My Best Friend's Dad

His Part

Elona's POV

I was really skeptical about staying behind with Tristan. I was being pulled in two directions. I just didn't know what Cris would think, that we had both disappeared. But he was looking at me with that vulnerable expression. I just didn't know what to say to him.

"What about Cris? She will get suspicious that we are both not there," I said.

"I will make up something, I can tell her that you feel sick, we can go to the restaurant and just talk, get to know each other more and we don't have to kiss or do anything that is s^xual right now unless you want to," he stated.

"I have my photoshoot. We didn't come all this way just for a movie. The plan was to do a photoshoot," I reminded him.

"Screw the photoshoot," his brows furrowed with frustration. "Please."

"That photoshoot is for my future. I am pursuing something that I want and you won't stop that. If you want to hang out with me, I will. But make sure that the excuse that you spin to Cris is believable. But I need to be back for the photoshoot." I held my gaze on him.

He let out a frustrated breath because he would not get his way all the time. "Fine," he took his phone out of his pocket and he typed a quick text to Cris. "I told her that you were light-headed, and I am taking you to eat something. We will be back when the movie is done," he put the phone back in his pocket.

"Thanks," I smiled.

He gestured with his hand towards the exit, and we ended up walking in step down the street to the restaurant that we had been at moments before. The host was very familiar with him because it was a restaurant that was his favorite. He and aunt Estelle always came here.

We sat at a table. I looked at the menu, but I wasn't hungry. I just wanted something to drink. I was hot and not just from the air but from this moment with him. He was being a gentleman, that possessiveness switched. I wanted to see more of this man. However, I only got to see the hardworking and fatherly side to him that Cris experiences.

The waiter stood beside us. "What would you like to drink?" he asked.

"I would like a soda, please," I smiled, and then I locked eyes with Tristan, before he looked at the waiter.

"I will have some red wine, the regular," he said. The waiter left.

"So what will you order?" he asked, but he was smirking.

"I am not hungry, just thirsty," I replied.

He smiled as he shifted in his seat. "I never thought that I would actually be alone with you, I mean...away from the ones that we know. I do want to be alone with you where there is no one. But this is a start," he stated.

"It is too risky to be sneaking around."

"That is true, but we will make it work if you want to be with me. I know how you feel about me, but that is ultimately your decision. I will always have you on my mind and I will always want you. I tried so many times to forget about you. Your father forced me to have fun and that included Maggie. I wanted to live up to my statement that you and Cris would hear when I have moved on with someone. You heard that," it hurt me, but I had to try to accept it at the time. That was before now. "I had never planned to be with Maggie again after that. I don't ever plan to be with her. But when it comes to you..." he held my gaze. "You have turned my world upside down. I just can't forget you, no matter how much I try. I need you, Elona. It's not just a want."

I swallowed, not sure what to say. "I feel the same way about you," I replied softly.

"I know that things can be risky, but we can try. The only thing is that we will have to keep it a secret for now," he stated.

"Okay. I guess we could try," I smiled.

He returned my smile, and then he looked down at the menu as his smile faded, "I loved Estelle, she was my everything. She was beautiful and Cris reminds me of her. Estelle loved journalism, and you know that she excelled at it. She was great. Now I see Cris is following in her footsteps with journalism. We were so happy together, we decided to try for another baby three years ago, despite Cris being older. The accident that Estelle was in," he paused, taking a deep breath. My heart was breaking because I knew that he was in so much pain when she passed away. I had seen it on that day that she was buried. "She...uh...we lost the baby too in that accident. I lost not only one person, but two. No one knew about the pregnancy, not even Cris," He leaned back in the chair and finally his gaze met mine. "We had planned to keep it between us until the second trimester, but she didn't make it that far," his expression was pained and his eyes welled up with tears, "I never told Cris to this day."

"I'm...I'm so sorry to hear that and for you to go through that. I won't tell Cris about that part. I...I hope that in time you find happiness and the pain does take time. Things had gotten better over the years when my mother passed away. My father didn't date anyone either after that and it's been years. She was an artist," I smiled.

"Your father told me, but speaking of artists. Some of your mother's paintings that were kept in storage will be at an art gallery next week. I will be there and your father. I know that you will be there too," he smiled.

"I would love to see those paintings. I remember she painted a dolphin and that is a very faint memory of it."

"I guess we have paintings in common. But we still need to talk about the modeling and the agencies. I want to be part of it too in the business aspect of things, no matter how much I hate it. I know that I can't convince you to stop pursuing it," he stated.

"That is correct," I replied.

His phone chimed, and he took it out of his pocket. "It's Cris, she said not to worry about the photoshoot, you can do it another time, and they will be walking home."

I was happy about that, more alone time with Tristan. "So, what do we do next?"

"Well...we can drive around, take a walk in the park. I can take you home or...as much as I want you, there is always a hotel."

I smiled, "Well, it's too soon for that. Perhaps a walk in the park. It is a beautiful evening after all."

"Park it is," he said as he signaled for the waiter to get the bill.

I was smiling like a silly teenager. I just loved to be with him despite the fact that he may be possessive at times. I want to hold his hand while we walk in the park, but maybe that would be inappropriate as I do not know who might be watching, and then we get caught, which could lead to serious consequences...loss of two friendships. With Cris wanting to pursue journalism, she is a great investigator too.