Alex's hands shook as he fixed his tie. After Sophia's shocking phone call about their parents' business troubles, he and Ethan had chosen not to go to Alex's parents' house right away. It would be better to talk at the dinner party, where everyone would be together.
But now, standing in front of the mirror, Alex wasn't sure if that was a good idea.
"You look fine," Ethan said from the doorway of Alex's bedroom. "Stop fidgeting."
"Easy for you to say," Alex grumbled. "Your parents aren't forcing you to marry someone."
Ethan's smile disappeared. "No, they just think I'm crazy for breaking up with Olivia. Mom called me three times today asking what happened."
"What did you tell her?"
"Nothing yet." Ethan stepped into the room. "I wanted to talk to you first. Figure out what we're doing."
Alex turned away from the mirror. "I don't know what we're doing, Ethan. This whole thing is a mess."
His phone buzzed with a text from Sophia: "Are you coming? My parents are already at the restaurant. They're asking about you."
"We have to go," Alex said, grabbing his jacket. "They're waiting for us."
"Us?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You still want me to come?"
Alex hesitated. His mother had seen them kissing. She would tell his father. Things would be awkward and tight. Maybe it would be better if Ethan stayed behind.
But the thought of facing everyone alone made Alex's stomach hurt.
"Yes," he said firmly. "I want you there. We'll figure this out together."
Ethan's face relaxed. "Always."
The diner was fancy, with white tablecloths and crystal glasses. Sophia and her parents were already seated at a big round table. Alex's parents were there too, his mother's eyes red from crying.
"Alex!" Sophia stood up when she saw him, relief on her face. Then she noticed Ethan. "Oh... you brought a friend."
"Best man," Alex said quickly. "He's helping me with... wedding stuff."
Mr. Rivera, Alex's father, gave Ethan a cold look. "This is a family dinner, son."
"Ethan is family," Alex said, more bravely than he felt. "He stays."
A tense silence followed as they all sat down. Alex was between Sophia and Ethan, feeling stuck.
A pretty waitress with curly blond hair came to take their drink orders. When she got to Ethan, she smiled brightly.
"What can I get for you?" she asked, her voice friendly.
"Just water for now," Ethan said, smiling back. "Thanks."
The waitress stayed a moment longer than necessary. "Let me know if you need anything else."
When she walked away, Alex felt a strange twist in his stomach. Was Ethan playing with her? After everything they'd said to each other?
"So," Mr. Martinez, Sophia's father, cleared his throat. "We're here to discuss the wedding date. Sophia's mother and I think next month would be perfect."
"Next month?" Alex's voice cracked. "That's too soon."
"Nonsense," Mrs. Rivera said, avoiding looking at her son. "The sooner the better. We've already found a lovely spot."
Under the table, Sophia squeezed Alex's hand. "My parents are... eager," she whispered.
The server returned with their drinks. She put Ethan's water down with extra care, her fingers brushing against his.
"Are you ready to order?" she asked, her eyes on Ethan.
"I think we need a few more minutes," Ethan said with a smile that made the waitress blush.
Alex felt sick. Just hours ago, Ethan had kissed him on the curb, saying he'd had feelings for Alex for years. And now he was smiling at this waitress like Alex didn't even exist.
Maybe it had all been a lie. Maybe Ethan wasn't really in love with him after all.
"Alex?" Sophia's voice broke into his thinking. "Are you okay? You look sad."
"I'm fine," he lied, picking up his menu. "Just hungry."
The dinner was painful. Their parents talked about wedding plans while Alex pushed food around his plate. Ethan kept talking with the waitress every time she came to their table. And Sophia watched Alex with worried eyes.
"So it's settled," Mr. Martinez announced after dessert. "The wedding will be four weeks from Saturday, at the Lake View gardens."
"Perfect," Mrs. Rivera agreed. "Small and elegant."
"Wait," Alex said, finding his voice. "Don't we get a say in this?"
Everyone looked at him.
"Of course, dear," his mother said, not meeting his eyes. "But we've already put down the deposit."
"Actually," Sophia spoke up, "I agree with Alex. Four weeks is too soon. We need more time."
Her father's face darkened. "We've discussed this, Sophia. The time is important for... business reasons."
"What business reasons?" Alex asked. "Sophia mentioned something about a deal between our families. What's going on?"
The adults traded nervous looks.
"This isn't the place to discuss business," Mr. Rivera said firmly. "Let's focus on the wedding."
"No," Alex stood up. "I want to know the truth. Why are you really pushing for this marriage?"
The table went quiet. The waitress, feeling the tension, stayed away.
Mr. Martinez sighed heavily. "Fine. Your father and I are partners in a real estate deal. A very big, very important deal. The contracts state that our families must be formally joined for the deal to be completed."
"You mean we have to get married or you lose money?" Alex asked, shocked.
"Not just money," Mr. Rivera said quietly. "Everything. Our homes, our companies, our savings. We put everything into this deal, Alex."
"But that's... that's crazy!" Alex looked at Sophia, who seemed as surprised as he was. "You can't make us get married for a business deal!"
"We're not making you," Mrs. Rivera said, tears in her eyes. "We're asking you. Both of you. Please. Our futures rely on this."
Alex couldn't breathe. The room felt too small, too hot. He looked at Ethan for help, but Ethan was talking to the waitress again, laughing at something she said.
"I need some air," Alex mumbled, pushing away from the table.
He hurried outside, gulping the cool night air. His mind was spinning. How could his parents do this? How could they bet their future on him marrying someone he didn't love?
And how could Ethan ignore him when he needed him most?
The restaurant door opened behind him. It was Sophia.
"Are you okay?" she asked, wrapping her sweater tightly around her against the cold.
"No," Alex said honestly. "I'm not okay. This is crazy, Sophia. They're using us as... as business tools!"
"I know." She looked down at her engagement ring. "When my parents first suggested I meet you, I never thought it was for this reason. I thought they just liked you."
"What are we going to do?"
Sophia bit her lip. "I don't know. If we don't get married, our parents lose everything. Could you live with that guilt?"
Alex thought about his parents' house, where he'd grown up. About his father's proud face when he talked about his business. About his mother's dreams of moving someday to a small cottage by the sea.
"No," he admitted. "I couldn't."
"Me neither." Sophia leaned against the wall beside him. "So I guess we're getting married in four weeks."
The door opened again, and Ethan stepped out. He had a napkin in his hand with a phone number written on it.
"There you are," he said, spotting Alex. "Your parents are asking for you."
"Did you have a nice chat with the waitress?" Alex asked, unable to keep the hurt from his words.
Ethan looked confused. "What?"
"The blonde. The one whose number you just got."
"Oh." Ethan looked at the napkin and then back at Alex. "It's not what you think."
"It doesn't matter," Alex said coldly. "We're setting a wedding date. Four weeks from Saturday, I'm marrying Sophia."
Ethan's face paled. "What? But what about... us?"
"There is no us." Alex felt tears burning his eyes. "There can't be."
"Alex, please." Ethan reached for him. "Let me explain—"
"Explain what? How you broke up with Olivia for me, kissed me, made me think you cared about me, and then flirted with a waitress all night? While I was sitting right there?"
"I wasn't flirting with her!"
"I saw you, Ethan! Everyone saw you!"
Sophia looked between them, her eyes wide. "Uh, should I give you two a minute?"
"No," Alex said strongly. "We're done here. I need to go back inside and tell our parents we accept their wedding plans."
He pushed past Ethan and walked back into the diner, wiping his eyes quickly.
At the table, he forced a smile. "We've talked it over. Four weeks is fine."
His parents looked relieved. Sophia's parents smiled. Everyone started talking excitedly about flowers and invitations.
Ethan came back inside, his face serious. He sat down without saying a word.
Alex tried to focus on the wedding talk, but his heart was breaking all over again. Just when he thought he and Ethan might have a chance, everything fell apart.
The evening finally finished, and Alex stood to leave with his parents. Ethan caught his arm.
"Can we talk? Please?"
"There's nothing to talk about," Alex said, drawing his arm away.
"Yes, there is." Ethan gave him the napkin with the phone number. "Look what's written on it."
Alex looked down and froze. It wasn't a phone number at all. It was a message: "Don't trust anyone. Your parents are in danger. Meet me tomorrow at noon, coffee shop on 4th street. Come alone. — Melissa"
"What is this?" Alex whispered.
"I don't know," Ethan said quietly. "But the waitress wasn't flirting with me. She was warning me. She said she works for the FBI."
Before Alex could reply, a loud crash came from the front of the restaurant. People screamed. Men in dark suits rushed in, pointing at their table.
"Mr. Rivera, Mr. Martinez," one of them called. "You need to come with us now!"
Sophia grabbed Alex's hand. "What's happening?"
Alex looked at the napkin again, then at the men approaching their parents. The words repeated in his mind: "Your parents are in danger."
The men reached their table. One of them leaned down and whispered something to Alex's father, whose face turned white with fear.
"Dad?" Alex called. "What's going on?"
His father looked at him with scared eyes. "Run, Alex. Take Sophia and run. Now!"