Arranged to My Best Friend

7.

Josie's was a cute family owned country restaurant. It had old wooden floorboards that creaked and round tables centered in the middle while booths lined the walls. The kitchen entrance was behind the bar, which was added three years ago, and it played old and new country songs. Everything on their menu that I have had was delicious.

"Brie, how ya doin', sweets?" yelled Josie. She was a fifty-four year old woman that loved people and thanked The Lord for everything in her life- good and bad. She always had a smile on her face and hugged everyone with such love that it warmed your heart.

She also helped me when my mom died and my dad took off.

"I'm good. How are you?" I responded, setting down my bag behind the counter. She was stacking plates and wrapping silverware in napkins. We weren't opening for another hour, but I came in to chat with Josie.

"I'm wonderful," she smiled.

I brushed my hair back and tied it in a tight ponytail. As my hands dropped, her eyes widened. "Wh-"

"Honey, when were you gonna tell me about that ring on your finger?" She exclaimed.

My mouth made an 'o'. I glanced down at the diamond ring. I forgot to take it off last night.

"Um, I was." I bit my lip and thought it was now or never. The engagement would soon be public. Everyone I knew would find out eventually. It wouldn't hurt to tell Josie. She was practically my mom. "Ryder, uh, proposed last night."

"Ryder?!" She clapped her hands together and grinned widely. "As in best-friend-for-seventeen-years Ryder?" I nodded. "When'd you start dating?"

"Several months ago. We didn't tell anyone because of the Dallas fame. We wanted time to ourselves," I explained.

"I get that," she said. "Aw, sweetie, I'm so happy for you! Since the first day I met that boy, I knew you were gonna end up together. Y'all are so adorable. Brie baby, I am ecstatic for you. I'm sure your mom is too."

"Thanks, Josie."

Then something hard slammed me in the chest.

This was fake.

All of it.

I must have looked upset because Josie rubbed my arm soothingly. "You okay, hun?"

I nodded, trying to shake the image of Josie looking at me with disappointment if she ever found out none of it was real out of my mind. "It's just... it'll be hard without Mom," I answered truthfully. It will be tough, real or not.

She patted my cheek, grey eyes filled with compassion. "I know, Brie baby, I know."

I pushed the thoughts of Mom away, not wanting to get emotional or ruin Josie's happiness. "Yeah, but I'll get through it. I got you, right?"

"Yes, you do. Whatever you need help with, let me know and I will do everything I possibly can to help you," she offered. "I'm a good planner," she hinted.

I started grabbing plates from under the bar and stacking them up. "Well, I'll be marrying into the Dallas family. They might hire a professional wedding planner and give me choices that only they approve of."

"I thought his mom was all right."

"She is, but I know that she can be persistent and want to take over. Ryder hardly had any say for his thirteenth birthday. He wanted laser tag and bowling with pizza. Something a normal kid would have," I told her. "But instead, his mother rented out the ballroom of some fancy hotel and got a chef from Paris to cater. Ryder didn't enjoy it because the guests were mainly business related and their families."