“Uh… Okay. What is that?”
“Another way to manifest your desires. I’ve read about them. They’re for people who live in tiny homes and have no space for vision boards. You have the space, but your vision board is worthless. So I say a vision object will work better. Since you want to get married, you should get something that symbolizes matrimony.”
Ivy purses her lips. “Like a wedding dress?”
Yuna nods. “Or a ring.”
“Isn’t that kind of extreme?” I ask, wary.
“No, because you’re trying to have a physical representation of your future.” Yuna taps the rim of her glass. “The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Let’s say you see a ring so beautiful and perfect, it calls to you and makes you go, ‘Oh my God, this is it.’ Imagine how much that feeling of excitement will stay with you when you wear it on your finger as a constant reminder of the future you deserve.”
I cock an eyebrow. “So all the single guys will assume I’m married.”
“Annnd any guy who approaches you will probably be a cheating jerk. Or someone trying to break up your ‘marriage.’” Ivy shrugs helplessly. “Kind of counter-productive.”
Yuna blinks, seemingly nonplussed for once. “All right, fine. Get a super pretty chain and put the ring around your neck. Then you can look at it as often as needed, but most importantly, you’ll constantly feel it against your bare skin. Every time it happens, you manifest the qualities you want in your perfect husband. And the universe will give you the man of your dreams and he’ll propose to you with a ring just like your vision ring—or better.”
“I don’t know.” Yuna’s idea is pretty wild as manifesting goes. And insanely expensive. “A ring is way more than a simple vision board.”
Yuna scoffs. “Don’t settle because you’re afraid you can’t afford it. Remember, you are going to spend the rest of your life with this man. You deserve the best.”
The words sink in, and I let my mind process. Maybe I wasn’t getting the best men because I was afraid and uncertain after the pain of Noah’s callous treatment. He’s never apologized for not showing up for the bakery opening, and it’s possible that subconsciously I haven’t been able to bring myself to be brave and embrace all the possibilities like when I started Bobbi’s Sweet Things.
“If I didn’t have to go see Jin,” Yuna says, referring to her brother, “I’d totally take you to Peery Diamonds right now.” She reaches into her purse and pulls out a black AmEx. “Here. Take this and go get yourself the perfect husband. My treat.”
Chapter Twelve
Noah
After my brothers leave, I shove another Danish into my mouth. It isn’t as good as the ones Bobbi makes, but it’ll do.
I chew contemplatively and look at Marilyn smiling at me from the wall. She’s hot in the picture, but not as hot as Bobbi. I pull up the security feed again and watch her. The heated, resolute expression on Bobbi’s face as she flips me the bird…
As I gaze at her, the world seems brighter and more colorful. My heart beats with more vigor. Guys have a name for this:one-itis. And probably a lot of them would say that sex with another woman would fix it, but they’d be wrong. If that’s what was needed, it would’ve already happened. But the plain fact is, I’m not really interested in other women anymore, and Bobbi already feels like a necessary fixture in my life.
I don’t want to experience that weird apathy again—the odd ennui that made me not care whether I lived or died on that plane. It wasn’t until Bobbi flashed through my mind that there really seemed to be a reason to keep on living.
Since coming clean is out of the question, I’ll need to use flowers and jewelry. Grant and Sebastian are correct about that. After all, their wives haven’t left them yet.
Okay, decision made.I hop in the car and take a leisurely drive down to the Peery Diamonds flagship store in Los Angeles. Headed by my sister-in-law Lucie, it’s full of exceptional items. But most importantly, whatever I do here won’t end up in Sebastian’s ear. If I purchase anything at Sebastian Jewelry, my brother will not only hear about it, he’ll start a fraternal group-text just to give me shit.
My brothers can group-text to admire me later—after I smooth things out with Bobbi.
I cross Peery’s pale champagne floor. Crown-shaped chandeliers glow over my head, and the speakers emit gently flowing notes from Debussy’s Arabesque Number One. My eyes sweep across spotless glass cases, sparkling gemstones laid out on dark navy velvet like stars spilled across moonless night sky.
There are lots of nice pieces, but nothing really captures my attention. A crisply dressed clerk comes over. “Hello, my name is Albert. May I assist you, sir?”
“I need something for an exceptional woman.” I tilt my chin at the displays. “I’m not seeing anything that really grabs me.”
His smile grows broader as he slowly blinks. Guess every guy who comes here says, “I’m looking for something for an exceptional woman.”
Now that I think about it, they probably all do.When did I become such a cliché?I think with disgust. I can do better.
“Perhaps some direction, sir, as to the character of the lady in question?”
“Right. Okay, she works with her hands a lot, so maybe a necklace. Not anything delicate.” Bobbi’s a woman of strength and resolute will.And sassy, I think with a grin at the memory of her on the security camera. “Fiery. Strong. But she’s also a dreamer. And she doesn’t just dream, she turns things into reality.”
Albert nods with a smile as polished as the diamond in front of me. “Would you like to look at our catalogue, then?”
