Beautiful Liar by J. Jakee

kitchen. He had already thrown off his suit jacket and loosened his tie. He sat the breakfast ingredients on his granite countertop, then excused himself so he could change. Marley began prepping breakfast, and I hopped in a pub-styled chair by the window. I gazed out at his massive backyard. I imagined the two of us lounging poolside while I paged through my favorite e-magazine, and as he barbecued on the grill, shirtless.
                  “Ever since my mom passed…,” Marley popped the dream-bubble above my head. “He’s been so big on cooking that it became his outlet. Now that he’s gotten so good at it, it’s like his favorite pastime. God forbid I miss one of his meals.”
                  “Cooking is his pastime? Doesn’t the man date?” I pried, trying to measure the size of my challenge.
                  Hmm. Not that I’m aware of. So many women at the church throw themselves on him. He’s a catch! You know? He’s great looking for a 50 year-old, and I’m not just saying that because he’s my father. But, he’s not impressed by pushy women. That turns him off. I think what he needs is a woman who is relaxed and Godly – especially Godly. He needs someone who isn’t thirsty for his looks or success… someone who would allow him to chase her and not the other way around. He absolutely needs someone who will love him for him.”
                  I nodded, taking mental notes. Then, I maneuvered to his pantry and found his generous alcohol stash. “Girl, your father gets down. Looks like he needs a woman who can throw a couple back, too!” I teased.
                  “He drinks socially,” she said defensively.
                  I waved a bottle of Moët. “Let’s make mimosas!”
                  “Let’s not. I can’t drink it.”
                  I rolled my eyes. “Child. You will be twenty-one in September.”
                  “October 5th.”
                  I rolled my eyes again, “Same difference… You need to loosen up.” I placed the bottle back on the self, but kept it in the front just in case he and I needed it when I came back to visit.
                  Pastor Robinson returned wearing a black button down, dark jeans, and Vans canvas sneakers. He looked sexy even when he wasn’t trying. Although Marley felt uncertain that her father wasn’t seeing or at least sleeping with anyone on the regular, I wasn’t about to be convinced that he. He had way too much sex appeal not to be.
                  The way his lips curled upwards when he smiled. The way his right eyebrow would rise and then fall when he made a point. The scowl in his eyes, and the way he rubs his chin as he listens to us speak were all the reasons I needed to be more acquainted with him. Through it all, I managed to keep my cool while I watched him work the kitchen. I made sure not to laugh too hard at his jokes. I kept my questions to a minimum. Plus, I only gawked at him when I was sure that neither he nor Marley was watching.
                  I volunteered to set the table. After we sat down and said grace to dig into the pastor’s culinary masterpiece, I told the both of them that Silas sent me a text message stating that he changed his mind about coming. I only did this because I grew tired of them questioning his whereabouts. Marley served me a pity pout as she passed me a tray of crème brulee French toast.
                  “I’m sorry Silas belled, Nola. I could tell you really liked him.”
                  I couldn’t keep my face from scrunching. “How?”
                  “I saw how stiff you were,” she revealed while drizzling syrup over her short stack. She even managed to spill some of it onto the marble top dining table. I cringed for the pastor. She continued, “And then, how you stumbled over your