Seducing Daddy's Best Friend

Chapter 17

Riley

When we arrived, dinner was already prepared, the smell of roasted chicken filled the kitchen, it was clear that he had already returned home, made dinner like he usually did, before coming to school to pick me up.

I dropped my bag on the chair. “You didn’t have to cook.”

Carl opened the oven without looking at me. “You need to eat.”

I scoffed. “You say that like I’m a stray cat.”

He placed the tray on the counter. “For someone who ‘doesn’t care,’ you complain a lot.”

I bit down my lower lips so hard that it hurt. “Oh, I’m sorry, are we speaking again now?”

I remembered the last three days he wouldn’t even let me see him, always disappearing before I wake up and returning late at night.

He wiped his hands on a towel. “Riley…”

“No, go ahead.” I snapped. “Keep doing what you’ve been doing, pretend I don’t exist, it’s working great.”

Finally he looked at me and for a brief moment, something tense crossed his expression, but they disappeared again.

“I’m trying to avoid another argument.”

I squeezed my eyes shut momentarily. “By avoiding me?”

“Yes.”

My lips went wide when he admitted it. “Well congratulations,” I said bitterly. “You succeeded.”

I grabbed my bag and turned to head upstairs.

“Riley.”

I stopped but didn’t turn. “What?”

Carl hesitated, for a moment I thought he would speak, but then he let out a sharp breath and said quietly.

“The boy from school…”

I turned surprised his talking about Neil. “What about him?”

“You shouldn’t—“

I shouldn’t what?” I cut him off. “Hold hands? Go on dates? Be around people my own age?”

His jaw tightened. “That’s not what I said.”

“It’s exactly what you were about to say.”

“You don’t know that.”

I was too angry to listen. “I know you.” I shot back, and our eyes locked.

Or perhaps I don’t, we’ve been five years apart, yet I feel he likes me but is afraid of doing anything with me since he was older, and my dad’s best friend, but I didn’t care and he tells me my feelings were not worth it because I am still a minor, immature… perhaps I don’t really know him.

Carl stepped closer. “You’re deliberately provoking me.”

The distance he had closed made heat rushed to my cheek. “Maybe.’ I whispered.

Carl was about to say something, but before he could, the doorbell rang and we both froze.

I knew Neil wouldn’t come here if I didn’t invite him in, so it had to be someone Carl knew.

I frowned. “Are you expecting someone?”

Carl exhaled slowly. “Yes.”

He walked past me and opened the front door and I clenched my hand into fist when Nora stepped inside, dressed in beige coat, her hair falling in smooth waves, and looking all elegant.

She smiled when she saw Carl. “Hi.” Then she kissed him, and my world tilted again.

I felt something twist sharply in my chest. It hurt so bad, I wanted it to be over between them, I didn’t like seeing Carl with Nora, he should know it, he should know that, but still, he keeps letting her in, the space I thought I would share only with Carl, Nora keeps invading it.

Carl stepped back and turned to me. “Riley…”

“Hi, Riley, glad seeing you again.” Nora said with an easy smile, slipping her arm around Carl’s waist naturally.

I forced a tight smile, but didn’t speak, I was not happy seeing her.

“I hope it’s not a problem that I came by unannounced,” Nora said lightly. “My flight got moved earlier.”

Carl shook his head. “No, it’s fine.”

No it was not fine at all, why would she come her rather than going to the hotel or something, why does she have to come when she wasn’t invited?

Well, I already know the answer, she was his fiancée, soon this house would be their home and I won’t be in it.

Carl glanced at me briefly, then he said the words that made air feel suddenly colder.

“Nora’s going to be staying here tonight.”

Here? I blinked in silence, she would be sleeping over, on Carl’s bed? And I would have to think of all the ways he would touch her, just like he did the first day I arrived here, he was going to have s*x with Nora tonight and I will be here listening, alone in my room?

“Oh,” I said flatly.

Nora smiled and stepped farther inside, slipping off her coat. “I hope it’s not too much trouble.”

Carl nodded, taking her coat. “You’re not a problem.”

Of course she wasn’t, she was his fiancée so he would agree to whatever she says.

Nora noticed the dinner on the dining table. “Oh, that smells amazing.”

Carl hung her coat and gestured toward the dinning. “I just served it.”

“Perfect.” Nora said, already moving that way.

I stayed behind and watched them, for a moment Nora slipped into Carl’s space, easily touching his arms and laughing at something he said while she helped him set the table.

Irritation build up inside me, and I decided not to head upstairs anymore, I followed them to the dinning, sitting down across Carl, deciding not to give them space.

Dinner was painfully normal, Nora wouldn’t stop talking about her classes, about the wedding preparations, about the outfit she got and had to return because her parent didn’t like it, about how she got couple sets for when she moves in with Carl.

I stayed quiet, and so did Carl until Nora turned to him. “You’ve barely said a word.”

Carl finally looked up from his meal. “I’m listening.”

“That’s suspicious.” Nora said, but Carl huffed quietly. “So, where am I sleeping?”

I looked up when she asked that question, I was curious too.

Carl wiped his mouth with a napkin. “My room.”

The fork in my hand clinked loudly against the plate and their head turned toward me.