Page 60 of The Jock
“What kind is it?” Colby had never bought someone perfume before. It felt personal, but in a good way. It was something Milo could wear all the time. Colby liked the idea of his gift lingering on the pulse points of Milo’s wrists and the curve of his neck.
Even more than that, he liked the idea of burying his face in that curve and knowing Milo thought of him whenever he put it on. Colby coughed and turned his attention to the rows of bottles.
Taylor walked slowly down the aisle, reading the bottles until he came to one that was shaped like an orb, topped with a dragonfly, and full of a liquid that was paler than apple juice.
“This one. Milo said it was his favorite.” Taylor plucked the tester off the shelf and sprayed it into the air. Colby gave the air a tentative sniff.
“It’s fruity and…soft?” Colby furrowed his brow. “I’m bad at what things are supposed to smell like, but I don’t hate it.”
“It’s citrus and amber, and then something floral.” Taylor put the tester back and grabbed the biggest bottle he could find and thrust it into Colby’s grasp.
“Isn’t it cheating? Me asking you for help? It’s not like I thought to ask what his favorite perfume is. Heck, I didn’t even know he liked perfume.”
“It’s not cheating. It’s being thoughtful. You cared enough about him to want to surprise him and you didn’t want to buy something he’d have to pretend to like. Who cares where you got the knowledge.”
Colby looked at the perfume and decided Taylor was right. It shouldn’t matter why he knew what to buy, only that he cared enough to find out. “Where do I pay for this?”
Taylor grinned at him. “I knew you’d see it my way.” He tried to drape an arm around Colby’s shoulders, but he’d always been just short enough to make it awkward.
“You’d be tall enough if you wore heels,” Colby offered.
“I’d break my ankles.”
“Ask Milo to show you how to walk in them.” Colby followed Taylor’s lead up to the cash register and they waited in line behind a gaggle of teenage girls who looked like they’d been in a glitter fight.
“He’s busy. I don’t want to monopolize his time. Besides, I’m sure he has better things to do.”
The group of girls paid for their purchase. A few of them lingered around, glancing back at Taylor and whispering. He paid them no attention, but Colby was pretty sure they thought he was cute. Once their friend paid, they hurried away, but not without throwing a few more looks at Taylor.
“Actually, I think you’re wrong. Milo sort of had an epiphany after helping you, and he’s going to start volunteering at the shelters. Helping people look good for job interviews and stuff. That sort of thing.”
Colby damn near burst with pride as he filled Taylor in on Milo’s plans.
“You think he wouldn’t mind?” Taylor asked as they left the store. Instead of heading back toward the exit, Colby steered them deeper into the building, despite his intense desire to flee the premises.
“I know he won’t mind.”
Taylor looked around as if he realized they weren’t leaving the mall.“Where are we going?”
Colby stopped and turned to face him. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you have two pairs of shoes and neither has a heel.”
Taylor stared at him, obviously confused.
“In order to learn to walk in heels, you’re going to need a pair, right?”
Two hours and seven stores later, they finally left the mall. Colby with a bottle of perfume and a scarf he thought would look pretty with Milo’s eyes. And Taylor with a single pair of shoes.
Colby climbed into his car and leaned back in the driver’s seat, closing his eyes. “I had no idea what I was in for when I said we could find you a pair of shoes.”
“Yeah,” Taylor’s voice was small. “It can be hard to find sizes big enough, and I’m not even all that big of a guy.”
“The next time you need shoes, take Milo.” Colby laughed. “I love you, Taylor, but never again.”
“Thanks for coming this time. It meant a lot. Even if you did whine the whole time.”
“I didn’t whine thewholetime,” Colby protested. “Just some of the time.”
“You were great.”
