Arranged to My Best Friend

1.

(Thought I'd go ahead and post the first chapter so you guys can really get a feel for it. Enjoy!)

"Ryder, you fat jelly bean! How ya doing?"

I didn't even care that I was drawing attention from other tables. I was greeting my best friend whichever way I pleased.

Ryder Dallas sat at our regular booth in the nice little burger joint. At my entrance, he just laughed and stood, wrapping his arms around me tight. I buried my nose into his neck, inhaling his cologne that I love. I had quite the infatuation with it. His old high school hoodie, which I adopted, got sprayed whenever I had access to his backpack or duffel.

We pulled apart and I clicked my tongue, giving him a wink. "Well, aren't we looking mighty spiffy?"

Ryder was clad in black slacks and a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. A part of his swirled tribal tattoo peeked out. The shirt also hugged his broad shoulders. His hair was messy as usual and his hazel eyes were beautiful.

"Only for the best," he replied back.

I held a hand to my heart. "You are the sweetest as they come."

He chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the sides. "Now come on." He hooked a hand under my elbow and pulled me to our booth. "Let's order."

"The beast is hungry," I referred to my growling stomach. That's what I get for skipping the most important meal of the day.

"You didn't eat breakfast?"

I smiled sheepishly. "You know I don't. Never have."

"What am I gonna do with you?" he teased, scanning the menu which was useless because we get the same thing every week.

"Throw me out the window, I guess..." I suggested.

He sighed mournfully. "It's too bad there's no window at this booth."

I gave him a flat look and kicked his foot under the table.

"Hey! That's the kind of welcome back present I get?" Ryder's mouth sunk. "And here I thought you'd missed me."

"Nope," I shook my head, laughing.

Our waitress, a fifty-year old woman whose faith was stronger than a mountain, came to the table. She informed us on her husband's cataract surgery and babbled on a few moments about her grandchildren before scribbling down our orders: two cheeseburgers with a side of onion rings and Dr. Pepper to drink. She blew us a kiss then moved on to her next table.

"Okay, so how was London?" I inquired, ripping a sugar packet open and sprinkling it onto my tongue.

By the way his posture stiffened, it hadn't gone well.

"Your father?" I knew the answer already.

My best friend sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "He's driving me crazy. Each trip is just more stress, more responsibility, more weight on my shoulders. I just want a break."

"You'll get one this summer," I reminded him. "A whole two weeks without Dallas Enterprises interfering your life."

Dallas Enterprises was the marketing firm Ryder's father invested in. It was a national empire, but is more recently developing into international affairs. Ryder was the sole heir to all this- not just the empire itself, but to the millions of money delegated in it.

"I don't know if we can make that trip anymore, Brie," he said sullenly.

I tried to not show my disappointment, though I'm sure he could see it. "And why not?"