Wanting my dad’s best friend

Ava’s POV

“It’s over, Ava. I’m sorry it took this long for me to realize it, but I can’t marry you.”

Those were the last words my obnoxious, selfish, asshole of a fiancé said to me after being engaged to him for three years. Three years of being trapped in a toxic relationship. Three years of being with a serial cheater, a fucking manipulator, and a narcissistic piece of shit. Every damn red flag you could think of, he embodied them all. And the craziest part? I saw the damn signs. They were as clear as day and I still ignored them because I loved him. Because I thought he would change. Because some foolish, hopeful part of me believed love was enough to rewrite a man’s nature.

But now I know the truth. A dog will always be a dog.

So after tidying up some loose ends—returning the ring, packing the few things that still felt like mine, and walking away from the life I had spent years trying to force into something beautiful, I knew I needed a fresh start. So I booked the next available flight back to New York City. No hesitation. No looking back.

Now I’m back in my father’s house, the same house I had so desperately wanted to escape a few years ago because of a deadly secret I harbored. Today he was throwing a welcome party for me, one I insisted was unnecessary. I told him I didn’t want the attention, but all my pleas fell on deaf ears.

“Ava, darling, come.”

My dad’s voice floated across the room, smiling as he waved me over. I manage a small smile in return, navigating the bodies scattered around our living room. Friends, business associates, people whose names I only half-remember. And that’s when I saw him.

Damian Cole.

My dad’s best friend. The man I’ve wanted since forever. He hasn’t changed one bit. If anything, he looks like sin wrapped in a suit. Sharp jawline. Sculpted collarbone just visible above the open collar of his shirt. Bright, magnetic blue eyes that caught the light. The years have only sharpened him, made him more handsome somehow.

“You remember Damian, right?” my father said proudly, patting Damian’s shoulder.

Damian chuckles, the sound low and rich, and finally met my gaze.

“Of course I do. How can I ever forget? He caught me multiple times trying to sneak out to parties when I was in high school and told you about it.” I replied laughing, as my eyes swept from his dark hair down to his polished shoes, taking in every freaking detail.

They both laughed and that’s when I noticed the way Damian’s eyes lingered on me longer than necessary. Almost like he is assessing. Cataloguing the changes. Measuring the woman standing in front of him against the girl he used to know.

“It’s good to see you again, Ava. You look breathtaking, I must say London has been really good to you.”

“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Cole. You ain’t looking bad yourself.” I replied chuckling, although my heart was doing stupid flips. I wasn’t just complimenting him. I was telling the truth. He looked freaking hot. How can someone in his mid-forties look this dangerously handsome? Even with that intimidating presence of his.

Just then someone came up to my dad and whispered something in his ear. “I have to attend to something. But I’ll be back shortly. Don’t be too hard on him, Ava.” He whispered, kissed me gently on the cheek, and sauntered away.

All alone now, I move closer to Damian. As I reached for the glass in his hand, my fingers slightly brushed against his, and he flinched briefly. I brought the glass to my lips, and took a sip. He just stared at me in shock, but said nothing.

“I heard about your divorce. Sorry about that,” I started, turning fully toward him.

He shrugged casually, slipping both hands into his pockets. “It’s okay. It was meant to happen anyway. Sooner or later.”

I took another sip of the drink, as we both stayed in silence for a while. Although the air felt charged with unspoken tension.

“Your dad told me about your engagement. He’s an asshole who doesn’t deserve you. I’m sure you’ll eventually find your person.”

“Hmmm…” I nodded, meeting his gaze without looking away. “Thanks. But I’m over him. I have someone else in mind as a matter of fact.” I smirked, watching as his brows furrowed curiously.

Just then my dad clicked his glass, drawing everyone’s attention to him. “I want to say a big thank you to everyone who took time off their busy schedule to be here today to celebrate my daughter Ava. Cheers, baby. I love you.”

He paused, raising his glass high. “To Ava!”

“To Ava!” Everyone chorused in unison, clicking their glasses .

Damian’s hand settles on the low of my back as he clicks his glass against mine. The touch was gentle, warm, yet possessive in a way that makes my pulse stutter. Then he leaned in closer. “Cheers to you, baby.”

When he pulled back, his eyes stayed pinned on me for a long moment, darting from my eyes down to my lips and back again. Immediately heat crept up my cheeks, and my thighs clenched. I swallowed hard and down the contents of the glass in one gulp.

Then he walked back into the house, and that’s when I realized I still wanted him. I’ve always wanted him. And although I’ve been away from him for almost six years, those feelings never truly died. I simply tucked them away because I knew what I was harboring was a potential bomb, something that could cause a disaster if it ever detonated. He was my dad’s best friend. Someone who treated me like his own kid. Someone who stayed with me most nights until I fell asleep when my father was away on business trips.

But I’m no longer that kid. I’m an adult. If there’s anything my last relationship taught me, it’s that I need to live my life on my own terms. Without giving a fuck what anyone thinks and damning the consequences.

I walked back into the house, determined to find him and tell him how I feel. I headed upstairs. He isn’t on the terrace, nor in my dad’s study, nor the guest room. So I headed for the bathroom. As I reached for the door, it opened from the inside instead. I stepped in and closed the door behind me.

“Ava. What do you think you’re doing?” he asks calmly, brows furrowing.

“I saw you. I saw the way you looked at me. And there was nothing fatherly or friendly about it.” I responded, titling my head as I took a step closer.

He took two steps back, trying to put some distance between us. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, baby,” he says calmly, still holding my gaze.

“Oh, really? Are you going to keep denying that you don’t feel this connection between us?” I asked, gesturing with my hands between our bodies. “Or are you going to keep lying to yourself that you don’t want me as much as I want you?” I asked grinning, as my fingers reached for his face, gently brushing against the sharp line of his jaw.

His breath hitched like he wanted to give in, but he caught my hand immediately, fingers firm around my wrist. “Ava! Stop this right now!” he barked, expression turning serious. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I’ll let you know that whatever it is you think you saw, you were wrong. Nothing can ever happen between us. Ever.”

I didn’t flinch. I just laughed softly, the sound low and certain, and closed the last of the distance between us until there was barely any air left.

“Yeah? If you’re so confident about that, then you wouldn’t mind if I did this.”