Page 3 of Fake Ties Real Hearts
“You can’t choose what’s best for me, I’m not a baby, Mama, why are you both doing this to me?”
“You keep saying that you’re not a baby and yet you go on to act like one.” She takes a seat on one of the plush couches in the living room, picks up a Vogue magazine, and starts flipping through it.
“You’ve been caught on camera kissing two different men just this week alone. Just two days ago, a video of you twerking on a man’s lap at the club was trending on the internet.” She closes her magazine and turns to look at me, her eyes showing her displeasure.
“You are spiraling out of control and it’s tainting our family’s reputation. I brought you up to be better than this.”
“I…”
“You’re getting married and that’s it.”
I want to tell my mother that if only they gave me enough attention while growing up and even now, then just maybe I might have turned out differently. But there’s no need, it will only have us dancing around in circles as always.
Without saying another word, I walk away to my bedroom, closing the door with a loud bang. My phone lying on my nightstand is buzzing with notifications and I know it’s all about the picture of Kyle and I kissing.
I let out a loud groan as my mind travels back to last night.
"Truth or dare?" Jasmine's voice cuts through the lively atmosphere of the club as the bottle comes to a stop, pointing directly at me. We're out celebrating her 21st birthday, and what better way to mark the occasion than hitting the club, getting a little tipsy, and indulging in a round of silly games like truth or dare?
"Dare," I respond, taking a sip of my vodka. I should probably slow down; I'm starting to feel a little tipsy. But then again, that's the whole point of this party, isn't it? To get a bit intoxicated and momentarily forget about the rest of the world.
“I dare you to…”
“Who’s that hottie?” Daisy whistles interrupting Jasmine from what she was about to say. All four of us turn in the direction Daisy is pointing at.
“Isn’t that your hot neighbor?” Lilian says swiping her tongue across her bottom lip. My eyes fall on Kyle Anderson. He’s sitting in the company of his two friends in one of the VIP sections not far from ours.
“You know that guy?” Daisy asks with excitement.
“Yeah, his parents live next to mine.” Kyle moved out of his parent's house immediately after he graduated from college and that’s a long time ago.
“Hmm, it’s been a while since I saw hot Kyle,” Jasmine has mischief dancing in her eyes as she looking at me. “I dare you to go and kiss Kyle.”
I snort. “Seriously? You want me to kiss Kyle?”
"Yes, it's either him or that." I follow the direction of Jasmine's hand, and I see she's pointing at a guy who's been chugging down beer as if his life depends on it. I've never been a fan of the smell of beer, and Jasmine knows it all too well.
No offense to breweries but I think that shit smells and tastes like cow pee, don’t ask me how I know what cow pee tastes like, I just know.
“So, which is it going to be?” Daisy asks daring me with her eyes. They are all looking at me waiting for my response. I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge and they know.
“Fine, let’s do this.”
I adjust my dress as I stand up and then start walking up to where Kyle and his friends are seated.
“Hey, J, I didn’t know you were here,” he says the moment he sees me, a cute smile dancing on his lips. I’m familiar with his friends so I say hello to them before going to sit beside Kyle.
“Are you here with your friends?” He takes a sip of his champagne.
“Yes, and they dared me to do this.” Without warning, I draw closer to Kyle and kiss him on the lips. He was caught off guard at first but soon, he starts responding.
There’s a low gasp of surprise among his friends, and I can hear my friends cheering me on but their voices seem like a blur in the background.
This was supposed to be a game, a dare, so why the hell am I enjoying it?
Chapter 2
Kyle
