My Dad's Bestfriend novel Chapter 187

Evelyn

“If you two were going to make up this fast, then why the hell did you fight like that?” I glared at Dad and Jacob, incredulous. They were laughing, clinking their glasses together like they hadn’t been at each other’s throats this morning. I’d practically dragged Jacob out of the house, and forced him to sit in a coffee shop with me to calm down, maybe even let out a little steam. And while I was doing damage control, Dad had called me, saying, “Kick his arse, and come home without him. Don’t even think about bringing him back.”

Yet here we were, hours later, with them acting like nothing had ever happened. I had no clue what changed. All I remembered was Jacob getting a call from Dad, his face going from stormy to smiling in seconds. “Let’s go,” he’d said, just like that. “My friend’s calling me back.”

I clenched my fists. What was the point of putting Clara and me through their drama if they were just going to wave it off like it didn’t matter?

“Hey, remember that girl? Yolanda?” Dad said, totally ignoring my fuming presence. “Everyone’s crush back in college? I ran into her the other day. Mother of five now. Can you believe it? Who’d have thought Yolanda would ever settle down?”

Jacob laughed, taking a long sip. “No kidding. Seems like everyone’s settled down. Feels like it was just yesterday, doesn’t it, brother?”

Unbelievable. They were reminiscing about college while I was still standing here, simmering. I crossed my arms and planted my feet, my voice loud enough to cut through their laughter. “And you’re gonna lose your last chance to ever settle down, Jacob Adriano, if you don’t listen to me right now.”

Jacob’s head snapped around, his eyes widening. He stumbled off the stool, guilty realization dawning. “Baby…” he murmured, his face softening. “I am so sorry. It was… it was Samuel’s fault. He wouldn’t let me go.”

“Oh, really?” Dad snorted, leaning back against the bar. “I’ve got nothing to do with it. You’re the one who got us going down memory lane.”

Jacob shook his head, sputtering in protest. “No! I—he’s got this all wrong, I—”

“Blaming each other won’t work, guys,” Clara said as she set the last dish on the table, shooting both Dad and Jacob a pointed look. “You two collectively ignored my Evie. I saw it from the kitchen — too wrapped up in your ‘Yolanda, Tina, Rina, Eleanor’ conversations to care.”

“Oh, so it was Tina, Rina, and Eleanor too?” I raised an eyebrow, folding my arms. “So it was all about old flames, huh?”

“Yes, it was,” Clara confirmed, crossing her arms. Dad swallowed, chuckling nervously, then cleared his throat.

“Clara, it wasn’t like that,” he tried to explain, casting about for something less incriminating. “Jacob brought it up. I was just… going with the flow.”

“Don’t you dare try to pin that on me,” Jacob glared at Dad. “You started it.”

“No, Jacob, it was you!” Dad insisted, eyes narrowing. “Don’t lie.”

“I’m not lying, Samuel! Jesus is watching, so stop trying to cover up your lies!”

“Don’t bring Jesus into this!” Dad’s expression — a mix of guilt and innocence — showed he’d probably started the reminiscing. Clara’s stern look as she placed down a serving spoon confirmed that Dad’s penalty was coming soon enough. Rightly so.

God, these two.

“Okay, fine!” I shut my eyes, fisting my hands to the side. “I’ll let this slide. But let’s not start another round of Fight Club right now, alright? Just shut up.”

They both stopped, exchanging cautious glances, probably wondering if this was some sort of trap. It wasn’t.

Jacob exhaled slowly, a tentative “Okay…” escaping his lips.

Dad, on the other hand, squinted for a moment, then finally sighed. “So… can we eat now, please?”

Clara held her serious expression for a beat before a laugh bubbled up. “Alright, come on, little pig,” she teased. “Dinner’s ready.”