Inked By My Best Friend's Dad

You can be a little overbearing Tasha. But I hate Brad, so let’s stick with making this all his fault.

Closing the drapes, I don’t notice any wind but I’m sure I heard something outside.

Sensing it really, but.

No. There it is again, definitely a—

“Did you hear that?” Tasha suddenly gasps, turning pale, her voice a hoarse whisper.

I hate getting scared at home alone. But getting scared at home when it’s filled with people is way worse.

This isn’t the first time tonight I sensed eyes on me but I felt comforted at first

But Tasha has the drama and expert theatrical skills required to set my nerves on edge with a single expression. A single word.

And by the time we both hear something snap outside, we are already on our feet, trying hard not to scream ourselves silly, as we decide what to do.

“There’s someone out there, I can feel it,” Tasha says, her teeth chattering with fear.

I feel my stomach lurch as my heart pounds against my ribs.

“I’m calling the cops,” I finally decide, fishing in my sweatpants for my phone.

“I got one better than that,” Tasha hisses, pulling out her cell phone. “I’ll call my dad. If anyone wants to fuck around? He’ll know what to do,” she says, deadly seriousness in her eyes, and for once she’s not putting it on.

I believe her too, but more than anything, even given the scary situation, I am more than happy to have a reason to have Slade here.

“Do it,” I tell Tasha but she’s already dialing.

The sound of a ringing cell phone nearby makes us both look up in horror, the phone almost ringing out before it connects.

At exactly the same moment I hear Slade pick up Tasha’s call.

“Hi, sweetie,” his deep voice whispers.

“Dad? Where are you?” Tasha asks nervously.

“I’m right here,” Slade says, his thick, deep voice comes as his huge frame fills the laundry window, right where we are standing. Making both Tasha and I scream so loud the kids half asleep from the lounge come running to see what all the commotion is.

Seeing Slade’s face against the glass, lit up by his phone, they all start screaming too.

My shock and scream are instant but quickly replaced with relief.

It’s Slade like I sensed all along.

I’d bet anything he’s been waiting right out front since I came inside. Probably trying to either figure me out or wait until he could get me alone again.

Not possible tonight I’m afraid, but he’s here now.

And I can see where Tasha gets her flair for the dramatic.

She’s a chip off the old block and once I’ve explained to everyone that we’re not gonna die, that Slade is a friend, we let him in.

The first thing Tasha notices is how her dad and I move towards each other before he hesitantly goes to her.

He stopped himself short of gripping me, hugging his daughter instead.

My eyes are green with envy, I know it.

Yeah, she’s my best friend and he is her dad after all.

But I want those arms around me.

I need them too.

Suddenly slapping her dad’s firm pecs through his tight T-shirt, Tasha growls with annoyance but also asks what we’re all dying to know.

“The hell are you doing creeping around the backyard anyway, Dad? You nearly scared us to death!”

“Well, it’s a long story,” Slade says, his eyes meeting mine just long enough to let me know who he’d rather have in his arms.

As much as I know he loves and cares for Tasha, I also know from the look in his eyes that it’s me he came for. He’s here because of me, and it’s the best feeling in the world. The brightest moment of my life because now I know that this is real.

I’m not dreaming, but I am falling.

Falling harder and deeper than ever before.

“Well?” Tasha presses him, but I’ve got all I need for now.

Slade was watching over me, and probably trying to get closer when we heard him. The icing on the cake is Tasha calling him, scaring us both half to death in the process.

“Can we have some ice cream?” One of the kids I’m sitting asks.

“Sure,” I tell him, leaving Tasha and her dad for a moment.

Giving Slade a chance to explain his version of things to his daughter.

With the excitement over, the kids seem satisfied with a treat and drag themselves back to the lounge to eat their ice cream.

I can hear Slade’s low voice rumble through the house as he talks with Tasha. I feel it travel through the floor and right up my body as I make my way back to them.

“…But I guess there wasn’t anyone in the yard after all. Except me, which you know by now,” Slade says, finishing up his half-true story.

“Oh my god,” Tasha exclaims, shooting me an urgent look. “Dad was riding past and saw my car.”