A week later, I threw a little get-together at my place. Casual invite, nothing fancy. I made sure to include his friends in the guest list.
He didn’t stay confused for long.
The room was decorated with black and gold balloons. A glittery banner hung across the wall, reading:
“Congrats on Going Bald!”
A cake sat in the center of the room. Frosted carefully in white and gold, it read:
“Manifesting It Early!”
His jaw hit the floor.
“You think this is funny?!” he snapped.
I smiled. “Didn’t you?”
Sometimes Liberation Wears Glitter
Most people left within the hour, but one of Ryan’s friends, Zach, stayed behind.
He handed me a drink and said, “That was the best comeback I’ve seen in a long time.”
Then he paused, met my eyes, and added, “For what it’s worth… I always thought you deserved better.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Better than a fake career celebration followed by gaslighting and ego?”
He grinned. “Better than a guy who makes a joke out of the things that matter to you most.”
Before he left, he asked me out.
I said, “Only if you promise not to fake-celebrate my career—or my hairline.”
