Ride or Fall

7

SUMMER
7

"What do you mean he's deciding not to show up?!" I hiss at my best friend in the corner of the restaurant where everyone is, including Dragon, who is looking too amused for my liking. "Ayla, you told everybody my 'boyfriend' would be here tonight."

"Yeah, he kind of chickened out when he found out who it was he was trying to make jealous. The man really valued his life, but hey, at least he gave you flowers. Maybe if we just come up with an excuse as to why he can't make it." Ayla tries to reason as my eye twitches.

"Or, I can fill in." Both Ayla and I jump at the sound of Dragon's younger brother, Ace, who stands behind us with a smug smile on his face and his arms crossed over his chest as he leans against the wall. "I knew you two were up to something suspicious earlier on. You're not very good at keeping your cool and from the sounds of it, little Summer, my brother was right. You don't have a boyfriend." He raises a brow and my heart pounds in my chest.

What if he tells him?!

"I-I do." Ace chuckles at my response.

"R-Really?" He stutters sarcastically and my jaw tics in frustration.

A mischievous grin morphs onto his features, which are so similar to his brother's I almost want to punch him.

Ace holds his hands up in defence and pushes himself away from the wall. "Look, I don't know what went down between you and my brother, but if you're having issues searching for a fake boyfriend, no need to keep searching." He gestures to himself and my eyes almost fall out of their sockets.

"I know I come up with some stupid ideas, but I would never suggest that." Ayla speaks up, looking Ace up and down with a sceptical expression.

"That will ruin you and your brother's relationship. That's not worth it, Ace. Plus, we've already met if you've forgotten, you were sitting on my doorstep with a gun and I wasn't exactly excited to see you. So why do you think Dragon will suddenly buy the fact you're my boyfriend?" I question Ace, who shrugs a shoulder.

"And your name isn't Josh. That's what we called the fake boyfriend." Ayla inputs.

"Oh, right." Ace now looks just as confused as we do. "Yeah, we're fucked."

"Wait. You're not going to tell your brother?" I question him in shock.

"Nah, it's kind of funny seeing him spiral, and he probably deserves it." I slowly nod my head at his response. "I might know somebody."

"Somebody safe, right?" Ayla asks, wrapping her arm around me.

"Okay, yeah, no, that's probably not a good idea." He lowers his head and I turn to Ayla.

"I'm gonna go back out there looking like an idiot!"

"Can't you just say you both broke up?"

"What?!" I shriek. "That's embarrassing for me and then Dragon will eat it up and find satisfaction in it."

"Well, why can't Dragon just be your boyfriend?" Mine and Ayla's head snaps in Ace's direction and he takes a step back, his eyes widening. "Or maybe not. Terrible idea, absolutely awful." He laughs nervously.

"Okay, well for tonight let's just say he couldn't make it and then back to the drawing board tomorrow." Ayla recommends while Ace nods his head.

"Yeah, we should do that."

Ayla lifts her brows. "We?"

"Yeah, I'd love to help my sister-in-law wind up my brother." He wraps in arm around my shoulder and we walk back into the main part of the restaurant.