Your cock is beautiful – 40

She linked her arm with Pauline’s and walked back towards the other section.

It was amazing how quickly she got comfortable with people. I’d seen Pauline a few times a week for months and didn’t have this good of a bond with her. Maybe I was just that awkward… or she was just that cool.

The next hour and a half were sort of a nightmare. Because she’d helped me, Stella guilted me into staying with her while she did some shopping herself, she and Pauline asking my opinion “as a man” on every single thing Stella tried on, as if I cared what my sister dressed like.

Then they pressured me into trying on some clothes myself. I mean, yeah, maybe most of my clothes didn’t really fit anymore, so I only had like a few t-shirts and pairs of jeans that I rotated around, but trying on clothes was somehow even more boring than watching someone else do it.

And their constant comments, and occasional wolf whistles when I tried on something that apparently suited me weren’t really helping my mood either.

“See, I think this one really shows off his shoulders.” Stella said when I came out wearing a light blue shirt.

She walked up and brushed off my chest with her hand, staring at the fabric as if trying to find some secret it was hiding.

Pauline nodded.

“Yeah, it’s really sexy on him.” She agreed with a serious tone.

“This is really inappropriate workplace conduct.” I joked quietly, trying not to blush at her frank appraisal.

“Suck it up, you don’t work here anymore.” she laughed.

Then Stella piled another few shirts and pairs of pants into my arms and pushed me back towards the dressing room.

As annoying as parts of it were, it was actually pretty fun. I’d really missed doing stupid things like this with Stella, and some of the clothes did look pretty good on me, in an average sort of way.

After another hour or so, I had a few more things to add to the rotation that weren’t basically coming apart at the seams, unlike some of my other clothes, and of course a brand new jacket for Mia.

Stella had managed to wrangle the “Friends and Family” discount out of Pauline, partly because I used to work there, but mostly because she was just so likable.

After promising to come back soon to see Pauline, Stella and I got some ice cream together.

“So…” she said a few seconds after we’d sat down, “This thing with Mia.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes.

“It is what it is.” I said, “That’s all.”

“Mm hmm.” she said, clearly not believing me, “So are you going to get her some chocolates too, lover boy?”

“She got me this.” I explained desperately, holding up the watch, “Look at this thing, it probably cost a fortune. I can’t just not get her something.”

“Oh, so it’s just an obligation thing, Oookay.” she said, winking at me. “I guess a card and chocolates would’ve almost made too much sense then. Something personal and unique is way better for an obligation present.”

I just sighed at the sarcasm dripping from her voice.

“Whatever, think what you want. It’s a gift, but it’s not like a… Valentine’s gift, you know? It’s just… just a jacket.”

“Whatever Romeo.” she said, before taking a long lick of her ice cream. “Why does it matter anyway? Why can’t you just be her boyfriend? You like her, right?”

I flinched at the blunt statement. It actually stung, how casually she put things.

I frowned at my ice cream, not meeting her eye. Had she really forgotten how bad things had been?

“And it’s pretty obvious she wants more than just sex, so why not go for it?” she said, “I mean, you’re better off having her as a girlfriend before some other dude catches her eye, you know?”

“I don’t want that.” I said, trying to keep my voice even.

“Well why not?” Stella asked, “I’m just saying, you know-“

“I don’t-“

“I think you’re being a little unfair to her too, honestly. I think she’s like, into you, and leading her on like this-“

“Stella!” I hissed, “Mia is the fucking last girl I would ever want as a girlfriend, understand?”

She stopped talking, and her eyes widened.

“Oh… I… I mean…” she stuttered, seeming to realize she’d offended me, “I know things were always… tense between the two of you… but…”

I glared at her as she trailed off, trying to hold my anger back. Fucking tense? There was overlooking things for the sake of a friend, and then there was just plain willful ignorance. If she knew half of the things Mia had put me through… she’d…

She’d what? Never speak to her again? Choose me?

I doubted it.

I sighed and shook my head. It didn’t matter. I let the bitter feelings fade away from me, replaced by a cold emptiness. This was how it was with Stella… how it always was. When it came to Mia, I had to forget that I even cared about my sister, because she always ended up hurting me like this.

“But, I mean… What is this? Really?” she asked desperately.

I just glared at her. I’d said all I had to say.

She frowned, but seemed to accept that I wasn’t going to move.

“OK fine… I’m sorry, I won’t ask anything else.” Stella said. “It’s none of my business anyway.”

I looked up at her, and forced a small smile.

“Thanks” I said.

I tried to enjoy the rest of our day together, but it was hard to shake the dark bitterness that had spoiled my mood. I hated that I was still so sensitive about this, but… It was bad enough that my sister flat out ignored all the abuse while it was happening, but now she was actually trying to pressure me into being nicer to Mia. Trying to make me date my abuser.

I’d already told her I was more comfortable with things being “casual” between Mia and I, but that didn’t matter to her. Only Mia mattered, and if Mia wanted things to be more serious, which this stupid watch showed that she obviously did, then Stella saw it as her job to make that happen. Even if I didn’t want it, even if it made me uncomfortable.

What Mia wanted was just more important to her.

We drove home in almost silence, our conversation feeling stifled and awkward. I wanted to go up to my room as soon as we got home, but she stopped me, grabbing my shoulder.

“Hey, I’m really sorry about what happened before.” she said, “I don’t… I don’t know how things are between the two of you. I’ve always sort of… tried to keep my distance from that, you know? I just think you should… I don’t know, consider it. The girlfriend thing. She really likes you.”

I scowled at her and walked away. Why didn’t she get it? Why couldn’t she see that constantly making Mia her top priority was the main reason we’d barely been friends for years?

I just wanted to stay in my room and avoid her for the rest of the night. I knew something like this was going to happen when she found out, I just knew it. Mia I could handle just the two of us. It could be stable, manageable. With Stella in the mix, things were going to get… complicated.