Arranged to My Best Friend

5.

Here you go! Enjoy fans :)

I held onto Ryder's arm as we walked to the dark oak wide door, probably squeezing him too hard. I was really nervous. I mean, I've socialized with his family before, but this was completely different. I was being introduced as his girlfriend, soon to be fiancée. I felt like I had to make an impression.

"You're gonna be fine," Ryder assured me, resting his chin on my shoulder to smile up at me. "I'll be right beside you the whole night. We know the story backwards and it'll make it more believable by being cuddly and cute."

I breathed in and out. "I can do this."

"Yes, you can."

He rang the doorbell, announcing our arrival. I swallowed the lump in my throat, rolling my shoulders and straightening my posture. The door opened and his little sister Georgina stood there, a hand on her hip. She wore a strapless dress, the bodice bedazzled and hem shortened to mid-thigh. Her curly brown hair happened to be straightened and her face portrayed in natural colors. She smirked and leaned on the doorframe.

"I always knew you two were hiding something," she declared.

Ryder raised an eyebrow. "What exactly do you mean?

"Dad might have told me that you had some sorta announcement tonight, and now that Brie's here, I think I know what it is," Georgie said.

"Hmm, do you?" her brother taunted.

She nodded, still smirking. "You guys are dating and you're telling everyone at dinner."

We paused for a moment, and I didn't know if I should say something. But the fear subsided when Ryder hooked his arm around my waist and pulled me tight into his side, pressing his mouth against my cheek.

"We are. You can't tell anyone yet, Georgie," he said. "We'll tell them at the right moment."

"Don't worry, I won't say anything. You might want to come inside though. Mom's getting antsy." She spun on her heel and left us standing outside the door. She then poked her head out again. "I've always rooted for you guys. I never liked any of Ryder's exes."

"They were all the same," I slipped in honestly. All his exes were daughters of fellow businessmen (ninety-nine perfect of them were his father's interference), and it was crazy that each one was blonde, tall, and long-legged. I mean, geez, brunettes, redheads, and black-haired girls are pretty too- even ones with dyed and multicolored hair.

"Okay, okay, enough talk of my exes," he said. "Let's just get inside."

The two of us girls laughed and I followed Georgie inside, stopping to hang my coat. Ryder placed a comforting palm to my low back, leading me past the archway and to the living room where his parents waited. Georgie sent a reassuring thumb's up and smile over her shoulder. I breathed in deeply and donned a passive expression, digging my fingers in the fabric of Ryder's jacket sleeve. We stepped into the fairly large living room and my heart froze at the sight of his mother.

But the ice melted and I felt a wave of confidence flow through me.

"Ryder!" Michelle wrapped her arms around her son. I stood at the side awkwardly, not wanting to interrupt their moment. "Aw, look at you. So handsome."

"Thanks, MaMa," he said, glancing over at me. He snatched up my hand. "You remember Brie Calloway, right?"

She smiled brightly. "Of course I do!" She pulled me in for a quick hug. "My, you get even more beautiful every time I see you. Nice of you to join us tonight."

"Thank you, Mrs. Dallas. I'm happy to be here." I tried to ignore the flush in my cheek, but by Ryder's cheeky grin, I knew I had failed.

"Oh, call me Michelle. How many times have I told you this?"