"I said, can you play-" 

"You better not finish that sentence, or I will beat you, Dean." 

Dean gave Caden his best puppy dog eyes, trying to seem harmless. He knew that his best friend would beat him for this, but it is worth the risk. Plus, he would rather face Caden's fury than his mother's craziness. 

Caden rolled his eyes at Dean's puppy dog ones' before turning and picking up the spatula he dropped. He threw the spatula in the sink before taking out another one to get back to cooking. 

"Get out of the kitchen." 

Dean pouted, "But-" 

"Get out and sit down at the table; I wasn't asking!" Caden ordered. His voice sounded dangerous and deep. The only time Caden’s voice sounded male was when he would yell, but Caden was not the type to unless someone commented about his appearance. 

Dean straightens up before quickly making his way to the dining table, taking a seat as he waited for Caden and the food to come. 

He sighed, hitting his head on the table, wondering how he could convince Caden to do this for him. They already knew each other, lived together, and Caden had feminine looks, so it was perfect. 

The only tricky part was getting Caden to agree because the man hated reminders on how he did not look manly, and wearing woman clothes will only make his feelings worse. 

Dean felt like it would not have ended up like this if he were dating someone. He has never been with anyone, making his mother work hard by trying to get him set up with someone. But, Dean knew no one would want to be with him. 

Dean had a bowl-cut hairstyle that he half-dyed white and black. He pierced his ear with a teddy bear earring hanging from it (it took attention away from his hidden piercing). He had a muscular, lean body that people would watch when he hit the gym and picked his shirt up to wipe off his sweat. 

His looks were soft as he had downward-turned lips, a dainty nose, and downturned eyes. 

Dean's looks were never the problem. The real problem was that he had desires that others would call him a pervert for it. So, he stayed single. Which he is now regretting because if he didn't, his mother would have left him alone a long time ago. 

Groaning, Dean hit his head on the table again. 

In the kitchen, Caden was trying to keep his anger in check. He did not understand why Dean would ask him this when he knew that Caden could not stand getting reminded that his frame and looks were far from manly. 

And now, he expects Caden to agree to wear female clothes and act like some wife? He would instead jump off a bridge than do that. 

Caden cursed his parents. Not only were they terrible people, but they also gave him these genes that he indeed hates. 

He bit his bottom lip as his expression would not clear from fury. Caden took a deep breath before turning off the stove as he finished cooking. He grabbed two plates, filling them with eggs, bacon, and a fruit salad. Then he took two bowls and filled them with cinnamon oatmeal that had pieces of peaches in it. 

Once he finished, he put the dishes he used in the sink, cleaned off his mess, and picked up the food, making his way to the dining table. Caden tried to pretend that he did not look like some waiter. 

When he set the food on the table, Dean popped his head up, looking at it with a smile. "Thank you, Caden; you are the best." Dean smiled hard; his dimples were poking out. 

Caden snorted, "Flattery will get you nowhere." 

Dean gave him a sheepish look as Caden walked back to the kitchen to get the water bottles. When he returned, he saw that Dean was waiting for him to sit and eat, so he could start eating. 

Once Caden took a seat, putting the water bottles down before digging into his food, Dean looked at him for a second before doing the same.  

It was silent as they ate. Tension filled the area that not even a knife could cut it. Dean's hands were trembling a bit at the high pressure before finally speaking, "Caden, I am sorry. I do not want you mad at me; I hate when you are angry with me." 

Caden sighed, setting his fork down before running his hands through his messy hair. "Dean, you cannot ask me to play as your wife and expect me not to get mad." 

Dean put his fork down before leaning back to play with his fingers, "I know, but I need this. How many times do I ask for a favor?" 

"All the time," Caden quickly answered before continuing, "why do you need this?" 

"My mother wants to marry me off." 

"And you cannot tell her no?" 

"No, I tried. My mother wants this and will do anything to get it. So I could not help but say I have married already." 

Caden sighed once again, "Why can't you find some girl to do this for you?" 

Dean straightened up in his seat as he stared at Caden, "Because I said I have been married for three years. And Caden, you know me so well. Can you please do this for me?" 

Caden looked cross before glancing away while closing his eyes like he was counting down. After a minute, he finally spoke with a hoarse voice, "And if I don't help you?" 

"Then, I would end up married to someone I don't like." 

Caden wanted to hit himself because he cannot believe that he was going to agree to this. No one can say that he never did anything for his friends because at this moment, he was going to do something he hated to save his best friend from a lifeless marriage. 

He took a long exhale before answering, "Okay." 

Dean popped up with joy like a puppy whose owner returned home, "Really?" 

Caden can see an imaginary puppy tail wagging behind Dean, "Yes, now sit down and finish eating." 

Dean instantly sat down, happily chewing his food. 

"And Dean," Caden started, causing Dean to look at him, "don't try anything stupid, or you will end up in the hospital." 

Dean nervously chuckled, almost choking on his food as he nodded his head at Caden's warning. He was still happy that the man agreed, now he needed to remember not to do anything stupid, or Caden will kill him. 

Caden and Dean were in Literature class the next day, sitting in the back row as Dean leaned close, trying to hold a silent conversation with Caden. 

He had his phone out, looking at different stores that he and Caden could go to after finishing their classes today. 

"Do you want to go to the mall? It is easier to go to a predominantly female clothing store there than one of those clothing stores that is by itself." Dean whispered, his fingers scrolling through which mall was closest to them (they barely went shopping unless it was for food). 

Caden was writing down notes, half-listening to the professor and Dean. Although, he wanted to ignore Dean because he did not want to have this conversation. "A mall is fine." He quickly answered back as his eyes never left the front. 

Dean looked at Caden, who was tense, and bit his lip. "We don't have to do this. I can find some girl and tell her not to talk unless I give her something to say when we go to meet my mother." 

Caden finally looked at him, "Do not change your mind so quickly; I will do this. I do not want to talk about female clothes at all or even think of them. Go look at jewelry stores; we need to buy some wedding rings." 

"You're right," Dean said. He forgot about the rings. His mother would have instantly seen through his lie if they walked in with no rings on their fingers. And he could not make an excuse of not being able to afford one because he could afford plenty of expensive wedding rings. 

Dean brought his phone to his desk, finally showing that he was not paying attention in class as he looked through different jewelry store websites. 

After a few minutes of searching, Dean was disappointed. 'Maybe it would be better to look at them in person.' He thought. So he moved to look at which jewelry store was close to them and stayed open late. 

Once he found the jewelry store and mall to go to, he wrote down their address and then moved the paper to Caden to view it. 

Caden took one glance at the paper before looking back to the professor. "Okay, my last class ends at 5 p.m." 

"Mine is 5:45 p.m.," Dean answered. 

"We will meet at the school's entrance." 

Dean nodded, finally putting his phone away to give the professor his attention back. 

"Dean," Caden called with a low voice, causing him to look over, "I am driving." Then he stopped talking with Dean, finishing their conversation. 

Dean blushed at that because even though he was the only one with a car out of the two (Caden cannot afford one), he is a terrible driver. 

Maybe he should buy Caden a car as a thank you for helping him out?