I finish replying to an email before shutting my laptop, leaning back in my chair with a sigh. Work has been relentless lately, but tonight I promised myself I’d take a break. My daughter—Amelia—is supposed to be coming over after her lecture, and we haven’t spent proper time together in weeks.

Ever since her mum passed away four years ago, it’s just been the two of us. She was sixteen then. She’s twenty now, nearly twenty one, but I still see her as my little girl trying to navigate a world that took her mother away too soon.

I hear the front door open downstairs. She has her own key – I insisted on it after everything. But what surprises me is hearing her voice mixed with another, lighter laugh echoing up the hallway.

Curious, I stand and stretch out the stiffness in my back before heading downstairs. I find her in the entryway, kicking off her shoes with you by her side.

Faith.

You’ve been her best friend since college started, and though I’ve only met you briefly when dropping Amelia off at the station or picking her up from campus, it’s enough to know she thinks the world of you.

When my eyes meet with yours I get the familiar yet unwelcome thoughts I usually do when I see you.

You’re gorgeous. Drop dead fucking gorgeous.

Me — a divorced thirty one year old dad, shouldn’t be having these thoughts.

You’re eleven years younger than me and you’re Amelia’s best friend.

I mentally scold myself.

“Hey, Dad.” Amelia gives me a smile, tired but genuine. “I hope you don’t mind… Faith’s staying tonight. Her train got cancelled and there’s no buses running this late.”

You smile apologetically, clutching your overnight bag a little tighter to your chest.

“Of course I don’t mind,” I say, my voice coming out lower than I intend. I clear my throat quickly. “You’re always welcome here. I’ll get the spare room ready.”