Dolce and Gabbana Feminine Perfume

I was perusing the perfume selection at a department store in a mall near my house the first time I saw him. He wasn’t anything special; nothing that I’d have taken a second look at on a normal day. But that day wasn’t normal, it was the day I’d seen Eric walking in the park with another woman. When I’d confronted him about it, he’d tried to talk his way out of it, but eventually confessed that he’d been seeing her secretly for the past three months.

That day, I had headed to the mall fully intending to shop myself into oblivion, wanting to erase the pain of Eric’s betrayal with some new perfume or a beautiful pair of shoes. When I got there, though, I was still in a daze and, I suppose, a bit shocked. I had kicked Eric out of my apartment just that day, and I was reeling from the realization that he wouldn’t be waiting for me when I got home. Due to the slight stupor I was operating under, my shopping was half-hearted, and I just picked up bottles, looked them, and put them down without even smelling them.

I had just picked up a bottle of my favorite Dolce and Gabbana perfume Feminine and was considering buying a bottle when I saw a tall man come through the door opposite the perfume counter. Like I said, he was mostly unremarkable, aside from his height, but for some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He had light brown hair that had the perfect cut, and he was wearing a deep gray suit. He almost looked like a college student in a suit.

As soon as I realized that I was staring at him with my mouth open, I hurriedly looked away and approached the saleslady, asking her for a bottle of the one of the D&G perfumes ; I figured I could always use more. I continued to look at him from the corner of my eye, though, and my palms started to sweat as I saw that he was walking in my direction. I knew I must look like hell; I had no makeup on, and I was pretty sure my eyes were still red and swollen for crying. I silently cursed myself for leaving the house looking like this.

I continued to chastise myself, trying to mentally hurry the woman at the cash register, who was chatting aimlessly about her poodle. I just wanted to tell her to forget about it and run away, but I didn't want to seem completely crazy. So I stood there as the guy approached, feeling more and more vulnerable and ugly the closer he came.

“Hey, I love that stuff,” he said as he drew up behind me. I supposed he was talking about the Feminine Perfume I was holding. I took a deep breath and turned toward him, hoping I didn’t look quite as awful as I felt. As I turned, I stretched my neck up, trying to take in all of him – he had to have been at least 6’5”. He still looked ordinary, with a dark gray suit and pale blue tie. I felt a little weak as I absorbed the heat he was throwing off. I couldn’t decide exactly what it was about him, but his presence was magnetic.

I summoned every shred of confidence that remained in my body and smiled coquettishly, saying, “So am I to assume you wear women’s perfume, then? Or do you mean your girlfriend loves that stuff?” He laughed, and my insides twisted with pleasure at the sound.

“No girlfriend. I got it for my sister a few years ago, and she wears it so much, that’s what I buy for her every Christmas. I love it because I never have to look for another Christmas present for her again.” He smiled, regarding me in appreciatively. 

“This is going to sound weird,” he said, “but I felt like I needed to come talk to you for some reason. It was like a giant magnet was pulling me over here. Is that weird?” He looked a little nervous.

I couldn’t believe my ears; I don’t believe in serendipity, or fate, but I couldn’t deny the strange way my body was reacting to this guy.

“No,” I said, “not weird at all. What’s your name?”