Page 24 of Back to You

“Uh …”

“I personally like the distressed cotton, it’s so soft. Can I help you look for sizes?”

“No, we’re good,” Michelle said as she came in for the save. “Thanks though.”

“You sure? If we don’t have what you’re looking for on the floor, I’m happy to check the back!”

“We’ll let you know.”

Bethany continued to stand there with her now kind of creepy fake smile. Michelle and Brandon looked at each other in confusion.

“Look, my manager is over there and he’s been up my ass lately about my sales presence. Can I just hang out with you two for a few minutes?”

All of this was said through that same wide smile, which was just disconcerting.

Michelle snorted. “Sure Bethany. Just don’t try to sell us anything else, please. It scares my brother.”

Brandon nodded fervently.

“Uh, okay. Here, what size are you, I’ll check through the rack if you want to go try on those jeans.”

Brandon took the pile of jeans from Michelle and thankfully bolted for the dressing room.

When he came back with the three pairs of jeans he approved of, Michelle and Bethany had apparently become best friends. Unfortunately, as he got closer, he realized they were bonding over his lack of fashion sense.

“How old is that shirt he’s wearing?” Bethany said, adding another top to the alarming pile over her arm.

“I’m pretty sure he’s had it longer than I’ve been married, and that’s been over 10 years.”

“It looks like it’s about to fall off him. Not that I’d object, but it’s not the best look.”

Brandon cleared his throat indignantly.

“Hey, we have a bunch of shirts for you to try,” Michelle said, completely unrepentant at being caught. “Then you can grab socks and underwear.”

“Does he need anything more business casual?” Bethany said hopefully.

“No!” Brandon yelped, grabbing the shirts and returning to the relative safety of the dressing room.

After weeding out the “hell no” colors like lime green and orange, Brandon figured he had enough shirts to get Michelle off his back. He slipped out to grab the underwear and socks, smug now that he’d followed orders.

After they’d paid and waved goodbye to Bethany, they exited the store to Brandon’s relief. Michelle saw the look on his face and laughed.

“You are so dramatic, what the hell?”

“I’ve seen things,” he whispered.

“Okay, that’s enough of that. Back to work with you.”

***

Brandon closed up the shop and headed for home. He had no real plans for the night, and pondered taking himself to dinner. Then decided he couldn’t be bothered. He was tired of feeling like a single man.

He got home and busied himself removing tags and washing his new clothes. He called his parents because it had been a week or so since he’d talked to them, and promised to join them for dinner on Sunday.

He was just settling in on the couch with Barnabus and a book when the door opened. Brandon stared blankly at Ethan, then at the clock.

“Wow, you’re home early.”

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