Me and him (dating my dads best friend)

17

"It's 6am, someone had better be dead" I moan into my cushion.

"Are you coming down, we need to have breakfast and get to the office" my dad says as he opens my door.

"Fucking hell" I mutter as I stand and follow him down the stairs.

"I blame James for your language, he's the only one that swears like a sailor"

I snigger, my uncle really does have a foul mouth. Every word I know I learnt from him, my first word was ass.

"I was thinking about that assembly where I had to give a speech last night" I laugh.

His eyes soften a little and his frown cracks and forms a huge smile. "The one where you announced to the whole school that your mother was a whore?

I loved the fact that he remembered it, my uncle reminds everyone about that day at every milestone. He always says it's the funnies moment of his life.

"I should transfer the video onto the laptop so we can watch it"

I take the milk from the fridge and pour my cereal " we could invite Helen and have a viewing party"

"I don't think she would want to be reminded of that day, she was embarrassed"

I frown, I didn't know that Helen knew about it. I'm surprised my dad told her, he was always so careful not to hurt her feelings.

"You told her"

"No, one of her friends told her. She had called me crying" he explains.

Helen and her crocodile tears, it was always her who was hurt. Helen was always the victim, I would love to know how she justifies what she's done.

"We should send her a copy of the video for Mother's Day" I laugh at my own joke but notice my dad doesn't join. His lips move at the corners like he wants to smile but he's fighting it.

------

I settle in behind my desk and start to reply to the emails received since the day before. I munch on a handful of nuts and almost choke when when someone bangs on the desk.

I jump and look up at the man who's staring down at me. He looks down at the clipboard in his hands "Roxanne bell"

I raise my hand "guilty"

The guy bends, I peer over the desk and see him stand up with a huge arrangement of flowers. He places them on the desk and hands me the clipboard.

"You need to sign" he explains.

"Thank you" I pass it him back and watch as he leaves.

I pull a rose to my nose and breath in the fresh scent, I've never received flowers before. Well not unless you count my father sending roses on Valentine's Day. It's been his tradition for as long as I can remember.

There's a small envelope among the flowers, I run my finger over it before I pluck it out. I waste no time ripping open the envelope, there's a small pink card with a hand written message.

** let me take you out again. Please say yes**

I smile brightly and hold the note close to my chest.

"Is that a yes then" Zach is leant against my desk. He takes the flower from my grasp and smells it happily. I had thought that the flowers were from joe, that he was apologising. I am disappointed that there from Zach, I don't know why because I would be lucky to have such a great guy be interested in me.

"they're from you"

"Who else, so do you like them" he asks.

"I love them, than you so much" I move from around my desk and hug him.

Joe chooses this time to enter the office, he looks at the flowers then to Zach and me. He looks like he's sucking on something sour, he wasn't happy to see Zach and I stood so close. He shouldn't care, he's acted like he doesn't care. He confuses me, I can't keep up with him. 

My eyes follow joe all the way to his office, I momentarily forget that Zach had been speaking to me.

"Sorry what did you say"

He smirks "I said who else would have gotten you flowers"

I bite my lip and think of a quick answer that won't arise his suspicion " one of my many admirers of course "

"Of course, with a a hottie like you I expected competition"

I don't think he realises just how close his competition really is.

"So what's your answer"

I look at him and raise my eyebrows , I'm not sure what question he's referring to.

"Can I take you out, I promise I will stay around all night and morning too if you want" he winks.

"And why would you want to take me out"

Zach brushes his blonde hair from out of his face and moves in close so she's chest is touching my arm. "Because I can't get the image of you in that little bronze dress out of my head"

"If you like the dress that much you can have it" I'm whispering, im filled with nerves.

He smiles and rubs his finger down the flesh of my arm "I also like the girl in the dress"

"I know you like me too" he whispers. He's so cocky, but he's right. I do like him.

My silence speaks a thousand words, I just try and fail not to smile.

"If I would have stayed at your party you would have been in my bed. I'm sure of it"

I'm suddenly shy, my voice is barely a whisper "oh really"

He nods, "it would have been a lot of fun, the perfect end to a party"

"Who says I didn't get any fun that night" I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth, I wish I could pull them back.

"You have fun with out me, was it another man"

I shrug, there is no way I'm telling Zach about joe. It was a mistake, not something I want to relive.

"I promise it will be better with me, I know how to treat a woman like you."  I take a deep breath as he moves a strand of hair from my face. His lips are just inches from mine, I know it won't be long until he kisses me.

"Am I the only one around here doing what I'm paid to do, we have work to do" I look to the side and see joe stood at the door of his office, he looks mad. His fists are balled by his side, he looks like he's ready to pop.

"I guess he's not getting any" Zach whispered as he moved away.

I replied under my breath, quiet enough that he wouldn't "you have no idea"