I felt suffocated by the salon cape draped around my neck as I sat in the chair, looking into the mirror and turning my head from side to side—admiring the new me. Smiling about the new look and feeling like a different woman, my head also felt about twenty pounds lighter.

My eyebrows are waxed, tinted, and perfectly shaped to accentuate the coloring and bigness of my eyes.

And my signature long, thick, wavy hair was no longer dangling below my waistline—it was now hanging about six inches below my shoulders. And my blonde roots were no longer beige blonde—the stylist framed my face with light blonde highlights, added some golden blonde tones to some of my locks, and gave my hair a sun-kissed effect by dying some of my other waves with a lighter shade of blonde. It was absolutely gorgeous, and what he had done had me feeling the most beautiful I've ever felt.

Theo walked over, stood beside me, and gazed at me through the mirror, smiling like he was in heaven. "Damn, Desiree. You look absolutely stunning. If I were into women, I'd be jealous of the lucky guy that's about to call you his," he smiled, looking at the man who changed my entire look. "Man. You sure know how to play with a gay man's emotions. Seeing what you did to my best friend has my mind thinking thoughts I never thought could happen. And because of that. I'm contemplating if I should keep Desiree all to myself. Instead of sending her to Colorado so she can run into the arms of another man. But since I know that isn't happening, I need to thank you for your fantastic work."

The stylist winked at Theo and smiled. "You can thank me later over dinner and drinks."

Theo's cheeks instantly reddened, and it made me giggle. "I never thought I'd ever see the day of you blushing."

Theo was so thrown off by the male beautician asking him out—he stood frozen, repeatedly blinking as he soaked in the invitation by my stylist. He was so in la-la land that anything I said, teasing him about his expression, he didn't acknowledge. So, I snapped my fingers in front of his face. "Earth to Theo. Are you there?"

Finally, he looked at me, responding like he was still in shock. "I think I just died and gone to heaven."

I laughed, shoving him. "You can't die yet. At least not until after I leave for Colorado."

The corner of Theo's lip twitched. "Either way, I can't die just yet. I need to be alive for the day when my girl calls to tell me that her man visited the flower shop."

My eyes rolled as I gripped the arms of my chair. "Are we done here?"

He raised his hand, one by one, pointing a finger in the air after listing off what we'd done so far. "Pedicure—check. Manicure—check. Eyebrows waxed and microbladed—check. Legs and bikini line waxed—check, check. Hair is cut, dyed, and styled—check, check, check." Theo looked at the stylist, still eating him with his eyes, then at me, clearing his throat. "We're done here. Now we just need to do a couple more things to complete this mission—after I get this guy's number, of course."

After Theo got what he wanted and paid for the new me, he drove me to the mall, and even though we argued the entire time about what he was doing and how generous he was being, I finally caved and gave in after he refused to take no for an answer. Then, after buying me a whole new wardrobe, he drove me to another store down the road that had me feeling extremely confused.

With my widened eyes on the building, I asked, "Theo? Why are we at the jeweler? I don't need you to buy me new jewelry too!"

He opened the door. "Sure, I do. This place is my final plan to get you your man."

I opened the door. "This? How will jewelry get Kit to break up with his girlfriend for me?"

He chuckled as he walked around the car, his hand resting on my back as he guided me into the jewelry store, immediately walking us over to the glass counter filled with beautiful engagement and wedding rings. My heart beat like I was playing the drums—thumping hard and fast against my chest when I saw his eyes focusing on one massive-sized diamond ring, tapping the glass above it. "Theo? Again, I'm going to ask. Why are we here, and why are you looking at engagement rings?"

Ignoring me, he asked the lady behind the counter to look at one of the rings.

"Theo?"

The lady with salt and pepper hair slid the silver ring filled with keys off her wrist, found the key she needed, unlocked it, then slid the door open and reached inside, pointing to the ring Theo's eyes were focusing on, asking, "This one?"

"That's the one," he happily answered.

Theo removed the ring from the display the elderly woman set on top of the glass, then turned to me, ordering, "Give me your hand."

I maneuvered my hand behind me, not wanting to give him my hand until he told me what he was up to. "No."

"Yes. Please give me your hand. I want to see what the ring looks like on your finger."

I shook my head.

"Desiree. Give me your hand before I embarrass you in front of all these fine people," he smirked, knowing his mischievous smile would get what he wanted. And a smile that said he'll embarrass me more than he has all day if I don't give in and show him my hand. "Fine," I whispered.

With a smile that lit up the room more than it was already, my breathing hitched the second Theo slid the gorgeous ring onto my finger and moved my hand from side to side so the lighting would hit the diamond just right for us to see how it sparkled. He looked at the lady, saying, "I'll take it."

My eyes immediately grew large, shouting, "Theo! You can't buy me this! And I refuse to accept this! It's eight thousand dollars, and we're not engaged!"

"Do you want Kit?"

"Yes."

"Then shut your pie hole. I want you to smile and accept that I just bought you an amazing engagement ring that you'll be flaunting around your hometown to make someone jealous and realize he wants you. So, like I said earlier—grin and bear it, woman."

My eyes blinked a couple of times. I didn't know what to say without losing my mind and embarrassing myself in front of everyone. With Theo's eyes glued to mine, I swallowed before saying, "It's over eight thousand dollars," I whispered.

He shrugged. "So? You know I have the money. Eight thousand dollars?" he shrugged again. "That's chump change," he said like it was no big deal. "You're worth every penny to see you smile after getting what you want. Of course, this doesn't mean we're engaged. It's just a small token from me to you for being the friend that you are to me."

Small? Is he nuts?

"You call this small?" I raised my hand, flashing the massive rock he insisted on buying me. "If this was what you wanted to do to get Kit to break up with his girlfriend for me, then all we had to do was go to a place like Walmart and buy a cheap zirconia diamond ring that cost like five or ten bucks. Not something that costs this much!" I whispered much louder, trying to get my point across his thick, crazy head.

"If you want it to look believable, then do as I said and shut your pie hole." His hands gripped my shoulders. "You made me get something permanently inked into my skin today after you knew it was something I never wanted to do. The least you can do is to at least pretend to wear this rock proudly on your finger, making everyone think you scored a hunk," he grinned.

"Sir? Am I ringing that ring up? If not. I'll need her to remove the ring and hand it back to me."

Theo's brow arched high as he looked at me, waiting to see if I'd reject the ring again. When I said nothing, he nodded. "Yes. Ring it up, please." He side-smirked. "Trust me, Desiree. You won't be disappointed, and this will not backfire on us. I may be gay, but I'm not stupid. I'm still a guy, and I know by Kit seeing that ring on your finger, it'll light a fire under his ass. And if he isn't into the girl he's seeing now, he'll get rid of her, and it'll make him want to go behind your brother's back and make you his."

I still don't see how this work. If anything, it'll backfire after he sees the ring on my finger. It'll only make him want the girl he's with now, so much more. "I sure hope you're right. If this doesn't work like you claim it will, then you better be afraid of what I'll do to you when I see you next. Because if you're all bent out of shape of that tattoo on your arm, just think what my hands, fingernails, and fists can do to your face and flawless-looking skin," I said, my lips slowly curving upward after seeing his face fall from my threat.

"Trust me. This. Will. Work," he reassured, removing his wallet from his back pocket and walking over to the lady standing at the register waiting for Theo to pay.

God, I hope you're right. Because if this doesn't work. I'll be heartbroken, and then I'll make sure Theo knows he's the reason behind my shattered heart—not Kit.

***

I ended up staying at Theo's for a couple of days after he beautified me and put a fake yet authentic massive-sized diamond engagement ring on my finger, where we went over the plan to get Kit to break up with his girlfriend for me. I have to admit; I feel a bit guilty about what I'll be doing to get the guy I've wanted for years. But there's also a part of me saying there's nothing wrong with a little white lie to get what I want.

But it's so deceiving...

And so unlike me.

"What if Kit falls for this charade you came up with, breaks up with his girl because of me, giving me what I want, then lets me go after finding out I lied about being engaged just to make him mine? I'd be so devastated! And Dante would really be upset with me for deceiving his friend!"

Theo's arm wrapped around my shoulder, securing me against him. "It's like the tattoo you had us inked with. C'est la vie. You said it yourself. That's life. This is life; sometimes, we have to do crazy and unimaginable things to get what we want. Your heart wants what it wants, right? And if your heart is telling you Kit is the one destined for you, then that means you must do everything in your power to make that happen, no matter the circumstances. You never know. Once you get home and finally see this guy, Kit, maybe you'll see that he's changed. Maybe, just maybe, he isn't exactly who you thought he was. It's been eight years, Desiree. Anything and everything with him could have changed, and you may not like who he's become, causing you to change your mind about going after him." He lifted my hand, showing me the dazzling diamond on my finger. "And this here? Will have served its purpose. Because it's not just a little white lie you're walking around with, it's also there to help protect your heart."

God, this man is just too sweet.

I lowered my head to his shoulder and smiled. "How did I get so lucky to earn your friendship?"

His arm tightened around me, and he kissed my head. "You're not the lucky one. I am."

I guess we're both lucky.

I tilted my head back to look at him. "Have you decided if you're coming to Colorado with me?"

"Before this scheme of ours came about, I promised my family that I'd be home for Christmas. So I can't drive with you. But I promise to make an appearance on New Year's Eve. Sound good?"

"Your scheme," I corrected, "not mine, not ours. Yours." I wanted to make that clear in case his plan blows up in our faces, and he wonders why I hate him. "But New Year's Eve will work out perfectly since there's always a huge party the town throws for New Year's. And I'd love it if you were there. Plus, it will help everyone who knows me put a face to the person who pretended to make me an engaged woman."

Amused by my words, he chuckled. "Theo's plans always work," he said confidently. "And I can't wait to see you and him in a week. Just thinking about finally getting to meet this guy has me drooling and making a mess out of my pants."

Oh my God...

Embarrassed, I pushed myself away from him and stood. "You're terrible. You know that?" He laughed. "Sick. That's what you are. You're sick..." I spun around, pointing at him. "He's mine. Not yours. Mine," I added, my hand flying to my chest. "You've got Cal now. Remember?"

He bellowed a laugh that came directly from the pit of his gut. "I'm kidding, Desiree. Calm down, woman. I only wanted to see how rattled I could get you." He grinned. "And it worked..."

I glanced at the time, then clapped my hands together. "Anyway. If I want to surprise my father and Dante for Christmas, I better get going. I'm already an hour past schedule."

Theo and I hugged, said our goodbyes, and as he stood in the driveway watching me drive away, I stuck my arm out the window and waved one last goodbye.

Halfway into Utah, my legs were starting to cramp up, and my stomach was growing angrier with me by the second, cussing me out for starving it. So, when I saw I was nearing a souvenir store attached to a bar and grill, and gas station, I stopped to get fuel, stretch, eat, and walk around the store to see what kind of interesting souvenirs I could find. And to give my legs more exercise before they stay locked in one spot for the remainder of my drive.

"Can I get you anything else?" the young waitress, who looked like she had just gotten out of bed, asked.

I shook my head. "No, thanks. Just the bill, please."

She reached into her apron, removed my receipt from her little black book, then set it on the table, faced down. "You can either pay me or at the register over there," she pointed.

"Thank you," I said, my eyes shooting up over her shoulder and at the TV after hearing the weather guy say there was a blizzard moving in and how they were expecting a couple of feet of snow.

Great. Just what I needed. A snowstorm to drive through. Something I haven't done in years.

Come to think of it. I don't think I ever have. Dante was always driving me around whenever I needed to go somewhere anytime it snowed because I was too afraid to.

With my eyes intently on the TV, watching the path of the storm, and realizing it was where I was headed, I snatched the receipt, shouting, "Miss! I need to pay my bill," as my waitress walked past.

When I got in my vehicle and saw I had missed a call and a text from Theo warning me about the snowstorm and to drive carefully, I immediately returned his call.

"Where you at?" Theo worriedly answered instead of answering hello.

"I'm in Utah."

"You're heading into a storm, Desiree. You might want to consider staying in a hotel or a motel, depending on where you are for the night. Just until the storm passes. If anything, tell me where you are, and I'll call and have a room set up for you. My treat."

He's done so much for me already. I can't have him rent me a room for the night. "You don't have to do that for me. Besides, my vehicle is an all-wheel drive. So if I drive carefully, I should be okay." I hope.

"Desiree? When was the last time you drove in the snow? Let alone a snowstorm?"

A loud, heavy sigh escaped my lips, truthfully saying, "Never. But I know if I put my mind to it and drive without letting anything distract me. I'll be fine. I need to learn to drive in the shit anyway if I plan on staying in Colorado, right?"

"Desiree—"

"I'll be fine," I assured, cutting Theo off. "If it becomes too much for me and I fear my safety, I'll find a place to pull over and crash until it's safe to drive again. Okay?"

"Promise?" he sighed, not sounding thrilled with my decision to continue driving.

"I promise."

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!! 🤞🤞