The Relationship with My Dad’s Bestfriend

Gracelyn “Omg Gracie, you’re back?” Screamed my bestfriend since we were like 4, Abigail Shorts. I hugged her as I stand in the coffee shop where she works. She ran up to me and hugged me. “How long are you here for?” She asked me. “I moved back a few days ago.” I replied. “What? Where you staying at?” “My parents until I can find a job and a place of my own.” “We must catch up, but I have to work right now.” “Well my parents are having a welcome back home bbq at my house tomorrow at 5. You should come if your not busy.” “Yes I would love to.” I hugged her and walked out. I needed to start job hunting now. I don’t want to be living at my parents too long. It was a day of job hunting but honestly I don’t think I found a place to work. I was a secretary at local business where I was living in Texas. I moved out there after college with my college boyfriend Stephen, we were together for 3 years, we were living together, talking about our future, until we started fighting more, and just became distant with each other. Then I lost my job due to the business I worked for closing up, and that just caused more problems with Stephan. I wasn’t happy, he wasn’t happy, so I decided I would pack my stuff up and move back to New York. I didn’t say goodbye, but I think he knew I was leaving, we talked about breaking up, just never made it official. When I got back to my parents house, I saw an extra car in the driveway. When I walked in, I saw a familiar face, a face that always made me smile in my teen years. Lucas James, my dads best friend. Now if you must know, Luke is 11 years older then me, him and my dad met at when I was 15, when Luke started working with my dad as his partner. Then Luke moved on to working at his own business around the time I graduated. But my dad and him have been best friends ever since. “Hey, Gracie. Welcome home.” He said to me. “Hi, thanks.” I said trying not to blush at him. “How did the job hunting go sweetie?” My dad asked. “Not good. I am going start looking again the morning.” “Well good news, I may have helped with that and found you a job.” My dad said excitedly. “Really? Where?” I said. “At my company! We need a new secretary, and I know you have experience in that department, so tell one reason why it wouldn’t be a good idea.” Luke said to me. Other then the fact I would have to see him everyday, while I am hardcore crushing on him like a school girl. “That would be perfect.” I said lying, knowing I needed this job. “Well great, I will let you two talk now. I have to run out and get food for your welcome home party. Thank again Luke for helping my daughter out. I know she will be in good hands alright.” After my dad had left, it was just me and Luke in the living room. I felt awkward and nervous, but I hope he couldn’t tell cause honestly it would be embarrassing. “So I would like you start Monday. You might have to work a little late. The last secretary was a little lazy honestly, so there’s some catching up to do. But knowing you, I think you will be able to handle this.” “I’m sure I can. One thing I learned from my dad, it’s you don’t get anywhere without hard work.” I replied smiling at him. He smiled back, and proceeded to move my hair from my face to behind my ear. “You know, Grace don’t take this in a wrong way, but you are a beautiful young woman.” I started blushing, and thinking why is he doing this to me. “Thanks, Luke.” “Well I am gonna head out. It was nice seeing you back.” “You too, thank you for this opportunity. I appreciate it so much!” I said. He smiled at me, and shook my hand as he was walking towards the door. I decided I was gonna head upstairs and change into my swim wear. I put my hair up in a messy bun, and put my swim wear cover up jacket on over my plain black bikini. I headed downstairs to find my mom in the kitchen, she went shopping for party decorations, if anyone knows my mother, she’s a over the top party planner. I left her to do her thing and I headed to the pool. I took my cover off, and jumped right in. I started swimming in laps from one end of the pool and back. After about 4 laps, I felt like I was being watched, when I looked up, that’s when I saw him staring at me through the back door. I returned to doing my laps, before I knew it, I notice a figure at the end of the pool. Tall and handsome, of course it would be Lucas. “Hey, what’s up? Thought you left..” I asked him. “Well when I was leaving, I seen your mom needed help with the bags. So I helped her and then realized I should get your number. I can text you the details about Monday. You’ll be there before I am,” he replied. I jumped out of the pool, and kinda notice in the corner of my eye, that he’s definitely checking me out, which made me blush. I grabbed my towel and phone, and handed it to him. He added his number and I texted him, so he had mine. “Ok I guess were good now.” He said to me as he was walking closer to me. Then whispers in my ear, “that bathing suit fits your body perfect.” He winked at me, then walked away. Feels like my chest is in my stomach, I can feel my face warm up. Is he really checking me out and flirting with me this has to be a dream? I got back into the pool and finished my laps. When I got out I went upstairs, took shower and put some pjs on, and then checked my phone, I noticed I had a text message from Lucas. Lucas: It was really nice seeing you today! I can’t wait to start seeing you almost everyday. ;) Try and not look too cute tomorrow, it will be hard to not look at you with your dad around. :) I didn’t even know what to reply, this is kinda making me more nervous to start on Monday because I have to be professional. Plus he’s going to be here tomorrow, I don’t need anyone notice me blush when I am looking his way. Just then my phone went off again, I looked down and it was Abby. Abby: Sleepover? Let’s catch up! Me: Yes!! Head on over :) I can talk to Abby about this, and what I should do. Abby have always known I had a small crush on Lucas when I was a teen. Abby is also best a setting people up, so maybe I can get her to find me someone to detract me from Lucas. I headed down stairs to see my dad pick up Chinese on his way home. Looks like he bought extra so it’s perfect since Abby is crashing here tonight. Abby showed up probably a half hour later, we were upstairs catching up like old times. I mean we know what’s going on in each others like, because we still talked, but we have been distant between each other the last couple months. I told her I didn’t want to speak about Stephan at all, and she respected that. She proceeded to tell me about her new boyfriend. “So you actually know who he is.” She said to me. “Omg who?” I said very curiously. “Matt Barker.” She replied. To my surprise she was dating Matt Barker. Now a little back story to this guy. He was our school bully, he had a very rough childhood and he took it out on everyone at school. He had a couple friends, but that was it. “No way, how did that happen?” “Well he was actually my Uber driver when I was at a party a couple months ago, my ride/date ditched me. So I called an Uber, it happened to be Matt driving. He helped me home, and just was so sweet. He left his phone number on a piece of paper on my fridge, and I started talking to him now here we are. He’s a different guy then he was in high school, like a 360 turn around.” She said all excitedly. “Well I can’t wait to meet the new Matt, you should have him come tomorrow.” She agreed, and she texted him. “So other then the move back and the job hunting, how did your day go? Did you might of found a place to work?” “Well I put in a million job applications, and turned in a dozen resumes. Had two job interviews today from it, then had a couple set up for later next week. But nothing promising until I came home, and you’ll never guessed what happened!” I said to her, nervous on how she’s gonna react. “What, what?” She said. “My dad had talked to Lucas James, and me a job as a secretary at his business, I start Monday.” “You’re kidding that’s awesome.” She said. “Well that’s not it…” I started to explain to her everything happened afterwards, which made me blush and have knots in my stomach. Abby looked so surprised and speechless, before she could say anything, my phone beeped a couple of times. I grabbed it and looked at it, they were from Lucas. Lucas: I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.. hope you have a good night beautiful. Lucas: Remember not too cute, save that for the office ;) I smiled at my phone, before I could say anything to Abby, she had a serious look on her face. “What’s wrong?” I asked her confused. “I think you should know something about Lucas..he has an off and on again girlfriend. It’s been going on for a couple years ago.” “Really? How do you know this?” I asked. “Well that girl, is Maddie Shein.” Maddie Shein is Abby’s older sisters bestfriend. Honestly I have never been a fan of her, she’s a drama queen, snobby bi***. But you know people can change. “Oh, well maybe they are currently not together.” “Last I knew they were broken up, they usually break up for a week or two then get back together. She’s the same old Maddie, so I can see why their relationship isn’t the healthiest. I saw them together a couple days at the coffee house but they didn’t look like they were together or anything.” Started making me question things, what if they are back together and he’s flirting with me. Honestly don’t know if it makes me mad or makes me wanna laugh. “Well this make this next question easier..can you set me up with someone I want to get my mind off Lucas. He’s my boss anyway I should get involved with him.” I asked. She got all excited again, “even better, Gracie. We can sign you up for a dating profile.” Part of me was against it, but same time, I am willing to try it. We set up my profile, and I was so nervous. What if no one matches with me, or even worse none of them are my type. After I while, we laid down and I couldn’t fall asleep, my mind was set on one thing, Lucas. All I can think about is his face, his hair, his everything. I decided I was gonna text him back even if it was 3 in the morning. Me: I’ll try hard not to but all I have it cute clothes. So you might be screwed. Lol. I put my phone down and started wondering if I should ask him about Maddie. I picked up my phone and started typing ‘Are you seeing someone?’ Then erased it, then typed.. ‘Are you with Maddie?’ Then erased it. Finally, I grew the curious to text him again. Me: Goodnight. Not what I wanted to text but that’s what it came out to be. I sat my phone down and closed my eyes and finally passed out.