We walked for a few minutes and every single person we passed greeted us. When the first few people did it, I was so shocked that I didn’t answer in time but then I realized it was a normal thing for them because everyone would stop and say hi and ask if we needed help.
I’m sure they all knew that we were outsiders and it was weird as hell because Nathan would greet back and then I would look like a horrible personso I had to say hi as well.
As soon as we walked in through the doors of a huge store I turned to Nathan, “Why are you so nice here but such an ass to me?”
“I’m not an ass to you,” he stopped me before I could respond, “And while I would love nothing more than to sit here and argue with you, I would like to not be thrown out of a store.”
“You irritating-,”
“Can we help you?” a worker interrupted me mid rant. She was glancing from Nathan to me, with concern.
“Can you show us where your toiletries are?” Nathan asked and she stared at us for a few seconds before nodding.
She gestured for us to follow her and I tried not to let it show how embarrassed I was that she had to see me mid rant. I never lose my composure like that but Nathan is such an asshole and he just knows how to bring out the absolute worst in me.
The girl led us to their toiletry aisle and as I looked at the rows and rows of products, I realized I was in a bit of a pickle. I debated asking Nathan for help but my pride wouldn’t let me. Instead, I watched as he made his choice of body wash and perfume.
“Aren’t you going to pick something?” he asked and I shrugged.
“I’m not picky, just take whatever and let’s leave.”
I tried to make my voice sound as nonchalant as possible but it must not have worked because he stopped and turned to face me. I kept my eyes off him and instead stared at the various bottles of perfume that lined the shelves. I wasn’t really looking at them but I hoped that if I pretended I was then he would ignore me.
“Normally we would go back and forth until I piss you off and you blurt out what it is anyway so why don’t we skip all of that and you just tell me what the problem is.”
“Fuck you Nathan.”
“The more you say it, the more I think you might actually mean it.” He deadpanned, “Look, I know you hate it here and on a normal day you would rather be caught dead than getting your stuff here but you’re all out of options.”
“It’s amusing that you think my biggest problem is where I’m getting my perfume from,” I scoffed, “How fickle do you think I am?”
“Don’t change the subject.”
I debated ignoring him but I realized that I didn’t have a lot of options and although my pride was screaming at me not to admit defeat; defeat was a better option than smelling like a dumpster alley.
“I can’t smell.” I said after a beat of silence.
He stared at me for a second and then blinked once- twice, “What do you mean you can’t smell?”
“I mean exactly what I said. I cannot smell a thing. My olfactory organs do not work. I do not perceive scents. However you want me to say it, I mean the same thing and that is, I cannot smell.”
“Then how do you pick out your body wash or perfumes or air fresheners?”
“Marissa picks out the things for the office and Olivia picks out my personal stuff.”I avoided his gaze as I continued, “No matter how hard I try to inhale, all of them are the same to me. Growing up I was obsessed with smelling nice, maybe it’s the appeal of wanting something I don’t have.”
“Olivia usually goes perfume shopping for me. She can always tell what smells right for me. I don’t want to do it myself, because I’m fairly sure that I’m going to fuck it up and pick something that makes me smell like I haven’t showered in a week.”
He stayed silent for a moment and I wondered if maybe I had over shared. I wondered if I should have kept the last bit of information to myself and simply ended the conversation at ‘I cannot smell’.
Suddenly, Nathan cleared his throat, “Come on.” He pulled me to one of the shelves, “Pick one,”
“What the hell are you doing?”
“We are on a time sensitive schedule sunshine, pick one,”
I stared at him for a second expecting him to say it was a practical joke but the longer I looked, the more I realized he was serious. I sighed in defeat and grabbed a random one then handed it to him.
“This one is a blue; not the light blue, but rather a dark, kind of turbulent blue.”
