The Relationship with My Dad’s Bestfriend

Chapter Eight; three months later.

Lucas.

It was a roller coaster with Grace in the beginning but I believe that we’re in a better place now. We have decided we are not going out on dates right now, she tells people she’s working on herself. If anyone ask me, I am just dating around but nothing to serious. It’s the day before Thanksgiving, and I’m in my office, trying to get work done before we have a 4 day weekend. I am supposed to be having dinner over at Grace’s house tomorrow then flying out to see my parents Friday morning. My parents are snow birds, May through September they are here in New York then the rest of the year they are in Florida. My brother and sister in law actually live in Florida too. I’m excited to head out that way, and actually to meet my niece, she’s two months old, and I haven’t met her yet. It was almost lunch time, I was thinking of heading out and getting some Panera Bread, I know it’s Graces favorite too. So I will text her and see if she wants anything,

Me: Hey! I’m getting hungry. Are you interested in some Panera Bread for lunch?

Grace: Oh yes! And a drink from Starbucks, please. I need the energy. Usual from both! Thank you. :)

Me: no problem beautiful.

I get on on the app and order our food. I grab my keys out of my draw and leave my office. I went to get her Starbucks order and then headed to Panera Bread. After picking up our order, I text her to tell her I’m on my way back to the office, she usually will meet me outside and then she goes on her break. When pulling back into the garage, I see her standing outside her car, I pull up next to her, and hand her everything.

“Thank you handsome.”

“Anything babe.” She leaned in for a quick kiss and then I went to park my car and headed back into work. I needed to get my work done, so I can leave early today. I have a golf game with Michael, Eli, and our friend Levi. So I got back to work, it was a long day. I finally finished up what I needed to do, I grab my stuff and headed out. As I passed Grace, she was on the phone, I winked at her as I walked towards the elevator. When I headed to my car I heard my phone beeped, I looked down and it was Michael.

Michael: See you guys soon. I wanted you to know, we got a surprise visit today. So I will be bringing someone.

I was curious who this person is. Just someone else beat at Golf. I headed home and got ready, and headed to the course. When I got there, I noticed Michael and Eli standing next someone. He was a man that looked very familiar, but I couldn’t put a finger on it. That’s when Levi walked up to me, and we went to join the others. When walking up them, it was bugging me who this person was, so familiar.

“Hey.” I said.

“Hey, guys. This is Stephan, Stephan this is Levi and Luke. I believe you met Luke before.”

“Stephan, Stephan, why does that name sound familiar?” I asked giving him an hand shake.

“Stephan, Grace’s ex boyfriend.” Eli said.

“That’s right! Nice to see you. What are you doing here?” I asked trying not to get mad.

“I am actually in town to see Grace. She’s didn’t know I was coming, I’m here to win her back. Couldn’t imagine going through Thanksgiving without her.”

“Oh.” I said, trying even harder to get mad.

I wanted to warn Grace, but I left my phone in the car, cause when playing golf, we keep our phones in the car. While playing I was very distracted by the fact he was her trying to take my girl, my game was a little off which is very unusual.

After we finished,

“Jeez, Luke you’re off your game.” Michael said.

“Just hasn’t been my day, I guess.”

“So you wanna come by Luke? Or you got an hot date.” He asked.

“Oh no, I can stop by.” I replied. We all left. I tried calling Grace but she wouldn’t answer her phone. We made it to her house, and as we all walked in. I saw Grace in the kitchen with her mom, she turned around as she’s was asking about that game, and her face went from smiling to shocked in seconds when she laid her eyes on him.

Grace

When I turned that’s when to my shock I saw Stephan, my ex, the man I left.

“Stephan?!? What are you doing here? Why are you with my dad?” I asked.

He walked up to me, and gave me a hug.

“Can we talk in private?” He asked.

I shook my head as we started walking to my bedroom. I looked over, and glanced at Luke, he did not look too happy. When we walked into my bedroom, I closed the door behind me, and that’s when Stephan kissed me. I was shocked at first then I pushed him away.

“What the h*** was that?” I asked him.

“Grace, I’ve miss you. I know our relationship was going down hill, and we werent the nicest to each other, but these months apart made me realize I don’t wanna be without you. You left without saying goodbye, I came home from work and your were gone. I was pi****, part of me at first was happy you left, we werent happy. But I wanna be happy, I want my girlfriend back.”

“You can’t just show up here and think I’m just gonna take you back. We both changed, I agree we weren’t very happy. I left because I couldn’t say goodbye. 3 years I spent with you, I honestly thought you and I were gonna get married but then everything went down hill. I can’t put myself through that again.” I replied.

“Can you least think about it? Your dad invited me to thanksgiving tomorrow, I am staying at an hotel in town, so you don’t have to give me an answer right now. But please, Gracie, think about it. I love you.”

“You’re coming to Thanksgiving tomorrow? Don’t I get a say in this?”

“I mean you can, go tell your dad you don’t want me here for Thanksgiving and I won’t come.”

“Uggg, fine. This doesn’t mean I want to get back with you. I’m trying to start over. I got a good job, I’m saving money, I am not just gonna pick up and leave.”

“Listen, I’m sorry for everything beautiful. I still love you, and hope these a second chance at us. If you don’t want to move back to Texas, fine, I’ll move here. Your dad was telling me about how well your doing and I’m proud of you, babe. I always have been.”

“Thanks. Don’t call me that.” I said as I open the door to walk out of my room, we walked down stairs, where everyone was in the living room talking and I headed to the kitchen to get wine, I asked Stephan if he wanted a beer. He nodded as he walked into the living room as I was poor my glass of wine, that when I noticed Luke had walked into the kitchen.

He stood across from me at the island and gave me a look. I literally didn’t say a word and just chugged my wine as fast as I can.

“Grace.” He said on the quiet side.

I didn’t say a word, just poured me another glass, and then grabbed a beer out of the fridge.

“We will talk later..” I said to him.

“Fine, my place tonight.” He replied back.

I walked into the living room, and handed Stephan the beer, as I noticed the the only spot left was on the couch between Stephan and Luke. I rolled my eyes and went to take a seat.

“So how long are you staying for, Stephan?” My mom said him.

“I don’t know yet, I guess that’s up to Grace here.” He said to me as he put his arm around me.

I already know that Luke is probably jealous and mad right now.

“Well I hope you two can work things out and go back the way you two used to be. We always have like you Stephan, always thought you were good for our daughter. I’m glad you are here fighting for her.” She said.

“Mom.” I said to her in a louder then usual voice, and gave her a look.

“What honey, he clearly loves you enough to come all this way to win you back.”

I finished my wine and went back into the kitchen to get some more wine. That’s when Eli came in too.

“This can’t be happening right now, why is he here? Why now?” I said.

“Grace, calm down. It’s gonna be ok. He gonna get the hint, and leave. It will be ok.”

“No it’s not, Luke is in the pi**** off and jealous. Things were starting be good and then Stephan has to try and win me back.”

“I don’t know what to say right now.” He said.

“I need a favor. I need a ride.”

“To where? You have a car.”

“To Luke’s later, I been drinking I don’t want to drive.”

He nodded as we both return to the living room. As we walking in, my mom was offering Stephan the guest bedroom.

“Wait what? No. I have to draw the line somewhere.” I said out loud.

“Honey don’t be rude.” She said to me.

“Mom, Dad can I see you in the kitchen for a second.“ I said as I walked back to the kitchen.

As they walked in, I tried to be nice as possible.

“I get it you guys like Stephan. But I don’t know what I want to do, and I need time to think. So I think him staying here isn’t an option.”

“Well, we understand where your coming from, honey. But I am not gonna let him stay in a hotel. He can stay in the guest room, you don’t have to be in the same room as him.”

“Ok well I’m not crashing here tonight I need time.” I said as I walked out.

I walked into the living room room and asked Eli for an ride, as I looked at Luke giving him a hint.

“I can just drive you, I need to get going anyways. I’ll see you all tomorrow.” Luke said.

I grabbed my bag, and headed out the door and got into Luke’s car.

As he was driving down the road, we didn’t speak to each other. He broke the silence,

“I don’t even know how begin to talk about how I feel about this right now..” he said in an angry voice.

“Why are sounding like your mad at me? I didn’t ask him to come.” I said back.

“But you didn’t exactly ask him to leave either, you just let him touch you while we were all in the living room, and go into private with him. What happen in your room btw?”

“He just explained he wanted me back, and I basically told him, no.”

“That’s it? Nothing else?”

“Well, he kissed me also..” I said to him not knowing if I should of told him or not.

“And did you kiss him back?”

I didn’t say anything, I turned my head and looked out the window as I felt upset, why did this have to happen to me, why now? Things were going great.

“So I’ll take that as a yes? Grace..do you still love him?” He asked in anger voice.

“Of course I don’t still love him. I’ve moved on, I’m happy with you!” I said firing back at him,

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes I’m sure.” I said as I look out the window.

We didn’t speak the rest of the car ride, and on on the way up to his apartment.

Once we were in his apartment, he sat his keys down, and told me he was gonna take a quick shower, alone. I nodded my head as I sat on his couch. After sitting for a few minutes, I wanted to be alone, I wanted to think. So I grabbed my jacket, and walked out the door, I walked down there road thinking.

After have been walking for a good 25 minutes, I realized. I don’t wanna be with Stephan anymore, he lost his chance when he changed. I wanna be with Luke, but maybe this secret relationship is hard on both of us. I don’t think it’s time to tell my dad yet, Luke has been the best thing that has happened to me in a long time, but would be easier if we were just friends? Do I really want that? Could I go to work everyday and see him, knowing that we couldn’t be together. Not being able to sneak into his office when he was working late, to have some fun. No, I want to be with him. Just then my phone started ringing, I didn’t even look at it, knowing it was Luke. I wanna make him happy, I want to kiss him, and I want to make love to him, I want a future with him. Then I stopped and realized something bigger, I have like Luke since my teens when I met him, now I think I love him. He’s the one for me. Just then I turned around and walked back to his apartment. Once I walked in, I saw him walk out of the bedroom,

“Where were you?? I been calling you. I came out of the shower and you were gone? What the h***, Grace?” He said with some anger.

I didn’t say anything to him, I walked up and kissed him. He kissed me back, and he wrapped his arms around me. I moved my head back a little from his.

“Luke, I don’t want anyone else but you. You have been the best thing that could of happened to me in awhile. So please understand, I don’t want Stephan, I want you.”

He smiled and kissed me again. As we separated, I said the three words I never though I would say to Lucas James.

“I love you.”

He looked into my eyes, and put his forehead to mine,

“Good, because I love you too baby!”

I smiled and we kissed again. This time he picked me up and carried me to the bed room where we made love to each other. Afterwards, I laid my head on his chest, he wrapped his arm around me.

“What about Stephan? What are we gonna be do about him staying here?” He asked.