I looked at myself in the mirror and forced a smile.

You can do this Karishma.

You have to.

  This is your best friend's surprise engagement party. Put yourself together. Be happy and if can't then fake it.

  Iris has been my best friend for years, tonight is her night. After avoiding marriage for so long the couple deserves to have this beautiful night together without someone like me feeling sorry for myself.

   I couldn't let anyone see how sad I really am, not even the reason for my sadness.

   He was going to be there. He was on the planning committee and it wasn't something I could avoid but he managed to completely ignore me. He was trying to hurt me, It worked.

   "Bing" I look across the room at my phone that was laying on my bed. I walked over my bed and took a seat then took up the phone.

   'Surprise Party' WhatsApp group popped up. Brandon sent a message saying, "I hope everyone is ready for tonight. Seth, I hope you've finished with the decorations. Ethan, make sure that she comes out of that office of hers in the dress that I gave you. Also, she needs to believe that she's meeting with an important client, whatever his/her name is, take care of it. Karishma, the cake, the flowers, remember to text her and tell her about your vacation and you. She needs her best friend here for this."

  I need exactly why Brandon said that. He knew how hard it was for me to be around Seth.

    I quickly typed in the phone, "Already collected the cake and the flowers. I'll text her when she's close to finishing getting ready. I'll be there, my flight doesn't leave until tomorrow morning."

  Ethan responded by saying, "She's in her office getting ready now."

   Brandon, "Wait, you're really going on vacation? I thought that was all apart of the plan to get her to 'Le Passion Rouge'"

   "It was but I realize I need to get out of New York for a few weeks, so why not?" Me leaving New York was a last minute decision I made earlier today at work. I realized that I no longer enjoyed the job I once loved so much, maybe I needed some time away from it all. I hadn't had a vacation in a while so the Bahamas tomorrow would be a perfect relaxation and get away trip.

  "Oh, well. Safe Flight when the time comes. I'll see you in a few."

"Thanks," I said replying to Brandon's message.

   I stood from my bed, this is going to be a long night. I walked out of my bedroom and into the living room.

    I walked over to the small storage room in the corner and took out the portable dog crate. Since I was going to be away for two weeks I decided to let my parents petsit Rojo and her puppies. I bent down on my knees and started looking for the little ones. They had a tendency to hide under the couch whenever they saw the crate some out of the storage room, which was the time I brought them to the park. Normally I had to bring out the bag of treats to get them to come out but I ran out of treats yesterday so I'll just use smiles.

  "Come, babies," I make kissy noises which were usually effective since it had high decibels. "Come to mama." I make some more kissy sounds while looking under the couch. They slowly walked over to me. I smiled and grab them up before they had a chance to escape. I quickly place them in the crate and close the door. Rojo is well behaved so she drives in the car with me and doesn't need a crate.

  I stood up from the ground and dust off my dress.

   "Rojo, let's go." I said as I took up the crate. Rojo listened and came to stand beside me wagging her tail. I smile. She thinks we're going to the park, her favourite place.

I grabbed my keys off the rack, ready to leave and face reality.

    The door to my childhood home opened, showing my father's thirty-two. He pulled me into a crushing hug.

"It's been so long since I've seen you" he exclaimed pulling away.

I smiled even though It really hasn't been that long. "I miss you too, Dad."

   He pats my shoulder, "Come, come in." he takes the crate from me and started to a walk towards the living room. "You mother is upstairs. She'll be down in a few." he places the crate the sofa and took a seat. Rojo was accustomed to my parents home so she went about her business as soon as I came to the house. My father bent and popped the crate open and the puppies quickly rushed out.

   He folds his hand and sat up looking at me smiling. "Gideon told me you're the queen of the court."

"Barely," I whispered.

He smiles, "You don't take credit for things, just like your mom."

  "Just like me?" My mom asked curiously as she walked into the room. She came towards me, I stand and hugged her.

  "Hey, baby," she said as she kisses my cheek and walked over to where my father is, taking a seat beside him.

  "Now tell me exactly how you are like me," she said with a grin.

  "She doesn't take credit for the great things she does." my father said smiling at her. My heart swells at the sight. It was my first time really observing and seeing the love they had for each other. I always knew they love each other but seeing the way they looked in each other eyes made me see just how much.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

I lifted my head to my parents, "What do you mean?"

"You're crying, sweety" my father answered.

I lifted my hands to my eyes and I felt the tears. I forced a smile, "It's nothing. I'm okay."

  "No, you're not." she stood from her position and walked over to me. She bent on her knees. "Hey, it's your mommy talking. Tell me what's wrong." her words caused me to start crying a little more, the last time she said anything like that was before I hit puberty. She pulled me into a hug and rubbed my hair. "It's okay, everything is okay."

  "It's a man, isn't it?" my father said causing my mom to pull away and giving him the look. She looked at back at me for confirmation, I didn't answer so she took it as a yes. She pulled me back in a hug, "It's okay. You'll get over him, there so many other wonderful guys in the world."

"I don't think it's the time for you to be telling about other guys," my father said causing me to laugh a little. "Tell me his name and I'll go deal with him. Is it that Richard guy?"

Pulling away from the hug my mother answered, "No! She broke up with that jerk a year ago."

"Oh, so who's this new guy? What's his name? Does he work at the firm? Does Gideon know him? I'll give him a proper beating for you, if not I'll find out who his doctor is and let them deal with him."

I laughed a little and wiped my eyes, "I'm the one who deserves the beating, dad."

He frowned, raising his brows. "You cheated on him?"

"Of course not!"

"Then what did you do?" my mother prompt.

"He told me he loved me and I didn't respond and then he caught me looking through his stuff," I said feeling ashamed of myself.

My father shook his head, "I don't know which is worse, the fact that you didn't response or the fact that you were searching through the man's things."

"Nathanial!"

   He raised his hand then shook his head. "I'm disappointed." he stood from his seat, "I'll let your mother deal with this one."

  My mother rolled her eyes as he leaves. "Now tell me, Was he the guy that was making you smile? Why didn't you tell him you loved him back? Do you love him? Why were you searching through the man things?"

"Mom! One at a time."

"Okay, why didn't you respond?"

"I was shocked. I didn't expect it. I was going to tell him when we woke up but he saw me looking at his files."

"He's a lawyer?"

I nod, "Yea. We were working on the same case but different sides."

She frowned, "He's a prosecutor?" I nod and she gasped, "That's deep waters, Kari."

"I know"

"And yet you still jumped in."

I looked into my mother's eyes, "He is nice. He isn't like the others. He has the player persona but he isn't and he is fun to be around."

"And you fell for him." I nod. "He doesn't want to talk to you does he?" I shook my head, "Is that why you're crying?" I nod. "Is the case finished or ongoing?"

"We had the last hearing last week."

She sighed, "Have you tried to reach out to him?"

I shook my head. I wanted to reach out to him, text him but he had block number. It didn't make sense when the messages wouldn't go through. "He blocked me."

"Wow." she gave me a sad look, "I think you've lost this one."

A tear dropped from my eyes, "I think so too."

"It's okay, baby. The first love is the hardest." she lifted her hands and wiped my tears. She offered a small smile, "You look beautiful, where are you heading off to?"

I try to smile, "Bradon is planning a surprise engagement party for Iris."

She laughed, "Finally, they've been together for what eight years?"

"Five," I said through a peal of small laughter.

"Long enough." I nod. "You've ruined your makeup, come with me. I'll fix it for you."

   I raised my brows at her but didn't say anything. We stood up from our position and started to walk towards the stairs. We stopped at a small storeroom that we never really used as a family. When she opened the door my eyes widen. I turn to look at my mother shocked.

"I know, honey, I know."

"When did you become a makeup queen?"

She shrugs, "Sometimes I want to feel beautiful."

"You are beautiful."

"That's what your father says, he doesn't like me putting too much on." she took out a chair from the room and instructed me to sit.

"You don't need makeup, mom. You're beautiful just the way you are. Maybe you should just give me all those Mac, Fenty and Kylie that you have. I said smiling.

She laughs, "Good one but no. I love Fenty. I'd trade your father for Fenty."

I laugh, "I'd trade Josh for Fenty."

She laughs, "I'd trade Josh for a McDonalds."

I laughed at her joke. Josh is a mommy's boy. She would never say something like that with him close by.

"It's good to see you smiling again."

"It's good to smile again," I said with a smile.

Even if it's temporary.