Amy
I'm so nervous right now as I walk next door. I haven't seen or talked to Jessica since the night she caught me having sex with her dad in the basement. Scott made it sound like she's not mad anymore. I really hope that's the case. Not only do I hate the thought of Jessica being mad at me – I simply miss my best friend.
“Hi Amy,” Jessica says, greeting me at the door. “Come in. Have a seat. Let's talk.”
I sit on the couch next to my best friend. I know that, in her mind, we're probably ex best friends. To me, though, Jessica will always be my bestie. My heart is beating out of my chest. I've never been nervous around Jess before. I don't see Scott anywhere. I wonder if Jessica knows that I've been spending most of my free time over here with her dad.
“How have you been, Jess?” I ask.
“It's been four months. I've been a lot of things,” she starts, then pauses. A few seconds go by, then Jessica starts launching words at me, a hundred miles per hour. “Look, I was really fucking hurt when I caught you and my dad messing around at my going away party. Like really, really hurt. I never wanted to see or talk to you again. I felt so betrayed. I mean, we're supposed to be best friends, Amy. Best friends don't go around fucking each others' dads – even if they are as cool as mine.”
“You're right,” I admit. “I'm incredibly sorry. I need you to understand that this was more than just...”
“Let me finish,” Jessica interrupts. “So, yeah: I was really hurt. But, after I went away to college and had time to think, my feelings started to change. I put myself in your shoes – yours and my dad's. He's been lonely since mom left. I know he gets hit on at work all the time but he's still lonely. And then you come along, this hot young thang from next door and shower him with compliments. Yeah, he's my dad. But he's also a man. I can't blame him for acting like one.
“After some time went by, I was able to put myself in your shoes, too, Amy. It's no secret that you've been crushing on my dad for years – hard. Your dad split on you and your mom, leaving a void in your life that my dad very generously filled. He's my dad, so it's hard for me to think about him like that. But, from your perspective, I can see why you like him. The guy's a fucking hero, all around. It's only natural that you'd develop feelings for him. When he reciprocated those feelings, you couldn't have walked away, even if you'd wanted to. You did what anyone in your situation would've done and I can't blame you for that.”
I can't believe it. It sounds like Jessica is forgiving me. Or, at least, letting me know that she doesn't totally disapprove of me and her dad being together. I wanna wrap my arms around Jess and give her the biggest hug in the world right now.
“Thank you, Jess,” I say. “Thank you so much for understanding. I was afraid you were gonna hate me forever. It kills me, knowing how badly I've hurt you. You're my best friend in the whole wide world and I never wanted to hurt you. I hope you believe that.”
“I do. I really do. Talking to my dad on the phone over the past few months, he's never sounded happier. Like, ever. It's hard for me to stay mad at you when I see how happy you've made him. Are you happy with everything, too?”
“Oh my god, Jess, you have no idea. I'm happier than I've ever been in my entire freaking life. Your dad and I have such a good time together. He's taught me so many new things. We really do make each other happy. I know that most people won't understand. A lot of people probably think it's wrong, him being so much older than me. But we really do love each other. Your dad makes me incredibly happy, all day, every day.”
“I think you're right. Most people wouldn't understand the whole age difference thing. I understand, though. I didn't before. But, after my first semester away at college, I get it. I totally get it. The appeal of older men is no longer lost on me.”
“What do you mean? What changed?”
After a short pause, Jessica's face lights up and she says, “I met someone!”
“Get out! Who is it? I want details!”
“You can't tell my dad. Promise me that you won't tell my dad what I'm about to tell you.”
“Never. I promise. Spill it!”
Jessica lowers her voice and says, “His name is Professor Warren. He was my Psych 101 professor.”
“No way!” I yell, then immediately lower my voice. “How? Tell me everything!”
“I'm starving,” Jessica says, her volume returning to normal. “Let's go get something to eat. I'll tell you all about it over dinner.”
“So, you and I are good?” I ask.
“Yeah. We're good. But if you ever hurt my dad...”
“Don't worry. I'm gonna always take care of him like he's always taken care of me. We both make each other very happy, Jess. And I think your dad and I are gonna keep making each other happy for a very long time.”
Jessica walks to the foot of the stairs and yells up to her dad. Scott comes downstairs, looking as handsome as ever. I haven't seen him since last night when we fucked on the kitchen table – then again in the shower a couple hours later. I've been pretty much living here with him for the past few months. He thought it'd be best, though, if I went back to my mom's house until things were straight between me and his daughter.
“Dad, can I borrow your truck?” Jessica asks. “Me and Amy are gonna go get something to eat and catch up a bit.”
“You girls worked everything out, I take it?”
“Yeah. We're good,” Jessica says while looking at me.
“All good,” I confirm.
“I can't tell you girls how happy that makes me. And of course you can borrow the truck. The keys are on the kitchen table. Have a good time, you two. Be safe.”
“Thanks dad,” Jessica says. “Love you.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart,” he replies.
“I'll go grab the keys and I gotta use the bathroom real quick,” Jess says. “There's just one thing I'm gonna ask of you two.”
“Name it,” Scott says.
“Try to keep the PDA to a minimum when I'm around. I'm happy for you both, but that doesn't mean I wanna see it all the time. Now, I'm gonna go in the other room for about two minutes. When I come back in here, I expect the two of you to not be humping on the couch.”
All three of us laugh. Jessica leaves the room. Scott walks over to me and we hug.
“Did I hear my daughter say that she met someone?” he asks.
“Were you eavesdropping on us?” I ask.
“Me? Nah. I could hear you from my room. Well?”
“You'll have to ask her. She's my best friend and I could never betray her trust – again.”
“That's because you're a wonderful friend. And an amazing girlfriend. I'm lucky to have you, Amy.”
“And I, you, Scott.”
We kiss for a minute, then he returns to his bedroom upstairs. I have a seat at the bottom of the stairs and wait for my best friend to finish up in the bathroom. For the first time in my entire life, I feel complete. I feel happy, all around. As happy as I've been with Scott these past few months, the fear of losing my best friend forever remained in the back of my mind. Now that Jessica and I are good again, I feel content all around.
“Ready, bestie?” Jessica asks, walking into the living room.
“Not yet,” I say and walk up to Jessica.
I throw my arms around my best friend and squeeze her as tight as I can. She wraps hers around me and we stand in the middle of the living room, hugging. I don't know how long we hug for, but it's a while. Neither of us want to let the other one go. I've missed my best friend so very much and I know she's felt the same way about me. Finally, we let each other go.
“Now, I'm ready,” I say with a smile.