Filed to story: Young Girls Forbidden Love Series: My Best Friend’s Daddy
“Lauren has always known how to get exactly what she wants.” Shit, that sounded harsh. “So I know that because she has put her heart into having a happy marriage, that is exactly what will happen for her. I wish all the best to my one and only daughter.”
The crowd clapped at the wrap-up of my speech, and I hoped I had pulled it off without upsetting Lauren.
“Thank you, Daddy!” Lauren said, pecking a small kiss on my cheek. I guess I hadn’t blundered too badly.
“Where is Todd?” I asked Lauren, surprised to see that he was not by her side.
“Oh, I’m not sure. I’ve been having so much fun, I lost track of him,” Lauren said with a shrug, not seeming worried.
“Well, let me know if you need anything, sweetheart, but I think I am going to turn in for the night. I’m not young enough to keep up with you and your friends.”
“One more thing before you go. We need to discuss the budget for my wedding. I need to contact this wedding dress designer if I am going to get one of their dresses in time, but it is a fifty-thousand dollar deposit to hold my spot.”
Not wanting to get into a conversation about wedding budgets when I desperately needed to find Shelby, I told Lauren, “Whatever you need, honey.”
Lauren squealed her usual high-pitched, bird-scaring squeak, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
“We can discuss the details later,” I said and walked back inside. I looked around and was relieved that the house seemed to be empty, so I made my way up to the second floor and Shelby’s door.
I knocked quietly, but there was no response.
“Damn it,” I said, fearing she was ignoring me on purpose.
I pressed my ear to the door and heard running water, and I guessed that she was taking a bath. I wished I could be in there with her, feeling her naked body against mine. I sighed and pulled out a piece of gum, popping it in my mouth and pulling a pen out of the inside pocket of my jacket.
On the small bit of hope that she wasn’t ignoring me but simply couldn’t hear me, I wrote a note on the gum wrapper and slipped it under her door.
I can’t stop thinking about you or that kiss. I will find you tomorrow, so we can talk.
*************************
*Shelby*
I woke up on top of the king-sized bed in my cotton robe. Apparently, I fell asleep right after getting out of the tub the night before. I didn’t even make it under the covers. My stomach growled, so I got up and put myself together.
After putting on light makeup, I picked out a strappy sundress from my new vacation wardrobe and headed for the door. My bare feet made contact with a slip of paper someone had slid under my door sometime during the night.
I can’t stop thinking about you or that kiss. I will find you tomorrow, so we can talk.
-M.
Even without recognizing the neat handwriting from his previous note, I knew it was from Michael. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of me being on his mind. I carefully placed the note with the other and the small pink sea shell before making my way down to the kitchen.
The house was completely silent; everyone was probably still in bed, nursing a hangover. I was glad that I would get to spend the morning by myself. It would give me plenty of time to wrap my head around my own feelings.
I quietly found my way around the kitchen and made myself an omelet. It felt nice to fend for myself for a meal rather than having it brought to me on a silver platter. While some aspects of this life were extremely appealing, there was something fulfilling about making your own meal.
I plated the omelet and found a quiet place on the patio to watch the waves as I enjoyed my breakfast in silence. As I took the last bite, I heard a clatter of moving dishes behind me, which let me know others were up, so I left my plate and walked towards the private beach.
I’d already explored my way down toward the gazebo, so I decided to venture in the opposite direction instead. The chirps of birds were my only company on my walk down the beach, and slowly the sand led me to a secluded cove surrounded by pine trees and rocky ledges.
The water was still and so clear I could see the schools of brightly colored fish swimming beneath the surface. I waded into the water to my ankles, but on a whim, I took a quick look around to make sure I was alone before slipping the dress from my shoulders and throwing it onto the dry sand, followed by my lace bra and panties.
I slipped slowly under the water’s surface, and the fish scattered around me.
I swam lazily through the water, daydreaming about Michael. I couldn’t wait to talk to him later, and hopefully to kiss him again.
“You’re braver than you look.”
I jumped and moved to cover myself before realizing who it was.
Michael stood on the beach watching me tread water, clearly enjoying the view.
“What are you doing here? I thought I was alone.” I said, trying my best to hide myself under the water.
“I saw footsteps in the sand on the beach; I assumed you would be the only one up already. So I took a chance and followed them. I didn’t expect to find you like this, though,” Michael said with a small laugh and a mischievous grin.
He turned around to give me privacy, likely thinking I would get out of the water and get dressed. Instead, I swam up to where he stood on the edge of the water and splashed him. He leaped forward and turned around again, a smile finding his lips.
“Are you going to be brave?” I taunted, not knowing what had gotten into me that day. I swam backward, daring him to come after me.
Michael slowly unbuttoned his shirt and slipped off his perfectly fitting shorts until he was standing there with nothing on but the wind at his back. I couldn’t help but stare at him standing naked on the shore.
He followed me into the water, although less gracefully.
“What did you want to talk about?” I asked as Michael stopped a few feet from me, treading water. It was hard to keep my eyes on his face and not let them wander down to his manhood.
“I wanted to apologize for the way I ruined last night,” Michael said.
“What do you mean ruined? I was just hoping everything was alright. I saw the worry on your face. Something big must have happened.”
“Wow, I did not expect you to react that way. What do you mean you could see the worry on my face? Am I that transparent?”
“No, I don’t think you are transparent. I just noticed the crease you get between your eyebrows when you are worried. You got the same one when you were asking me about my past with…”
I trailed off, not wanting to bring up my ex at this moment. Michael took the cue and did not push the matter any further and gracefully changed the subject.
“I am glad I didn’t ruin everything,” Michael said softly looking at me. He looked at me with unadulterated desire.
“Why is that?” I asked.
“Because if I did, I wouldn’t be able to kiss you again.”
Michael smiled and inched closer to me in the water. I couldn’t help but notice his eyes roaming up and down my body.
“Should we, though?”
“Do you have a reason we shouldn’t?” Michael asked, the crease between his eyebrows appearing again. He stopped just short of touching me, but I felt like I could still feel him. The current between us was electric.
“What about Lauren?” I said, trying to keep control of myself. Just being this close to him, naked, made me feel breathless and excited.
“Shelby, you only need to worry about what you want. It shouldn’t matter to Lauren what happens between us, and if it does, I will handle it.”
I took a deep breath and looked at Michael’s questioning eyes. I knew he was right. I always worried more about other people’s happiness than my own. At some point, I was going to have to choose me.
Aubrey and Lin had sent so many text messages telling me to go for it with Michael. They obviously didn’t think it was a problem to date Lauren’s dad. So why should I?
“I want you to kiss me again,” I said shyly. “I want… more. I want you.”
Michael closed the distance between us and pulled me into him. Our naked bodies connected under the water, and the smoothness of our skin together electrified the water around us.