Alex looked at his phone. Three missed calls from Ethan. Five books. He hadn't talked to Ethan since that wet night when they kissed. Since Sophia's phone call about their parents' secret plan.
For a week, Alex had been hiding in his apartment, not answering his door or his phone. He told everyone he was sick. But really, he was scared.
His phone buzzed again. Another text from Ethan: "We need to talk. Also, we have suit shopping today at 2. Don't forget."
Alex had forgotten. With all the chaos, he'd totally forgotten about finding suits for the wedding. His fake wedding. Or was it real now?
His head hurt thinking about it all.
The doorbell rang, making Alex jump. He looked through the peephole. Ethan was standing there, hands in his pockets, looking nervous.
Alex took a big breath and opened the door.
"You're alive," Ethan said with a small smile. "I was starting to wonder."
"Sorry," Alex mumbled. "I've been... thinking."
"About the kiss?" Ethan asked, his voice low.
Alex looked away. "About everything."
"Can I come in?"
Alex stepped aside to let Ethan in. The flat was a mess – clothes on the floor, pizza boxes on the coffee table, curtains drawn to keep out the light.
"Wow," Ethan said, looking around. "You really have been hiding."
"I've been busy," Alex lied.
"Too busy to answer my calls?" Ethan's voice had an edge to it. "Too busy to tell me if our kiss meant anything to you?"
"Ethan, please," Alex said, running a hand through his dirty hair. "It's complicated."
"What's complicated? I found your letter. I know you loved me. I kissed you, and you kissed me back. Then you disappeared."
"And you're engaged to Olivia," Alex informed him. "And I'm engaged to Sophia."
"Fake engaged," Ethan amended. "You told me yourself it wasn't real."
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't deny it either." Ethan moved closer. "And now I know how you feel about me."
Alex stepped back, bumping into the wall. "How do you feel about me?"
The question hung in the air between them.
Before Ethan could answer, Alex's phone rang. It was Sophia.
"I should get that," Alex said, glad for the interruption.
"Hey," he replied, turning away from Ethan.
"Alex, we need to talk," Sophia said, her voice urgent. "My parents are pushing for a wedding date. They want us to set it today."
"Today?" Alex's gut dropped. "We can't—"
"I know! But they're saying spring is too far away. They're talking about next month!"
"Next month?" Alex nearly shouted. "That's crazy!"
"What's crazy?" Ethan asked from behind him.
Alex covered the phone. "Nothing. Just wedding stuff."
Ethan's face darkened. "Right. The wedding."
"Alex?" Sophia was saying. "Are you there? What should we do?"
"I don't know," Alex said honestly. "But I can't talk now. I'll call you back."
He hung up and turned to Ethan, trying to look normal. "We should go. Suit shopping, right?"
"Right," Ethan said, his voice flat. "Let's go find you a suit to marry someone you don't love."
The suit shop was fancy, with shiny wood floors and mirrors everywhere. A man in a perfect suit met them at the door.
"Mr. Rivera and Mr. Carter?" he asked with a smile. "We've been expecting you. I'm Marco, and I'll be helping you today."
He led them to a private room in the back with more mirrors and a small stage to stand on.
"The groom first," Marco said, looking at Alex. "We have several styles picked out based on your wedding colors."
Alex looked at the clothes hanging on a rack. Dark blue, light gray, basic black. He had no idea which one to choose. This was all happening too fast.
"Maybe start with the classic black?" Ethan suggested, not meeting Alex's eyes.
Marco nodded and gave Alex a black suit. "Try this one first. The changing room is right there."
In the changing room, Alex stared at himself in the mirror. He looked terrible. Dark circles under his eyes, messy hair, pale face. He hadn't been sleeping well since that night with Ethan.
He put on the suit slowly, thinking about everything. The fake engagement that might not be fake anymore. The kiss with Ethan. Olivia, who had no idea what was going on. His parents and their secret plan.
When he stepped out, Marco clapped his hands. "Very handsome! A perfect fit!"
Ethan was sitting in a chair, looking at his phone. When he looked up, something changed in his face. His eyes widened. His lips opened slightly.
"What do you think?" Marco asked Ethan.
Ethan stood up slowly. "He looks..."
"Terrible, I know," Alex said, trying to joke.
"Beautiful," Ethan finished. "You look beautiful, Alex."
The room went quiet. Marco looked between them, feeling something was happening.
"I'll just... go check on those other suits," he said, slipping out of the room.
Alone now, Ethan walked around Alex, looking at him from every angle.
"You're going to be a handsome groom," he said softly. "Sophia is lucky."
"It's just a suit," Alex mumbled, feeling his face get hot.
"It's more than that." Ethan stopped in front of him. "It's you."
Alex didn't know what to say. The way Ethan was looking at him made his heart race.
"I broke up with Olivia," Ethan said suddenly.
Alex's mouth fell open. "What? When?"
"Yesterday." Ethan's eyes never left Alex's. "After you wouldn't answer my calls. I knew I had to do it. I couldn't lie to her anymore."
"What did you tell her?"
"The truth. That I have feelings for someone else." Ethan took a step closer. "That I've had feelings for my best friend for years, but I was too scared to admit it."
Alex couldn't breathe. "Years?"
Ethan nodded. "I dated all those people, trying to forget about you. Trying to be normal. When I met Olivia, I thought I could finally move on. Then you said you were moving out, and I worried. When I found your letter..." His voice broke. "I realized I wasn't the only one hiding."
Alex's heart was beating so hard he was sure Ethan could hear it. "Why didn't you say something before?"
"I was afraid to lose you." Ethan's eyes filled with tears. "You're the most important person in my life, Alex. Always have been."
Before Alex could reply, the door opened and Marco returned with more suits.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said happily. "I have some other options for the groom."
"Actually," Ethan said, not taking his eyes off Alex, "I'd like to try on a suit too."
"Of course!" Marco hung the clothes on the rack. "Are you also getting married, sir?"
Ethan's smile was sad. "No. I'm just the best man."
While Ethan was in the changing room, Alex's phone buzzed with a text from Sophia: "My parents talked to yours. They want us to meet for dinner tonight to set a date. This is getting out of control."
Alex texted back: "What should we do?"
Her reply came quickly: "Tell them the truth? Or run away together? (Just kidding)"
But maybe running away wasn't such a bad idea. Alex could leave all this behind – the fake wedding, the real feelings, the family pressure.
The changing room door opened, and Ethan stepped out in a dark blue suit that made his eyes seem even brighter. He looked amazing.
"What do you think?" Ethan asked, spinning around.
"Perfect," Alex said, meaning it.
They tried on more suits, but Alex kept thinking about Ethan's statement. About his own thoughts. About the mess they were in.
Later, as they were leaving the shop with their measurements taken and clothes ordered, Ethan grabbed Alex's arm.
"Come have dinner with me tonight," he said. "Please. We need to figure this out."
"I can't," Alex said. "I have dinner with Sophia and our parents. They want to set a wedding date."
Ethan's face fell. "So you're going through with it? Even though you know how I feel? Even though I broke up with Olivia for you?"
"I don't know what I'm doing," Alex revealed. "It's not that easy. Our parents planned this marriage before we were even born."
"This isn't the 1800s, Alex! You don't have to marry someone because your parents want you to."
"You don't understand the pressure—"
"Then help me understand," Ethan begged. "Let me come with you tonight."
"To my wedding dinner? Are you crazy?"
"Maybe I am," Ethan said. "But I'm not letting you go without a fight."
Before Alex could argue, Ethan kissed him right there on the sidewalk, not caring who saw them. It was a desperate kiss, full of fear and hope.
When they pulled apart, Alex saw his mother standing across the street, her face frozen in shock. She had seen everything.
"Mom," Alex mumbled, his blood turning cold.
She turned and rushed away, pulling out her phone.
Alex's phone buzzed seconds later. A text from his father: "Come home now. We need to talk before dinner. Your mother is very upset."
Alex looked at Ethan, fear rising in his chest. "They saw us. My mom saw us kissing."
Ethan took his hand. "Then let's go talk to them. Together. No more hiding, Alex."
Alex stared at their joined hands, knowing he was at a crossroads. Tell his parents the truth and break their hearts, or marry Sophia and break his own.
"Okay," he said finally. "Together."
As they walked to his parents' house, Alex's phone rang again. It was Sophia.
"Alex, something weird is happening," she said, her voice shaking. "My parents just told me that if we don't get married, they'll lose everything."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Our parents' businesses are linked somehow. If we don't get married, the deal falls apart. They'll go broke." She paused. "Alex, I think our parents are in trouble. Big trouble."