Falling for my best friend's dad

Chapter 5

Cecilia

"Oh my god, Cici. I can't believe this! Lucas Hayes gave you a rose. A ROSE!" Nora exclaims for the nth time, screaming in my ears as we walk into the Tuileries garden for our Ferris wheel ride.

"That's not it, Nora. He called her Ma belle!" Abigail gushes from my right.

"Oh my god, yes!" Nora screams from my left.

They have both flanked me, and for the love of the goddess, I can't explain how we are even walking.

"So, I am the best friend of the woman who was gifted a rose by the ever-so handsome, heart-stealing Lucas Hayes!" As usual, after a nanosecond break, Nora's excited chatter starts again, making me drink back my tears that are threatening to form at the edge of my eyes, thanks to my current situation.

"Oh my! You are right!" Abigail agrees, like her most loyal minion.

Someone save me.

Suddenly, Nora stops, and turns towards me, "Hey, Cici. Can I see the rose?" She asks with wide, excited eyes again for the nth time, and I remind her that it's already with her. She gets childish when it comes to him, and I understand, but she should also let me breathe.

"I gave it to you in the car, remember? For as long as you want to look at it," I answer, struggling hard to not let my answer sound dry.

I mean, I get that Nora is a big fan and so does everyone else, and he, indeed, is a very beautiful, charming man, but it's just not that big deal for me. If anything, I wonder why he chose me? He just put me in a difficult position, that's all, and what was that weird scent on him? It almost resembled a shifter's if I am not wrong.

I glance at Nora, wanting to talk about it before I quickly change my mind looking at the state she is in. She, Abigail and Ella can't stop gushing over the rose, which will wilt in less than a day.

At least, Avery is a bit like me, not obsessing over Lucas's rose, and standing with the boys who I am sure are making fun of the girls right now. They have before too, only to engage in a playful banter with Lucas crazy side as they brought their favorite actress into the conversation in the car earlier.

Well, at least that was better than these triplets gushing over Lucas and his rose.

I would like to join Jax, Hudson and Avery right now, leaving this side so that I can retain a bit of my sanity. While the other group is the group of silence. Declan, Elias and Alpha Aaron are all quiet. Well, it looks like Elias wants to say something or even get away from Alpha Aaron, but both Declan and him are deadly silent. Ever since we left the theater.

Declan is like this normally as well....and perhaps Alpha Aaron too right? He also doesn't say much, but he isn't a complete introvert or a stern person like Declan either, but for some reason he doesn't look happy about Nora chatting about Lucas, unlike how he usually is.

Maybe he is worried about his daughter's crush being too crazy as a dad? I wonder when just then, Nora looks up at me again and presses her lips together as if she has something absolutely obnoxious to say.

"Cici, what if....what if." She says dramatically, purposefully dragging the words out, "Lucas Hayes." Another frustrating pause. "Has fallen in love with you at first sight?" She says the rest of the words like a bullet train unlike the previous part, but I still hear it clearly and look at her, baffled.

"What? No--

"Nora, that's enough." I am cut off by Alpha Aaron's gravelly deep voice, thick with anger and something else I can't quite put my finger on. "Stop chatting and hurry to the ride. We can't stay the whole night." He scolds her, and I can tell that she is holding back her urge to pout from the look on her face before she nods, and links her arm with mine, walking towards the wheel.

It hasn't been long since I came to River Claw, but guessing Nora's mood is easy since she is so free-spirited and pure. You can easily tell what she is thinking from her face and right now she is upset that her dad scolded her, and so she isn't saying anything, and only walking silently but knowing her, she would soon forget it and get busy with other more exciting things that will occupy her mind, but just in case.

"Hey, you know that he said that because he is worried about us? It gets risky after midnight," I softly say.

She nods, glancing at me, "I know, but he didn't have to be harsh. He knows how much I like Lucas," She says, sounding a bit of hurt, but still not as bad as I thought.

We stop near the Ferris wheel and Declan and Hudson move to get the tickets. I am about to say something more to Nora to lift her spirits when she herself brightens up, watching the wheel.

"It's been quite a long time since I rode it. It is sparkling," She says, and I nod, feeling happy to see her snap back into her fun-loving mood.

"It will be my first time riding it here, so I am looking forward to it." I say, and just then the boys bring the tickets, and naturally I thought I would be riding with Nora, but the combination messes up right before my eyes, and I end up climbing the gondola with Alpha Aaron followed by events I could never be prepared for.