Falling For Ace

Thirty-three

A C E

I was receiving 'happy birthdays' and gifts from everyone. My parents were all happy while I was hella uncomfortable and bored.

"Meet your future parents-in-law," Dad nodded his head towards a short bald man wearing a white suit. Beside him, stood a woman who was much taller than him and beside the wife, stood the girl I was supposed to marry. She had short dirty blonde hair, brown eyes, slightly tanned skin. She wasn't ugly—it was with her behavior that I've got a problem with.

Jane was wearing a neon pink dress with neon green high heels, her bigger than normal organs—she looked absurd, completely ridiculous. She looked like freaking disco ball. All these colours on her made my head hurt.

"Hey, Ace." Jane winked, taking a step forward, "happy birthday, babe. I've got you a gift. I'll give it to you later tonight."

Oh god.

"I think I'm gonna throw up," I said to my parents, "it's definitely not because of the cake." I then walked away, excusing myself.

My eyes fell on Ivy who was speaking with Cole, Kade and Asher. Damn, that girl makes friends really fast. They were smiling and laughing at something.

"Hey guys." I said, approaching them. They shifted their attention to me.

"What's up birthday boy?" Kade asked, grinning at me.

"What do you see is up?" Cole asked back before I could reply. I glanced at Cole who was staring at the ceiling. Kade rolled his eyes at his younger brother, "I didn't ring your bell."

"I wouldn't have allowed you." Cole replied, smirking at Kade who gagged slightly, understanding what the meaning behind his words, "Gross."

"Happy birthday, bro." Asher said, ignoring his two brothers before patting my shoulder.

"I need to speak to Ivy." I nodded in Ivy's direction making her brows furrow in confusion as well as curiosity. Kade rolled his eyes at what I said before wrapping an arm around her shoulders, "sure, speak up."

"Alone." I added, glaring at my older cousin who chuckled before dropping his arms to his sides, "okay." As soon as Kade walked away with Cole and Asher, I grabbed Ivy's hand and led her upstairs, in my room.

Closing the door behind me, I turned to face Ivy who had a neutral yet expecting expression on her face.

"I—" I began to speak only to get interrupted by Ivy who smiled, "first of all, happy birthday."

I chuckled, smiling back at her, "thanks, Vy. Okay, so here's what's going to happen." I took a deep breath, "my parents have placed me in an arranged marriage."

"So you're going to get married. That's..." she trailed off, "good."

"No, it's not." I scoffed, looking at her. She had a distant look on her face, "I don't want to marry that girl. Fuck, I'm only twenty one."

"Then tell your parents that you don't want t—" I cut her off, "I already did. They signed a contract. If I don't marry Jane fucking Smith, her father gets fifty percent of my father's company."

"So, you're stuck." She said, leaning against the wall beside the door. "wait, did you say Jane Smith? That disco ball?" She laughed, patting my shoulders, mockingly, "I actually feel really really sad for you right now."

I rolled my eyes at her, "your sadness is appreciated."

"But why did you tell me that?" She questioned, crossing her arms.

"Because I need to scare that girl away. You know? Make her break the marriage because I can't." I explained, "and I need your help for it."

"How can I help?" She raised her brows in amusement, "You want me to pretend that I'm your girlfriend or something?"

"No, I don't want to pretend shit, Ivy." I stared at her intently, "what I want is something real. And I don't want you just to scare away that disco ball."

"You're telling me that you want to—" I cut her off, "if you want then yeah. There's no denying that we are both attracted to each other. Plus, a real thing is better than a fake one."

"I know right," she chuckled, "I've read books on where they pretend and end up together like for real..."

"Is is a yes or a no?"

"What if it doesn't work?" She sighed, "What if Jane doesn't break the thing off?"

"I don't care about Jane." I groaned, "I would've married her if I wasn't interested in you."

"Oh..." she muttered, biting her bottom lip nervously, "I'm...well, I'm interested in you too."

"So, it's a yes then?" I asked to which she nodded, "yes."

"Perfect then." I shot her a grin before placing an a hand on her waist and pulled her to me. I then lowered my head and captured her lips with mine, kissing her passionately yet deeply. She started kissing me back with the same passion making me tighten my grip on her waist. Her hands found it's way around my neck while my other hand was placed to the side of her face.

"I've never been in a relationship before—but Ivy? I haven't fucked anyone in the last two months. And I've known you for three. I think that's a start."