirps, her voice oozing charm now.

  “Okay, fine. See you there,” I grunt before hanging up. Great. Now I have to sit and listen to Adele ramble for an hour at dinner while picking at her food. Everything about the woman turns me off, and the thought of spending time with her tonight turns my stomach into lead. Fuck.

  I rub my temples as I try to get that whiny caw out of my head. I’ve always been slightly annoyed by Adele, but today, she seems unbearable. It’s obvious that she’s using me for my money. She doesn’t even try to hide it anymore. After all, the woman never wants to spend a nice quiet evening in, playing board games and talking. She’s always planning an extravagant trip for us or a night out at the most expensive restaurant she can find – hopefully one that her shallow friends frequent so that she can see and be seen.

  I’ve always known Adele was a blood-sucking leech, but it never bothered me as much as it does now. What’s changed? Could it be that Marie is making me long for something more than just casual sex with a woman I tolerate?

  It has to be Marie causing this turmoil because my last serious relationship was my marriage, and that ended ages ago. Between work and raising my daughter on my own, I don’t have time to invest in this kind of thing. I guess that’s why I’ve let Adele stick around for so long. She doesn’t demand real love and affection, since I can keep her happy with my bank account. But for some odd reason, Marie makes me want more.

  What the hell? Why am I so changed after meeting our new exchange student? It’s unseemly. I’m like a teenage boy who wants to move the sun, moon, and stars for this beguiling French girl, despite the fact that I don’t really know her. But instinct is instinct, and suddenly, I know what I have to do. No matter what happens between me and Marie, I have to break up with Adele. It’s just not right to keep going out with her when I feel this way.

  Of course, she’ll probably throw a temper tantrum like the child she is. But so be it. She’s not what I want, and she never was. After all, I can’t get the sexy French guest staying in my penthouse out of my head. And even if nothing ever happens, my exchange student has already done me a favor. I know I need out of my so-called “relationship” … so that I can dream about Marie in peace.

  Chapter Five

  Chris

  I wait in the dimly lit restaurant, stewing in my seat. The tables are filled with couples smiling at one another, probably celebrating joyous occasions. Adele is late, as always. She’ll probably be late to her own funeral. I use this time alone to collect my thoughts. The woman isn’t going to take this well, but I hope the emerald bracelet I bought her keeps her from making a scene. But who am I kidding? She wouldn’t be Adele if she didn’t put on some sort of a performance.

  A gust of wind blows as the door swings open. Adele poses in the doorway as she makes her grand entrance, aware of all of the eyes on her. Her eyes scan the Italian eatery for her so-called friends and acquaintances, preening from the collective attention. She reminds me of a peacock with the way she flaunts herself, tossing her hair back and forth. She swishes her hips as she walks toward the table, a green dress hanging loosely off of her skinny frame. It’s not a good look. I gulp my glass of cabernet, letting the alcohol sit in my mouth for a moment. Shit. I need the fiery warmth.

  She clears her throat to get my attention. “My chair, Christopher,” she says, eyeing the wooden seat. Not even five minutes yet, and she’s already behaving like a brat. This evening is going to be fucking awful, I can already tell. I get up and pull her chair out with a stiff smile. She flashes a wide, toothy grin as she slithers into her seat. Green is the perfect color on her because she finally looks like the snake she really is.

  “I love Reynaldo’s!” she exclaims, grabbing the menu. She doesn’t really love Reynaldo’s; what she really takes pleasure in is being seen dining here. Image is everything to this woman, and I’m more like a trophy instead of a date. God. Kill me now.

  “Good, I’m glad you like it here,” I reply curtly as I motion to the waiter to pour me another glass of cabernet. I’m going to need as much wine as possible to get through this night. Even as Adele sits before me dolled up to the nines, she still can’t compete with Marie’s natural beauty. Damn, how has the pretty French student managed to stay on my mind all day? It’s like she’s cast a spell on me, and now I’m caught in her net. I can’t break free, and I’m not really sure I want to, to be frank. She makes me feel as if I’m a teenage boy falling in love for the first time.

  “They have the best calamari here,” Adele simpers before waving her hand in the waiter’s face. “Waiter! Hello? Bring us an order of the calamari, now. Are you even paying attention? We need to be served.”

  Fortunately, the staff at expensive restaurants is used to dealing with all sorts of rudeness.

  “Right away,” the waiter says courteously as he scurries toward the kitchen. Adele stares at the menu again, as if her behavior wasn’t condescending. I stare at her, astonished by her complete lack of awareness.

  “Could you be any more of a bitch?” I ask, unable to hide my disgust.

  “Excuse me?” I’m not sure if she’s shocked by my question, or if her face looks frozen in surprise because of her recent Botox injections. She’s trying her best to get rid of her wrinkles, but the plastic surgery seems to be hurting instead of helping.

  “I’m not a bitch. That waiter wasn’t doing his job,” she argues with a sniff. Adele says it as if she really believes it herself. I’m not sure when this woman climbed on top of her h
igh horse, but at this point, I really wish she would come off of it. You would think the reason she’s so arrogant is because she comes from money. But in reality, she comes from a middle-class family of two hard-working parents who had raised her in an Ohio suburb. She keeps that part of her life hidden from the rich socialites who roam the streets of New York City.

  “Ok, fine.” I sip my wine while staring at the menu. I’m sure Adele will order the most expensive thing on it. Half of the time, she doesn’t even finish her food. The whole thing is a show with her. We can never go out just to enjoy ourselves. Every move she makes on a date is calculated to impress anyone within earshot. Maybe I should stop her before she orders so that we can cut this night short.

  “Oh, honey, we still have to discuss our trip next weekend,” she gushes. “I’ve decided we’re going to Vancouver. I can’t wait!” She lowers her voice conspiratorially. “I’ve found the perfect hotel for us to stay in. I just need your credit card.”

  She’s insane. Can’t she tell it’s over? I see her maybe once a week, and we don’t have sex anymore. I never get aroused around her. In fact, I hate even being in the same room as her. A trip to Vancouver with this woman would only add to my stress level.

  “Adele, I don’t think—” The waiter places the calamari on the table. This is going to be harder than I’d thought. I want to make a nice clean break, but Adele is still planning our future together.

  “Yum!” She scoops most of the calamari onto her plate, leaving only a few morsels on the serving platter. Once again, Adele doesn’t give a damn about me. I could starve for all she cares, as long as she gets to post a picture of her extravagant meal on social media. But then, the woman nudges the calamari around on her plate before frowning. “They didn’t cook it right. This isn’t as good as it usually is.” Of course, this makes no sense at all. Adele hasn’t even put a single golden-brown tidbit in her mouth.

  “Adele, we need to talk,” I interrupt. It’s now or never. Besides, it’s getting late, and I want to make it home before the girls go to sleep. I want Marie to tell me all about her first day at Bradford Prep in her sensual, seductive voice.

  “About what?” Adele asks while taking a sip of her wine. Damnit. Here we go.

  “About us. This isn’t working out.”

  Adele shoots me a puzzled look.

  “What do you mean? Everything’s fine. We’re having a lovely dinner together, and we’re going on a trip to Vancouver next weekend.” She turns her wide green eyes to me, seemingly innocent.

  “We’re not going to Vancouver, Adele.” This crazy bitch is utterly delusional. Things are not fine between us. She flutters her lashes in fake shock.

  “But you promised, Chris!” Tears literally come to her eyes. The woman is pouting like a child who didn’t get the puppy she begged for as a Christmas gift, and I don’t like it. Part of me wants to appease her just to keep a scene from occurring, but her behavior tonight makes the other part of me want to storm out of the restaurant and leave her high and dry.

  “I’m breaking up with you,” I say in a tight voice. “It’s over.”

  “No, Chris, you can’t!” she wails, startling the elderly couple next to us.

  “Keep your voice down,” I say, but the warning doesn’t help. She’s fired up and ready to put on the performance of a lifetime.

  “You can’t leave me, Chris! I won’t let youuuuu!” As if she has any choice in the matter. Curious eyes are starting to swivel toward us, and I feel my back growing stiff.

  “It’s over, Adele.” I motion toward the waiter. He hesitantly approaches our table, probably fearful that Adele will lash out at him.

  “Yes sir?” the waiter falters.

  “Check, please.” I’ve got to get the hell out of here. I have a reputation in this city, and I can’t allow Adele to tarnish it with her childlike tantrums. The last thing I need are rumors about my dating life. Again.

  “Right away, sir.” He scurries away once again. It’s as if he wants this dinner date to come to an end just as badly as I do.

  “So that’s it?” Adele pleads as she does big puppy dog eyes. “You think you can just leave me like this?” I try not to feed into her emotional outburst as the drama continues to unfold.

  “Adele, don’t make a scene,” I say in a tight voice. “It’s unseemly.” But the woman can smell blood. She relishes my desperation as I beg her to stay calm. The waiter hands me the check and then backs away from our table, practically doing a crabwalk. I don’t blame him. I’d want to be as far away from this bullshit as possible too.

  “It’s another woman, isn’t it? Who is she, Chris? Tell me!” her voice grows shrill.

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Is it that obvious that I’m completely infatuated with the curvaceous brunette prancing around my penthouse in nothing but a Snoopy T-shirt? How could Adele know that there was someone else? Someone I haven’t been able to get off of my mind since the moment we met? As Adele continues to rant in Reynaldo’s, I wonder what Marie is wearing. Perhaps something that shows off her scrumptious body. I want to rush out of here so that I can get a glimpse of her beautiful, curly locks and listen to her soft giggle as she and Jenny gossip about their classmates. I need to wrap things up with Adele ASAP, that much is clear.

  “Tell me her name, Chris.” The scolding look in her eyes makes me feel like a dog with his tail between his legs. For some strange reason, I’m overcome with guilt. I know I never loved Adele, but am I really ending our relationship because of a girl I just met? A girl who’s totally taboo and off-limits? Unfortunately, yes. So I pull out the big guns. I reach into my jacket pocket and retrieve a small jewelry box before sliding it across the table. It’s my last shot at walking away without getting my head chewed off.

  “What’s that?” Adele glances at the box, pretending total innocence. Her self-restraint is admirable. Deep down, I know she wants to rip it open and coo over the beautiful jewels nestled in velvet. This woman is so transparent.

  “Open it.” Before I can finish getting the words out, she snatches the box off the table and rips the ribbon off as her eyes gleam with greed.

  “Oh, Chris!” she shrieks. “It’s beautiful!” She takes the bracelet out of the box and quickly fastens it around her wrist. She turns her arm from side to side, admiring the sparking emeralds. Her glowing face is too excited for words. She’s so enthralled by the glimmering emeralds that, sure enough, she has completely forgotten why she was upset in the first place. I shake my head as I watch her admire her new piece of jewelry. It’s the perfect time for me to hammer the last nail into the coffin.

  “We’re through, Adele. This is my way of saying goodbye.” Her eyes are locked onto the glistening jewels. It’s as if I’m not even sitting at the same table across from her. She pays me no mind, and honestly, that may be for the best. I’ve said my final piece. Whether she was actually listening or not is on her. I get up from the table and walk to the door. I look back at her one last time, thinking that maybe she cared about more than my money. Maybe she truly loved me? But no. I shake my head as I realize she’s so consumed with the bracelet that she doesn’t even realize I’m gone.

  I flag down a taxi and try to get as far away from Adele as possible. I almost regret buying her the emerald bracelet, but it was the only way to make a somewhat-okay exit. As I ride in the taxi, I reflect on the situation with my ex. I didn’t realize it before, but after tonight’s display, I need a woman who brings something more to the table than sex. I need to feel loved and appreciated. I need to feel like I’m more than a bank account, and Marie seems like the type who can do that. Even though it was only a piece of toast, she tried to make sure I didn’t go to work on an empty stomach. It’s the small touches that make a difference, and this woman is truly something different. Something special. And I can’t wait to find out what the temptress has going on next.

  Chapter Six

  Marie

  I stare blankly at the pages of The Great Gatsby. The wo
rds swirl around in my head, making it difficult to concentrate. I try to focus on my homework, but all I can think about is Chris. His piercing blue eyes have been on my mind all day. None of the immature boys at Bradford Prep come close to being as handsome as he is. Just the thought of my host makes me melt inside.

  I try to get Jenny’s dad off of my brain, but I can’t. How can I focus on Jay Gatsby when Chris Jones is the sexiest man I’ve ever met? He’s completely dreamy. Every time I’m around him, I feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Being this head over heels for my new friend’s father is silly, but he’s so amazing and charismatic. If Jenny could read my mind, she would probably hate me. I can’t think of her dad this way because it’s really wrong. What in the world am I doing? I must be a mix of Crazytown and Looney Tunes.

  The doorbell rings, interrupting my thoughts. Mon Dieu. I need a distraction.

  “Pizza’s here!” Jenny dashes to the front door. The Great Gatsby will have to wait. I toss the book onto the dining room table and rub my eyes. I need to stop thinking about Chris and get my work done. My grades are super important to me, and I can’t let them slip. Part of the reason I wanted to be an exchange student in America is because I want to go to college here to study botany. It's always been my dream to work with plants full-time, and some of the best programs are in New York City, so I have to take advantage of my time here. I can’t spend my days drooling over my host dad. I have to work hard so that I can achieve my goals.

  But the aroma of anchovies, mozzarella cheese, and basil tomato sauce fills the air, distracting me from my studies. My stomach growls as I inhale deeply.