With Anna coming over to my house for dinner the day after tomorrow, I want to start things off right. I mean, we are technically engaged now, so it’s time to start acting like it.

Which means, first things first.

The ring.

I asked Anna about what she wanted, but I don’t know shit about engagement rings. I’ve never even come close to proposing to a woman, business contract or not. I consider going to a jewelry store by myself, but hell, I just know I’ll fuck this up if I don’t have backup. In the end I decide to call up a buddy for help.

He answers on the third ring.

“Mason? Hey, man, what’s up? It’s been a while!” Knox Harper says over the line.

I wince. There’s a reason it’s been a while since we talked, of course. “Yeah. It has,” I agree. “But if you can keep it under your hat for a few days, it looks like we’re gonna be teammates.”

“No shit? That’s great, dude!” Knox seems genuinely happy to hear it. “Fuck, I’m finally gonna get to play with the best defensive lineman in the NFL!” He laughs. “Don’t tell my teammates I said that, though!”

Knox is a wide receiver for the Rockets. Has been for a few years now. The two of us go way back, to when we were both still new to the pros. We’ve been through a lot of shit together over the years, though we’ve often been on other sides of the field playing against each other.

Knox is married, and he and his wife Ivy seem happy as hell. So I’m guessing he knows what he’s doing in the husband department. A hell of a lot more than I do, anyway.

“Thanks, man,” I say sincerely. “I’m really ready to be done with my exile out in the wilderness.”

“Yeah, it’s about time,” he agrees, sounding as carefree as usual. “What’s up? You calling to go hang out and celebrate?”

“Uh, not exactly,” I reply. “Actually, I called to ask you for something important. I need your help.”

There’s a short silence, then he goes serious, “Anything, Mason. Just tell me.”

I take a deep breath, and release it in a gust. “I need some help ring shopping,” I blurt out.

There is another silence, this one longer. Then he bursts out laughing.

“Man, you’re actually getting married? Never thought I’d see the day!” He’s still chuckling over the line as he continues. “So, a new team and a new wife, huh? You move fast.”

“It looks that way,” I agree.

“Sure, man, I can definitely help you out. I’m free to go right now, if you want.”

I sigh, closing my eyes for a moment in relief. “Thanks. How about I come pick you up?”

He gives me his address, then we say our goodbyes and hang up.

An hour later, I pull up to Knox’s mansion. When he comes out, he greets me and grabs me in a one armed bro hug, his fist pounding hard on my back until I have to protest.

“Dude, you’re killing me,” I wheeze.

“Sorry, man. Just happy for you!”

I decided on the way over that there’s no way I can tell Knox what’s really going on. Hell, according to the terms of the contract I can’t tell anyone. I mean, I’m sure I can trust Knox, but still, it would be way too easy for him to just accidentally slip up in conversation. One of the things I hadn’t really thought about when the team’s managers dreamed this whole fake fiancée thing up was that I’d have to lie to my friends about it. If anyone finds out about Anna and me, the whole thing will go to hell. I’m gonna have to play this for full effect with everyone, including the team. But Knox is just the first person I’m having to lie to right to his face. It feels kind of shitty, but that’s the way it is.

Knox gives me the address of the jewelry store where he and his wife Ivy picked out their rings. “It’s a nice place, good selection,” he shrugs. “Should do okay for you.”

“Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.” Just having a destination feels like I’m halfway over the hump.

“So,” he says as we drive toward the store. “Do I know the lucky lady? Or get to meet her?”

“You don’t know her,” I reply. “But yeah, you’ll meet her soon. Her name’s Anna.”

I tell him as much as I can about her, even stumbling through a fake ‘how we met’ story that incorporates elements of the truth so I won’t get too tangled up in it. To my relief, after that talk turns to other shit, including the team and my upcoming contract.

We arrive at the jewelry store, and I pull into a parking spot a few doors down. When we push open the door to the place, we’re greeted by a petite clerk with short blond hair.

“Can I help you, gentlemen?” she asks with professional politeness.

I move up to the counter to talk to her while Knox goes around the store.

“Yes, actually. I wanted to look at engagement rings.”

She nods. “Certainly. We have a —”

She’s getting ready to launch into her sales pitch, when Knox’s loud voice suddenly fills the store.

“Hey, dude! Check this one out! It’s totally my style.”

I roll my eyes at the guy’s enthusiasm. He sounds like a little kid! But he’s helping me out, so I go over anyway. The ring he’s pointing to is silver with gold details and shaped like a skull. I frown at it. It does look like the kind of thing he’s into, but we’re here for a freaking engagement ring, not whatever that is.

The clerk comes around to see the ring he’s pointing at.

“That...is an interesting piece. If you gentlemen are looking for matching rings, can I recommend the gold one for your partner?” she says as she smiles at us.

I turn my head to look sharply at Knox, and see the gleam in his eye. As I start to shake my head, he bursts into a fit of laughter.

“Uh, sorry about this clown,” I mutter, “but we’re not actually together.” I shoot him a look. “I wouldn’t be caught dead with an asshole like this.”

The woman looks slightly offended at my vulgar language, but I ignore it. Knox is still chortling as I reach into my back pocket and pull out a picture.

“My fiancée mentioned she wanted something that looks sort of like this,” I say, handing it to her.

It’s a picture of Kate Middleton’s ring, which I found on the internet and printed out.

“Oh, yes,” she nods. “Of course. We do have a couple of options that might suit her tastes.”

She brings me across the store to one of the cases, and points out a row of rings that all have blue stones in them, which she tells me are sapphires.

It’s a classy store, so they don’t have price tags on any of the jewelry. Which probably means they’re all expensive.

“Can I get the prices on these three?” I ask, pointing to the three rings that look the most like the one in the picture I brought.

“Certainly.” She tells me the cost one by one, as she brings them out and sets them on a velvet cloth in front of me. Two of them are way, way too expensive for a fake engagement. The third one’s pricey, but not as bad. Coincidentally, it’s also the one I like the best.

Hopefully, Anna will like it, too.

“I’ll take that one,” I say, pointing.

“That was quick,” the clerk says with a dry laugh. She doesn’t sound like she approves. Oh fucking well.

Knox comes up to me, still chuckling to himself. “See anything you like?”

“Yeah, I’m taking that one.”

“Cool.”

“What size?” the clerk asks.

“What?” I ask.

“What ring size?”

Fuck.

“Uh, I have no idea,” I admit.

The clerk’s look of disapproval only grows. “I see. Well, perhaps you could bring her in, then, and choose the ring together.”

Dammit. I know it’s only a fake engagement, but I was really hoping to surprise her with it.

“No,” I say stubbornly.

Thankfully, Knox comes to the rescue.

“How big are her hands?” he cuts in. “Like, normal?”

I frown. “Yeah. Normal. She’s thin. Her fingers are thin. You know.”

“Size six,” Knox tells the clerk. At my questioning look, he says: “It’s cool. That’s what Ivy wears. Apparently, most chicks are between six and seven. Besides, you can always bring it in to be resized after she accepts. Which of course she will, because you’re Mason fucking Robichaud.”

“Dude,” I say, giving him a fist bump. “You have just fulfilled your role as wing man.”

“What can I say?” he grins. “I know stuff.”

The clerk puts the rings back in the case, then goes into the back to get the one I chose in a size six. I pay for the thing on my credit card, and stuff the fancy box carefully into my front jeans pocket.

The whole way back, I keep checking for it, to make sure it’s still there.

When we get to Knox’s place, he high-fives me before he gets out of the car. “Good luck with Anna, man,” he nods. “And let me know when the ink is dry on your contract!”

For a second, my stomach lurches in alarm. Then I realize he’s talking about the signing contract with the Rockets.

“Will do,” I promise, relief making me a little light-headed. “And thanks again, Knox.”

“Don’t mention it.” He slides out of the seat and gives me a quick wave as he turns to head up the walk to his house.

Alone in the car, I start grinning to myself like an idiot. After months of turning in circles, it feels like my life is finally starting to move forward again.

I have a team.

I have a ring.

Now all that’s left is a proposal.