As Lucas helped her to her feet, Emily felt the room spin. She stumbled, but his strong arms caught her, steadying her against his chest. The familiar scent of his cologne enveloped her, and she found herself nuzzling into him, seeking comfort.
“You can’t be serious,” Ryan’s voice cut through the moment, dripping with disgust. “Dad, she’s half your age!”
Emily felt Lucas tense, but his voice remained calm. “This isn’t the time or place, Ryan.”
As they moved towards the exit, Emily’s thoughts raced. What the fuck had her life become? How had she ended up in this absurd situation? But even as the questions swirled, one thing remained crystal clear – the feeling of rightness in Lucas’ arms.
“Fuck off, Ryan,” she mumbled as they passed him, her filter completely gone. “You lost any right to an opinion when you cheated.”
The cool night air hit her face as they stepped outside, and Emily took a deep breath, trying to clear her head. She looked up at Lucas, seeing the concern etched on his face. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice catching. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
Lucas guided Emily to his car, his hand steady on the small of her back. Sophia trailed behind, her heels clicking on the pavement, a worried frown creasing her brow.
As they reached the sleek black sedan, Lucas helped Emily into the passenger seat, buckling her in with gentle care. Emily’s head lolled against the headrest, her vision blurry.
“Shit,” she muttered. “I think I overdid it.”
Lucas chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You think?”
Once they were all settled in the car, Lucas turned to Sophia in the back seat. “Sophia, would you like to crash at my place tonight? I’ve got a spare room.”
Sophia’s eyes darted between Lucas and Emily, concern evident. “That’d be great, thanks. I don’t want to leave Em alone like this.”
Emily felt a rush of affection for her best friend. “You’re the best, Soph,” she slurred, attempting to turn in her seat but failing miserably.
As Lucas pulled away from the curb, Emily’s mind raced. The events of the day crashed over her like waves, threatening to pull her under. She glanced at Lucas, his profile illuminated by the passing streetlights. How could she love him so much when everything was so fucked up?
“Lucas,” she mumbled, reaching out to touch his arm. “I meant what I said. I want you. I just… I don’t know how to make this work.”
Lucas glanced at her, his blue eyes softening. “Baby girl, we can talk about that tomorrow. Tonight, you need to sleep off however much tequila you’ve had, because you smell like a brewery.”
Emily snorted, the sound both amused and indignant. “Don’t know what you’re talking about, daddy,” she retorted, her words slurring together. She tried to sit up straighter, but the world tilted dangerously.
From the backseat, Sophia perked up, her voice tinged with both amusement and exasperation. “I hope you two realize I agreed to stay because I know I won’t hear anything gross. Emily has drunk far too much for that.”
Emily’s cheeks flushed hot, a mix of embarrassment and alcohol-induced warmth. “Fuck off, Soph,” she mumbled, but there was no real heat in her words.
Emily hiccupped, her stomach lurching uncomfortably. Lucas glanced at her with concern, then caught Sophia’s eye in the rearview mirror.
“What’s she eaten today, Soph?” he asked, his voice low and tinged with worry.
Sophia leaned forward, her curls bouncing. “Snacks mostly. Oh, and we had some chicken wings at the bar.”
Lucas nodded, his jaw tightening slightly. He turned to Emily, who was slumped against the window, her breath fogging the glass.
“Baby girl,” he said gently, “We’re gonna get you some food. McDonald’s or KFC?”
Emily’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “Neither,” she groaned, her stomach roiling at the thought. But then, as if her body had a mind of its own, she felt a sudden, intense craving. “Wait. McDonald’s. I want… I need a milkshake. And nuggets.”
Lucas chuckled, relief evident in his voice. “Milkshake and nuggets it is.”
As they pulled into the drive-thru, Emily’s mind drifted. How the fuck had she ended up here? In love with her ex’s dad, drunk off her ass, craving McNuggets like they were the holy grail. Life had a sick sense of humor sometimes.
“You okay there, Em?” Sophia called from the back.
Emily turned, giving her best friend a lopsided grin. “I’m fantastic, Soph. Living the dream.”
Lucas passed the food back, his eyes crinkling with amusement as Emily snatched the bag of nuggets and milkshake like they were precious treasures. She cradled the bag to her chest, inhaling the greasy scent with rapture.
“Christ, Em,” Sophia snorted, accepting her burger. “You look like you’re about to propose to those nuggets.”
Emily ignored her, fumbling with the bag and nearly spilling her milkshake in the process. Lucas reached over, steadying her hand.
“Easy there, baby girl,” he murmured, his touch sending shivers down her spine despite her inebriated state.
As Emily finally extracted a nugget, she gazed at it with unabashed adoration. Lucas chuckled, shaking his head.
“I hope you look at me the way you’re looking at those nuggets,” he teased, his blue eyes twinkling.
Emily paused mid-bite, her alcohol-addled brain processing his words. She swallowed hard, then fixed Lucas with an intense stare.
“Trust me, daddy,” she slurred, her voice husky, “I look at you way better than this.”
Sophia groaned from the backseat. “Jesus, you two. I’m eating here.”
Emily giggled, the sound bordering on maniacal. Everything felt simultaneously hilarious and deadly serious. She popped another nugget in her mouth, savouring the salty, greasy goodness.
“Fuck,” she mumbled around her mouthful, “These are so good. Why are they so good?”
Lucas smiled indulgently, pulling back onto the road. “Because you’re drunk, sweetheart. Everything tastes better when you’re drunk.”
Emily nodded sagely, as if he’d imparted some profound wisdom. She took a long sip of her milkshake, closing her eyes in bliss. The cool sweetness was a balm to her frazzled nerves, momentarily pushing aside the tumultuous thoughts swirling in her head.
The gentle hum of the car and the warmth of the heater began to lull Emily into a drowsy state. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she found herself drifting off, the half-eaten container of nuggets threatening to spill from her lap.
Lucas glanced over, his expression softening at the sight of Emily’s head lolling to the side. He reached out, carefully taking the nuggets and placing them in the cup holder.
“Sleep, baby girl,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble that seemed to reverberate through Emily’s entire being.
She wanted to respond, to tell him how much she cared for him, how fucking terrified she was of losing him now that everything was so complicated. But the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she surrendered to the darkness, letting it envelop her like a comforting blanket.
The next thing Emily knew, strong arms were lifting her, cradling her against a broad chest. She stirred, inhaling the familiar scent of Lucas’ cologne mixed with something uniquely him.
“Daddy?” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep and lingering intoxication.
“I’ve got you, Em,” Lucas replied softly, maneuvering through what she assumed was his house.
Emily forced her eyes open, blinking owlishly as Lucas gently laid her down on his bed. The silk sheets felt cool against her flushed skin, and she let out a contented sigh.
“Fuck, I’m sorry,” she said, her words slightly slurred. “I’m such a goddamn mess.”
Lucas sat on the edge of the bed, his weight creating a dip that Emily instinctively rolled towards. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch impossibly tender.
“You’re not a mess, baby girl,” he assured her, his blue eyes filled with understanding. “It’s been a trying day for everyone. It’s understandable that you didn’t know how to deal with it.”
Emily felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. “But I should’ve-”
“Shh,” Lucas interrupted, placing a finger against her lips. “No ‘should haves’ tonight. We’ll figure it all out tomorrow, okay?”
She nodded, suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of emotion. “I love you,” she whispered, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.
Lucas’ breath caught, and for a moment, Emily feared she’d said too much. But then he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
“I love you too, Emily,” he murmured against her skin. “Now get some rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
As Emily drifted off once more, she couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay after all.