Brooke gets him set in proper attire

“Hello, Paul,” Brooke greeted him sternly.

Feeling even more self-conscious under her gaze standing on the pedestal naked, “uhm, hi, Brooke. I’m sorry I was late; I was detained earlier. I promise, it won’t happen again.”

“Paul, your tardiness is hardly my concern for being here. We have a very elite clientele; we understand that they have demanding schedules and, as long as it isn’t habitual, we can often accommodate our clients.”

“Oh”

“No, Paul, the occasional or one off issue, I can work with, but repetitive...” Brooke went on as she walked towards the counter, “repetitive issues I won’t stand for and must be corrected before going forward.”

“Oh”

“Oh?!? That’s all you have to say??”

“I’m... uhm, I’m sorry, Brooke, I’m not sure what you’re getting at.” The adrenaline of the shock of Brooke being here was wearing off and he could feel a haze gripping his head.

Leaning on the counter next to his folded clothes, “Paul, when you first came here, you wanted to try our services and I pointed you at our posted instructions which you ignored. Then my girls had to spend a Saturday fixing what you messed yup.”

“Yes, I really appreciated that...”

“Then we set up a regular schedule and you did good for a while, but you showed up again in inappropriate attire. And we had to give you some temp shoes.”

Paul silently listened to her rant as it was easier than trying to string together words that wouldn’t get her more upset.

“And today.... today you show up in this AGAIN,” grabbing the workout vest, “you know this is going to rub the unset creams and coloring.” Taking a large gift bag out of the cabinet and threw the workout vest into it with a thud.

Paul shifted nervously on the pedestal, worried where this was headed.

Grabbing his shirt, “and this blouse; albeit a lovely blouse, but would be absolutely ruined by the treatment. Hell, if I let you wear this out, you would end up looking like a homeless ditch digger.” Into the bag it went.

Grabbing his half tank, ”and a training, er sports, bra?!? I told you from the VERY beginning no TIGHT clothing. PERIOD.” More going into the bag.

“The skirt and panties are not exactly ideal, but they’ll work,” Brooke points out as she slid them down the counter.

“But they’re not...” Paul was really having a hard time keeping up with her.

“And these socks,” she continued, holding up the pastel green lace hosiery. “Again, very cute, but they will be ruined and screw up your feet.” Into the bag they flew.

“But, the pièce de résistance, Paul,” Brooke said bending down for his boots, “COMBAT boots?!? Really?? A bold choice, but totally inappropriate.”

“Sorry, I was rushing out...”

“Paul, that’s not the worst of it. I am responsible for maintaining the appearance of this facility to ensure the highest of standards continue. Moreover, as a client, you are essentially a walking advertising board of this facility. I can’t possibly let you ruin any of these clothes or make us look bad.”

“I understand, Brooke, I won’t do it again.”

“I don’t think you do, Paul. All you have here are these thong panties and this schoolgirl skirt.”

“Kilt,” Paul managed to eke out an interruption.

“What??”

“Uh, it's not a skirt; it’s a kilt.”

Brooke stared at his incredulousness, “fine. It’s a kilt. I still can’t have you running out of her, barefoot in just a ‘kilt’ like some deranged highlander. I have half a mind to send you out as is.”

With that threat, Paul felt incredibly nervous about his current nude state, and covered up nervously, worried about where this was headed because he could hardly figure out what she was saying.

“But, can’t have us reported as some pervert den with nudists running around.”

Brooke paused for affect which gave Paul enough time to string something together to hope ease things. “So, what can I do to make it right?” Paul asked, trying to figure out where this was going.

Brooke walks over to him and stands just at arm's length while looking directly into his eyes, “you trust me, right, Paul?”

“Well, ya?”

“I’ve tried to be fair & understanding, and everything my staff & I have been working on has been to help you safely get the results you’re looking for with the utmost quality, correct?”

“Yes, you’ve been very good, Brooke, but what’s this about?” Paul was completely lost in his mental haze.

“We do have some garments that we loan out to clientele that are in situations that they’re not necessarily average when working with our services, but they’re very narrow and really only for women in very specific scenarios.”

“K?”

“These garments are good quality and not some cheap spa gown or something. They will work for you with some adjustments, but you must work with us and follow our directions without crossness or arguments if I am going to ask this of my staff.”

Paul was having a real hard time following all of this. His brain was getting really foggy. “um, ya, I guess.”

“Good. And in the future, you will dress appropriate to ensure the quality of the results from my staff’s work will be maintained and you will not ruin things, right?”

“Yes, of course. I’m glad for what all they’ve done.”

“Remember that,” Brooke said as she turned to Teri, “go get Gina from up front and ask her to leave a note for Nancy to come join us; we’ll need her to polish things up.”

Brooke grabbed his kilt & thong and returned back to him, “put these on; some of the girls are still not comfortable with nude clients.”

“Thank you,” Paul said glad to have something to cover up.

Brooke took a deep breath, “don’t thank me yet; we’re just starting.”

Before Paul could ask, Gina stuck her head in, “Nancy should be out in about 10 minutes; did you need something else, ma’am?”

“Yes, Gina, could you go get me a mastectomy bandeau to fit Paul. Probably an XX. And he used up the last of our XL slippers and the new ones haven’t come in. Try to see if we have any slip-ons in the wardrobes.”

“Yes, ma’am. Should I get a sun hat, too?”

“Perfect! Yes! Also, stop my office grab my Jackie O shades.”

“Yes, ma’am, be right back.”

Paul stood by nervously playing with the hem of his kilt trying to figure out what was next.

Turning back to Paul, she said under her breath, “we may still pull this off, yet.”

An alarm from Paul’s phone broke the silence. He padded over to turn off the alert. “Sorry, just a reminder to start dinner, but I guess I’ll be a bit,” he tried to joke, as he pulled up a delivery app to order dinner for them to arrive after he gets back, but before Molly.

Gwen came back in with a broad hat, red ribbon, large spectacles, and some clear shoes.

“Ah, excellent, Gwen! Thank you!”

“You’re welcome, ma’am. Is there anything else?”

“No, thank you; check up front to ensure it's all good,” Brooke said turning to her client.

“Yes, ma’am,” the young lady said as she dashed out.

Brooke pulled the large red ribbon out of the pile that Paul saw and tossed it at him, “put that on first.”

Paul turned the ribbon around and saw a couple of half spheres in it but wasn’t sure what she was after. As he turned it around in his hands, Brooke placed the hat, glasses, and shoes on the counter, before she turned back to the clueless man.

“Give me that she said,” as she took it from him, she turned it around before holding up before him, “put your arms through here.” Seeing his hesitation, she continued, “come on; both of them.”

He put both arms through to his elbows. “Now put your head in,” she kept going. As he bowed his head in, she pulled the strapless top carefully down his arms, and resting it over his chest. “Stand up but keep your arms out.”

Keeping his arms out to the side, he could feel her tugging and pulling it around his ribs until it seemed to be in place. Looking down, he could see the thick red swath going over his chest as he saw two large bumps over his nipples. Brooke reached in behind the bumps and pulled up his chest

Placing the shoes down in front of him, “step into those,” she instructed as she turned back to the hat.

Paul slid his toes into one shoe & then the other and felt a familiar rise between the balls of his feet & ankles, if not quite as **** as his boots.

Nancy came in with her kit as Brooke turned back to him. “You called for me, ma’am?” Nancy called out.

“Yes, I need you to paint his nails to match the top,” Brooke continued as she let the red hair tied under the hat fall loose as she tossed the strands behind his head before placing the wide brim hat on his head.

“Uh, yes, ma’am,” she said pulling a chair over to him as she sat to work on his nails. Pulling out several shades and comparing them against the bandeau, before deciding on a cherry red bottle. “This one should work well, ma’am. I also have some matching lipstick.”

“PERFECT! Thank you,” Brooke said taking the tube before applying to his lips. Paul stood there surprised by the fast movement and quickly moving events as one lady painted his lips as the other made quick work of his short nails. As she finished with his lips, he could feel the wig attached to the hat brush against his bare shoulders and a memory of his session with Molly and Katie passed through his mind; the dress, makeup, all of it.

The door to the room opened announcing Jewel’s entrance breaking Paul out of his flashback. “I finished up with Ms. D, ma’am,” Jewel announced, “figured I’d see how things were going in here.”

“Progressing along. Paul, take a few steps and see how you do.”

“Uh, yes, ma’am,” Paul said taking a few tentative steps.

“Is that really the best you can do? Your boots should be harder than those sandals. Show me that you can walk in them and not look like an oaf so maybe this will work.”

Paul hesitating still trying to process what all is happening through his fuzzy brain when Jewel jumped in, “remember your training; let it flow.”

Brooke turned to Jewel and silently mouthed ‘training?’ Jewel nervously nodded her head. Turning back to the man, they could see an improvement, but he could use refinement. “It’s better, I guess,” Brooke resigned.

“I’m sorry. I’m just not used to doing this without my training aid.” Paul blurted out only realizing what he was revealing as he got near the end and spoke very softly.

“What?” Brooke asked, totally confused. Jewel leaned in and whispered an explanation he shared during their sessions. “Oh,” was her only response as Paul continued pacing and Jewel leaned into Brooke to make a suggestion. Brooke nodded her assent, “if it will help; get the company card and get one from next door.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Jewel excitedly responded as she darted out.

Brooke turned back to the ‘man’ before her and studied up & down his body. The skirt seemed to really clash now, and his exposed toes needed some help too. “Paul, go sit down. Nancy, fix up his toenails; they need a splash.” Going to the door, she opened it up and shouted to the front, “Gina, get me the matching skirt to this top and grab a scarf.” The reply, “yes, ma’am,” could be heard echoing down the hall.

Following the instructions to sit was easier than trying to face where this was going, so Paul sat and let Nancy work on his feet. Paul slowly zoned out and barely recognized the passage of time until the receptionist came bounding back in with a long silk scarf and short red skirt.

“Alright, ten toes all done, ma’am,” Nancy announced causing Paul to suddenly registered he had red nails sticking out from the front of the open toe clear heels.

“Thank you, Nancy. Go check on Ms. D for me and see if she needs anything,” Brooke replied as she quickly wrapped the scarf around Paul’s neck tying a gentle knot in it to hang behind him. As the door closed behind Nancy, Brooke handed him the skirt and said, “that green pattern is clashing too heavily with the rest of the outfit; put this skirt on instead.”

“Oh, uh, yes, ma’am,” Paul said robotically standing up and stepping out of his kilt and slid the skirt up, carefully holding the waistband out from his freshly treated his legs settling it on his slightly pudgy belly. Looking back down, Paul was feeling very self-conscious looking over the bumps on his chest and seeing the loose pleats of the skirt ending well above his knees.

Jewel then came bounding in the door with black plastic bag and a squeeze bottle and slightly panting, “good! I didn’t miss the end.”

“Did you find something appropriate?” Brooke asked cryptically.

“Yes, ma’am, this should help out.”

“Isn’t that one of our body oils?”

“Um, yes, ma’am, he frequently uses the Cherry Berry Delight to help with ummm... adding it in,” Jewel tried to dance around the details.

“Very well. Let’s get her set up.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Jewel excitedly responds as she walks over to Paul and takes one of his wrists to avoid the fresh nails, “come with me; I have something to help,” she says dragging him over to the ensuite restroom.

Paul quickly shuffles behind her feeling the wind whipping around the light skirt sending chills up his back. Barely fitting the large hat in the door, he felt extremely close to Jewel in the confined space.

Jewel then took a deep breath and tried to gently explain, “I noticed you were having problems being comfortable while you were walking, so I mentioned to Brooke about your training aids and she let me go next door to get you one to help, so that’s what I have in this bag. If you’re okay with it, we can... add this to your outfit to help you feel more comfortable in your walk, right? So, you’re okay with this right?”

Paul was still really overwhelmed by all this. She was so excited by all this and wanting to help, he felt compelled to go along and take the offered assistance. “Um, ya, I’m glad you can help.”

“Okay, great! I’m so glad it will help,” she said with a squeal of joy. “Now, I know it may not be what you normally had but I felt it was the least ‘realistic’ out of what they had while not just tiny, but also not huge,” Jewel rambled on as she pulled out a metallic plug out of the black bag. “And bonus! It’ll even match your panties!” turning the base to Paul she showed the green jewel on the end of it.

Paul’s eyes got totally wide, and he didn’t know how he could possibly deal with this right now.

“Oh, no,” Jewel said sounding really disappointed as it looked like he was freaking out, “I’m sorry! I really thought this would help. Just with what you talked about during our sessions it seemed like the type of thing that helped you, but I’m sorry, I guess it just freaked you out. I’m really sorry, what you’re doing is just so neat and I’m sorry...”

“No, no, that’s not it,” Paul tried to assure the young lady who he’s been seeing weekly & relating to her and stop her before she spiraled further out of control. Looking back the plug, “I’ve just never used a metal one before,” Paul tried to come up with a logical reason.

Sniffling back some tears, Jewel queried, “really?”

“Ya, mine were all a silicone material and softer, that just seems... hard.”

“Oh! Trust me! This little thing is fine!” she continued through sniffles. “In fact I used to have one that was pink instead of green, and uh, a little bit bigger. Trust me if you’ve used one before, this will be child’s play. In fact, I even brought you some of the oil you like! I figured it would help ease things for you.”

“Ya, but, I don’t know; this is all seeming like a lot,” he said as he looked down at himself in all this red. A lock of foreign hair fell into his view and caught his attention. His brain being overloaded seem to latch onto this one item in his field of view.

“Oh, trust, we got this. Here, let me help you get it in. I know how unlady like it can be trying to get one in.”

“Uh, no, that’s okay. I uh, I can install it my...”

“Don’t be silly! I’ve already cleaned you out down there, let me help you with this.”

Paul’s head in a panic slammed smack dab back into a fog trying to reason a way out of it as he heard the snap of a latex glove going on Jewel’s hand as she spun him around with the other. Bending him to lean over the toilet, she applied some oil to her glove and gently began inserting.

“Oh God that’s cold,” Paul shouted out at the sudden shock as she sent a couple knuckles deep into him. He quickly felt a tingle envelope his canal again. “You know, Jewel, I really don’t think this is necessary.”

Jewel had already begun rubbing oil over the bulbous head, “oh, don’t be silly, Paul. You yourself told me how much of a performance boost you got out of your training aid. This is just what we have available at the moment, so this is going to help you with this, okay?”

Paul was again getting lost in the quick ramblings but could remember he was supposed to trust her. “um, alright.”

“Good, now just relax,” she said as the slick metal came into contact with his sphincter. As she began pressing in, “now push out just a little bit like you did earlier for me.”

Paul instinctively began pushing and relaxing, pulling in the practiced invasion.

“Good, good,” Jewel encouraged, “just keep it going,” as she slowly slid it in until the girth of the bulb made it in as it was sucked up. “Great job!!” Jewel exclaimed as she pushed the last few millimeters to nestle squarely between his cheeks, pulling the thong fabric to run over the middle of the plastic gem of the plug. “Perfect! Now you’ll be walking out of here like a natural in no time”

Paul stood there bent over the commode for a moment catching his breath, enjoying the euphoria of the tingle spreading from his ass across his body, relax from the glow of the invasion. Only as Jewel stepped out of the ensuite, tossing her gloves in the receptacle, did everything suddenly click. “Wait!” he exclaimed, “walk out of here?!?”

Standing up, he felt his head move slower than the rest of his body and had to steady himself as he stumbled out the door. “Well, I’m not about to carry you,” Brooke responded to his outburst.

“Hardly, ma’am,” Jewel giggled next to her, but quieted down as Brooke shot her a sideways glance.

“Now, show us how that training aid works, Paul,” Brooke commanded.

Paul stood there a bit still trying to get his wits about him, “I’m sorry, what was that?”

“Paul, walk. Jewel said you had been telling her how you’ve been training to walk in heels for weeks. Show me you can be convincing.”

His brain latched on to a familiar activity for some sort of grasp and figured his training with Bill was as good as any, slowly strutted around the room. The very first step quickly reminded him of the unforgiving invader, sharply reminding him to correct his gait and swing his hips wide. Straightening his back and remembering his steps was an almost comfort amongst the oddity of the day.

“Okay, I can see it.” Brooke encouraged. “keep it up”

Paul reached the wall and turned around to show her more. “The walk is not ready for the runway, but passable. Not sure about the turn, but we just need a straight shot.”

“True, ma’am, but I think it’s a solid plan,” Jewel continued, “what about his eyes?”

“Oh, yes!!” Brooke realized, looking at his naked eyes, and she grabbed her sunglasses off the counter. Striding up to Paul to step in his path, he stopped as he got to her. “Now, these are some of my most favorite sunglasses. Do not break them, scratch them, bend them, or ruin them in anyway, and return them to me at your next session.”

Paul pulled his head back, “oh, I couldn’t ask you to do that for me.”

“No,” Brooke looked at him stern before firmly sliding them on his face. “I insist.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Paul said sensing the coiled rage behind that statement.

Stepping back, Brooke took in the view before her. While definitely no model, she was happy that he would easily be mistaken for a middle-aged wife after a pampering session. “Well, what do you think girls? Think she’s up to snuff?”

A unanimous, “yes, ma’am” rang through the group.

“Up to snuff for what?” ask Paul.

“Just as long as she doesn’t open her mouth,” joked Teri and stern look from Brooke is the only thing that curtailed the giggles. “But definitely ready to walk out the door,” Teri tried to salvage.

“Alright, it's all up to you *Ms. P*,” Brooke said as she picked up his bag of things that contained his other garments, his phone, and some accoutrements from the salon including nail polish removing, more oil, lip gloss, etc. Taking his keys out of the bag, she holds up one of his wrists and slides the bag down to his bent elbow, placing the keys in his other hand. “You should be ready to go. Bring back the sunglasses next week, but you can keep the remaining items yourself.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Paul asked, truly perplexed, as his brain was really having a hard time grasping much of anything at the moment.

Teri opened up the door to the room he’d been in for hours at this point, “you look beautiful, Ms. P. You’re all ready to go,” she said ushering him out.

Paul looked at open mouthed before whispering, “you can’t expect me to go out like this.”

Brooke briskly walked over to Paul and looked him dead in the eye, “from what I understand you’ve been training to do this for weeks. Yes, you may not be perfect, but you can make it from here to your car and that’s all that I care about at the moment. My girls have worked HARD to produce quality work and by God, I will NOT have you ruin it with your ineptitude. Now, be a good girl and walk out that door like you practiced with a bright, happy smile on your face as a small advertisement at how good our salon is, get in your little car, drive away, and we will all be happy. But I swear if you give me one more complaint, whine, pissant excuse, or resentment, I will rip it all off and toss you in the back alley in nothing but your pretty green panties and let the cops take you home.” Brooke paused to let that all sink in before summing up the task for him. “So paste a pretty smile on that face, sashay that sexy ass out the door, stroll to your car like you haven’t a care in the world, and go home. Got it?”

Paul’s brain was having a hard time swimming through all that she spat out, handcuffs &being **** into a patrol car in only a thong burst in, but it latched on to the final rescue, and plastered on a big smile, and eked out, “yes, ma’am.”

“Much better, Ms. P,” Brooke said warmly to him with a bright smile herself. “Now thank you so much for coming in and we really do appreciate you continuing to give us this opportunity to aid you in your health endeavors. We look forward to seeing you again next week!”

Paul held his smile and thought back to all the tips Trainer Bill would give him and walked forward. Reminded keenly of the aid behind him, he tried to swing his hips and focus on the skirt falling left to right, keeping a consistent rhythm.

The girls all said goodbye to him, but he just waved from his open hand; keeping the plastered smile in place. Hearing the plastic shoes on the tile seemed to echo through the building as he focused on maintaining his steps.

As he approached the front door, he thought he could see another client getting ready to come in her stylish glasses in tiny skirt and big hat, but as Gina rushed past him and opened the front door for him, there was no one there. “Thank you again, Ms. P.! See you again soon!” Gina called out as he passed by.

Stepping out into the open air, Paul could feel a breeze blow against his skirt but tried to maintain his steps as he could see the savior of the car in front of him.

From behind the Salon’s tinted windows, Brooke, flanked by his girls, watched him walk out. Without tearing her eyes away from the site before her she asked Jewel, “you weren’t kidding when you said he was training heels.”

“Ya, but I had no idea it was like that,” Jewel replied.

“If he weren’t letting his skirt fly up so much, I’d almost say he was a former runway model.”

“Showing off that thong, maybe a former catwalk star,” Teri quipped, only to have Brooke swat her with a giggle.

Popping open the trunk, Paul tossed his bag in and quickly moved around to the driver's side. Opening the door, he stepped in with his right foot & plopped down; reminded quickly of his training aid, he let out a small yip. Quickly covering his mouth, he looked around to make sure no one saw him. As he glanced down, he could see his green thong encased cock exposed under his skirt that had ridden up. Swiftly bringing in his other leg, he slammed the door shut feeling it hit against his hat.

Seeing the escapades of the flash and yelp, the salon staff erupted into fits of giggles before Brooke quieted them down, “alright, ladies. Enough show; get back to work.” Turning to Jewel, “although he showed his colors at the end, he’s got a real chance.”

Paul sat in his car for several minutes trying to figure out what the hell he was going to do now. Putting his bag of clothes in the trunk does him no good. He’s made it this far; no one will think twice about him in the car at this point. ‘Just drive,’ he thought to himself. Lining up his foot on the break to start the car, he’s reminded of driving with the boots this morning & careening through town. The last thing he wants is to be stopped by a cop, so he slips off the shoes and kicks them to the side.

Driving home was probably the most defensive drive of his day. Slowing down to let other people in, avoiding any possible yellow lights, just generally trying to fall into the background made him extraordinarily cautious. Several drivers did a double take and more than one guy in a truck was enjoying the view of the lady’s bare thighs. Had he turned his head left or right at the appropriate times, its likely Paul would have received more than one or two flirtatious exchanges. As it were, he was so focused on driving, he had no clue there were whistles or shouts directed at him.

Finally making it home, he slid the car in park just as he got a notification that his delivery was almost there. Popping open his car door, Paul quickly ran barefoot to the front door, ignoring his skirt flying behind him as the wig of the hat blew back. Closing the door behind him, he ripped off the hat and tossed the sunglasses on the counter. Mentally berating himself for letting them dress him up like some idiot and griping about how they felt the need to humiliate him just because he wore boots and a shirt.

Just then there was a knock at the door and could make out, “uh, miss, I uh have your food, ma’am,” through the door. ‘Fuck!’ the idiot driver had seen him; ‘its supposed to be contactless, ass hole’, Paul gripped silently in his head.

The gangly post high school driver stood at the door hoping to get another look at the milf he just caught run inside. He was sure she just came from the pool or the beach with that bikini-like setup and slick skin.

Paul watched him from his remote cam cursing the idiot to just put the food down and leave. The last thing he wanted to do was deal with a person at this point.

The driver stood there for longer than he should have, but finally relenting to the delivery instructions. He left the food at the door, took a picture as proof, and walked backwards to the car hoping to get a last look. Bumping into the car, he slid back in and started up the car going to the end of the block before turning around.

Seeing the kid walk away on screen, Paul had gone to the front door to watch him drive away. As soon as he left, Paul opened the door to bring the food in. As the door closed behind him, he heard car tires squeal as a horn blare. ‘Idiot drivers’ he said under his breath.

The driver had nearly got what he wanted but as he approached the house, he could only just see the skirt float up showing her thong and thought he saw the back of her bald head as finally glanced back forward just in time to see the oncoming traffic and swerve sharply out of the way hitting the other curb as their horn blared.

He felt doubly stupid now sure the milf was probably a cancer survivor and he was just some horny idiot trying to get his jollies, and nearly got in a wreck for his efforts. He really had to get his life together and grow up.

Paul tossed the food in the kitchen before ripping off the top and skirt, tossing them in the wash. Grabbing a pair of shorts and T-shirt, he ran into the bathroom to remove the blasted metal plug and clean it up.

Paul reached back under his thong and slowly slid it out afraid of the mess he was going to have on it without a cover but was surprised by the nearly pristine look. He was amazed it didn’t have the usual stink or mess that accompanied the discarded condoms from his usual setup. He briefly pondered if it was the smooth metal or the cleaning Jewel that really made a difference. However, singing the redness of nails, his frustration was reignited, and he quickly sprayed and scrubbed it down, before tossing on his shirt & shorts. Heading out to the car to grab his bag of clothes, he swore they better have included something to help remove all this crap.

Bringing them back into the house, he found several packets of nail polish remove wipes as well as cold cream makeup wipes. Taking them into the bathroom he was struck by how bright his lips were and how dorky his stubby red nails looked. Scrubbing hard, he was barely able to get it all off and cleaned up before he heard Molly come home.

Running out to pull out the restaurant's fancy meals, Paul apologized, “sorry, hun, things got away from me today, so I didn’t have time to cook so I had this brought in.” Still sounding sour from his day, Molly could sense his irritation.

“It’s okay, babe. Just glad to have a fresh meal when I get home from the factory,” Molly tried to tease, but Paul just seemed to get more irritated.

Molly could tell he was stewing on something so she just tried the occasional small talk and kept her distance.

Paul, for his part, refrained from snapping at her as he was at least aware enough to know it wasn’t her he was immediately mad at, but just thinking about those girls at the salon putting him up to that and making him go home like some clown, he just got more and more irritated. He barely noticed when Molly announced she was going to bed; he excused it thinking she was just having another migraine he didn’t hear it.

Molly for her part knew he was stewing, and figured she would just give him his distance and talk to him about it tomorrow when you cooled down.

Paul continued stewing over it in his mind, warping it further and further in an eviler tone than existed, sure they were all trying to humiliate and damage him. He was so done with this crap by the time he slid under the covers only going to sleep from pure exhaustion as his mind replayed warped scenarios to deal with is overblown stress.