My Dad's Bestfriend

Jacob

I watched her as she conversed with her friends, the smile on her face never fading. It occasionally broadened with a subtle twitch at the corner of her lips, as if she could sense my gaze fixed on her the entire time. And, truth be told, she could. Evelyn was incredibly observant though she didn't know that I had mentally captured every aspect of her from the very first day I arrived here to attend Samuel's wedding. She remained oblivious to how I had lost most of my self-control that very morning when I unexpectedly found her in the kitchen, wearing a little top and shorts that perfectly showcased her sexy body. Who would have thought that this was the same Evelyn I had known years ago?

Back then, she had been quite shy around me, always quiet, except for those nights when she'd sneak wine from the kitchen cabinets and retreat to her safe haven-her room. In the midst of her liquor-induced intoxication, she would often do wild things that were entirely contrary to her usual nature. I couldn't deny that the sound of my name falling from her lips used to make my heart skip a beat, just as it did now. But she had been underage then, completely naive and incapable of making decisions for herself. That was the sole reason I hadn't acted on my desires. I couldn't deny, though, that if she had been the same age as she was today, instead of suppressing my desires and the beast lurking beneath my skin, I would have barged into her room and ravished her. Every inch of her.

Suppressing one's true desires is always a tough battle, and for me, Evelyn is at the core of everything I crave-my carnal desires, my obsession, and everything my heart longs for.

My eyes traced a path from her slender neck down to her waist, where her dress clung to her like a second skin. I could discern the effort she had put into concealing the love bites on her neck and cleavage, and she had done an excellent job at it. I wouldn't have been able to guess where those marks had adorned her skin if I hadn't been the one creating them on her soft, delicate canvas.

Perhaps I should have left more marks. I couldn't pinpoint why I was feeling this way, but maybe it was a twisted desire to stake a claim. To let everyone know she was mine, and no one was allowed to touch her except for me.

I had never been this possessive, but she held the power to awaken emotions I had never experienced before.

While I was absorbed in taking in every detail of Evelyn's presence, even though I had already done so countless times, a familiar woman approached me. She leaned against the bar, occupying the spot where Evelyn had stood moments ago.

"Hey," she flashed me a small smile.

"What do you want now, Chloe?" I couldn't hide my annoyance. For fuck's sake! She was blocking my view of Evelyn,

She seemed taken aback before stammering, "I saw you standing here all alone, and I thought we could talk."

"Well, I don't want to talk to you. I believe I made that clear this morning, didn't I?"

"I can't believe you're still taking her side," she scoffed. "I told you what happened, Jacob. She raised her hand at me, yet-"

"I'm done with your lies, Chloe. So just shut the hell up," I snapped through gritted teeth, my jaw clenched. If this had been my party, I would have thrown her out right then, "Evelyn didn't hit you, so why don't you keep these lies to yourself? You've had your chance to create problems between her and me this time; it's over. It's time for you to finally leave behind your twisted ways and start working on yourself. Her lips parted, and her brows shot up in surprise. Clearly, she hadn't expected me to reject her so outrightly. Alas, She and her struggle to believe the world revolved around her!

"Excuse me? Jacob, I'm not trying to come between you and Evelyn because I simply know there's no future for you two. Have you forgotten the fact that she's Samuel's daughter? What are you even thinking, love? You're ruining things for both of you. Please don't do this to yourself."

There she went, showcasing her impressive acting skills to make it seem like she cared.

But in reality, she couldn't care less.

"Love? Sorry, are you referring to me?" I chuckled dryly, she was absurd, "Please, Chloe, stop the act already. It's getting embarrassing. I suggest you stop if you don't want to lose the last shreds of dignity you might still possess somewhere deep within you."

The expression on her face hardened, and I was all too familiar with that look. After all, I had spent years with her, enduring her horrendous personality and somehow surviving it.

"What's wrong with you, Jacob? You weren't like this-careless and oblivious. You used to be smarter than what I see in you today. What's actually going on with you?"

Of course I won't look smart to her anymore! God, she has no limits!

"I'll tell you, it's simple," I replied, casually taking a sip of my drink as I gazed at the people on the dance floor. She kept her stare locked on me. "Back then, I seemed smart to you because I used to give a fuck. Now, I may appear foolish and unaware because I don't. I couldn't care less about what you think, want, or do, Chloe. You and I are over, and that happened a long time ago. You couldn't move on because you have this sick need to have people constantly orbiting around you. You want to surround yourself with people who are obsessed with everything you do, even the worst things. I used to be that guy, but not anymore. So, you should either find another puppet or work on improving yourself. There are plenty of good psychologists available these days, and I'm sure you could benefit from some help." I flashed her a smile.

This time, I actually saw a glimmer of rage in her eyes.

She stayed silent for a moment, observing me before finally opening her mouth to respond.

"What do you really think of yourself, Jacob? Do you honestly believe I need to try so hard to come between the two of you? Let me tell you, I don't even need to come between the two of you," she said, crossing her arms over her chest, her gaze challenging. And there it was the beginning of her toxic plan. Again, it was simple: break it if you can't take it. "Because, at the end of the day, you're going to get tired again, and then you'll want the stability only I can offer. She's not right for you, nor are you right for her. You'll end up destroying everything-the friendship between you and Samuel, Evelyn's life, and yes, even yours, although we can't say yours is in a very good place right now. No one can give you what you desire, Jacob. It was me, and it will always be me. You'll have to come back to me, no matter how far you run."

"So, you still haven't improved at acting, huh?" I chuckled, looking at her. It was almost laughable how I had once loved a woman like her, and what I had put up with for all those years, "It's a shame you couldn't maintain that new facade even for a week. You know what? I pity you. You're so desperate for attention that you change your facade every time you encounter someone new. But in the end, you can't escape who you truly are. You're what you are, Chloe-a fake, disrespectful, selfish human being who only knows how to use other people. That's all you'll ever be to me. So, before I actually ask Samuel to tell you to leave."

I could tell that the insult hit her, and it affected her quite a bit. Clearly, she had thought she could manipulate me into being with her again, and it frustrated her to see that I had moved on. But did I care?Fuck,

no.

If she wants to go to hell, she can go right ahead.

"You'll regret this," she said, her voice dripping with confidence, as it always had, "Trust me, you'll have to grovel your way back to me because you're nothing without me, Jacob. You'll soon get tired and-" "I won't get tired, Chloe, because unlike you, Evelyn doesn't suck the life out of me with her sick ways. And certainly, I don't need the same woman back in my life who cheated on me with ten different guys. Trust me, no one wants that," I retorted, looking at her with a dispassionate expression, "So, stay away from me and Evelyn for as long as you can because nothing's going to change between us."

She stared at me for a few more moments before finally turning on her heels and storming away.

As I watched her walk away, I couldn't help but release a sigh of relief. If she had dragged the conversation on any longer, I wasn't sure I could have restrained myself from causing a scene.

Just as I was about to shift my attention back to my Evelyn to see what she was up to, I noticed Danica, who seemed to have witnessed everything between Chloe and me. She was standing a bit further away, leaning against a pillar. It was clear from her gaze that she had a lot on her mind.

Danica then approached me, her expression serious.

Well, I figured this was inevitable. I hadn't planned on avoiding this conversation for long anyway.

"We need to talk," she said as she stood before me.

"Yeah, I know. Let's go upstairs. There are too many people around here, and I don't want to create a scene."