Arranged to My Best Friend

13.

"My fat jelly bean is back!" I shouted happily when I caught sight of Ryder descending the stairs. I ignored the stares from other waiting families and friends.

He finally reached the tiled floor and I sprinted to him, preparing myself for the jump part of our overdramatized hug. I pushed off the tips of my feet and sprung on him, throwing my arms around his neck. His arms squeezed my waist as my legs dangled in the air. He spun me around a few times before placing me back on solid ground. We kept ourselves wrapped together though, my hands tangled in his hair and his finding my hips.

"Missed me, Calloway?" He breathed in my ear.

I whacked him on the back of the head. "Pfft, no, I want the cute little bag of airplane pretzels you always give me." Ryder chuckled, his chest vibrating against mine. "Nah, I missed you. It was weird lounging around your apartment with no one to annoy."

"Well, I'm back now," he said, laughter in his voice.

We finally pulled apart and I hooked my arm with his. "So how was Miami?"

"Okay, I guess. I wish I could have enjoyed it more. I was stuck in board meetings and luncheons all day," Ryder sighed. "But it comes with the territory. If I'm gonna be head of Dallas Enterprises."

"You will be head," I corrected.

He scoffed. "Not if my father can help it."

"Listen," I grabbed his hand and turned him to face me, "Kyle can't be the boss forever. One day, he'll get too old to run and it'll be yours. He's just acting like a jerk because he knows it's inevitable. He also knows you'll be a better boss. People actually like you, not just tolerate you."

The corner of his mouth lifted upwards, but suddenly, his face lost any spark of hope and traded it for determination. His eyes darkened. "I don't want to become my father," he whispered. "I'm not going to become him."

I ran a hand through his hair, stopping to hold onto the back of his neck. "You're not," I assured firmly, my voice strong. He nodded, his jaw losing its clenched form. "I won't let you," I promised.

Ryder smiled shyly, eyes lighting up again. "Thanks, Brie."

We trudged our way through the airport, stopping by the baggage to pick up his duffel, and were on the way to my car when paparazzi flooded the lobby. My breath lodged in my throat at the sight. Ryder's hand found mine and squeezed it. There weren't a lot of cameras, but enough to get plenty of pictures to get people asking and talking. Hopefully, I didn't get claustrophobic and embarrass myself somehow.

"Ryder, is this your new girlfriend?"

Shutter. "What's it like dating the heir to Dallas Enterprises?"

"Is it getting as serious as you said it is?" Flash.

Ryder ignored the countless questions and pushed his way through, having done this a thousand times, with me staying close behind him. What I really wanted to do was jump on his back and cling to him for safety. Unfortunately, I couldn't do that. Man, a piggy-back ride sounded nice...

"Ryder, please tell us something!"

My best friend and fiancé looked at the photographer. "I can tell you what I told those girls in Miami. We've been dating for several months, but wanted to keep it out of the public eye- precisely for this reason. Now we're at a stage in our relationship to let the world know."

I smiled, pressing myself against his side. He instinctively draped his arm around my shoulder. "And yes, that stage happens to be serious," I slid in, wanting them to get a statement from me. I didn't want to be one of those silent girlfriends that let their guys do all the taking.