Nail Salon time

In the weeks that followed, Robin kept finding it difficult to remember to keep his new clothes secret. He didn't know why, but it was becoming far too easy to forget that he was doing something out of the ordinary. More than once, he had realized after the fact that he had been wearing his new jeans in front of John, but John acted like everything was normal. Eventually, Robin decided that it must not be noticeable, so he stopped trying to hide them. Each day he grew bolder in his selection, which led him to slowly incorporate more feminine clothes into his wardrobe at home, eventually extending to his work.

On one particular work day, Robin decided to wear his pink button-up paired with black slacks that he loved the cut of and a wide V-neck sweater to the office. During a quiet moment at his desk, Robin was fiddling with a distracting hangnail when Nashma approached him.

"Hey, Robin, are you okay?" she asked, noticing his discomfort.

"Yeah, just dealing with a hangnail. It's annoying," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

"You know, my husband gets those all the time from work. We get manicures together on the occasion and he swears by them. Wanna join me after work? I promise you won't regret it," Nashma offered with a warm smile.

Robin hesitated, the idea of a manicure both intriguing and a little terrifying. But if Nashma's husband gets them, it wouldn't be odd for him to. "Sure, why not?"

After work, they met at a salon Nashma recommended. Robin felt a flutter of nerves as they walked in, the scent of nail polish and acetone hitting his nose. The atmosphere was calming, even as Robin sat nervously in the chair, watching as Nashma confidently chatted with the staff.

A dark-haired technician approached, smiling warmly. "What can I do for you today?" she asked, looking at Robin.

"Just a basic manicure, please," he replied, his voice soft and uncertain.

The technician nodded and got to work, soaking his hands in warm, soapy water before carefully trimming his cuticles and shaping his nails. The sensation was surprisingly pleasant, and Robin found himself relaxing into the chair. Nashma chatted with her technician, her voice a comforting background noise.

When it came time to choose a polish, the technician held up a bottle that was bright red. "How about this? I think it would compliment well," she suggested.

Robin hesitated, caught off guard by being offered such a distinctly feminine color. He found himself considering it but chickened out at the last second. "Clear is fine," he said, trying to keep the sadness out of his voice.

As the technician applied the clear polish, Robin couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment as he watched Nashma's nails being painted a bright pink, the color popping against her skin.

As he sat there, lost in thought, Nashma continued the conversation with the technician attending to her, clearly having known each other for some time. Nashma explained that Robin never had their nails done before and the technician lit up.

The technician smiled wide, "Since it's their first time, I could set you up with a discounted upgrade for pedicures. Interested?"

Nashma jumped at the offer, "Yes, please, put it on my card."

Robin's heart skipped a beat as he overheard the conversation. "Wait, what?" he asked, his voice tinged with panic as he waited for his clear polish to dry.

Nashma turned to him with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Robin. It's on me. Trust me, you'll love it."

Before he could protest, the technician was already guiding him to a pedicure chair. Robin sat down, his heart racing again as he felt his shoes and socks being removed and his pant legs being rolled up, revealing his hairless legs. He glanced nervously at Nashma, but she seemed completely unfazed. Taking a deep breath, he decided to go along with it.

The pedicure began with a soothing foot soak, the warm water easing the tension from Robin's muscles. The technician then exfoliated his feet, removing dead skin and leaving his skin feeling soft and smooth. He couldn't help but let out a small sigh of contentment.

When asked about toenail polish, he paused for a long time, then finally nodded. "Red, please."

As the technician applied the red polish to his toenails, Robin felt a strange mix of anxiety and joy. Nashma chatted away, oblivious to his inner turmoil, and he found himself relaxing, the tension easing from his shoulders. He watched in fascination as the color transformed his nails and when she finished, Robin couldn't help but admire the result. His toes looked striking, the red polish adding a bold, unexpected flair.

"See, isn't this nice?" Nashma said, glancing over at him with a smile.

Robin nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "Yeah, it is. Thanks, Nashma."