My Best Friend’s Brother is My Ex Chapter 08

My Best Friend’s Brother is My Ex Chapter 08

The dinner dragged on for nearly two hours.

Afterward, the whole group pushed for another spot to keep the night going.

Before I could protest, they dragged me along.

Ryan booked a massive booth.

This was my first visit to the bar.

The music was loud enough to set the mood without drowning out conversation, and the crowd was pleasant to look at.

I let my guard down a little.

Halfway through the drinks, someone suggested Truth or Dare.

A few rounds in, the bottle pointed at me.

I hesitated, then chose Truth.

Ryan had been checked out all game—until now.

He thought for a long time before asking,

“When’s the last time you had a crush on someone?”

I blinked.

It felt like an eternity ago.

If I had to pick a moment…

“Six months ago,” I said quietly.

It was during one of our nightly calls.

Soren had picked up a few seconds late, and I threw a fit.

I picked petty fights, threw childish tantrums.

He just kept coaxing me, patient as ever.

Then I heard whistling from his end.

“Damn, Shaw, still playing lapdog for some internet girl?”

“You actually like being treated like a dog?”

Soren’s voice went ice-cold.

“Back off.”

“I want to be my girlfriend’s dog. You got a problem with that?”

My heart skipped a beat.

That soft warmth unfurling deep in my chest—

Was it because he defended me?

Or because he called me his girlfriend?

I jolted back to the present when I caught Ryan’s face fall.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Later, the drinks flowed freely.

Ryan landed on Dare.

Someone shouted that he had to do ten squats while holding me.

I immediately tensed.

Chloe shot up, shielding me.

“Absolutely not—quit forcing them together!”

But the rest of the group refused to back down.

“Rules are rules.”

“Can’t do the dare? Then drink.”

Chloe rolled her eyes so hard it hurt.

“Are you kidding? Mila’s severely alcohol intolerant!”

“Pick something else, Jesus.”

A thick, awkward silence blanketed the table.

I thought they were just annoyed.

Then a voice cut through the tension—cool, deep, and unmistakable.

“I’ll drink for her.”

I froze.

Before I could turn around, Chloe gasped and bolted upright.

“Soren? What on earth are you doing here?”