The mall was buzzing—weekend crowds, bright sale signs, and the smell of cinnamon pretzels drifting through the air. Somewhere between the designer boutique and a café filled with loud teenagers, Brandon trudged along, both arms loaded with shopping bags.
Stella, five steps ahead, was radiant as always. Sunglasses perched perfectly in her hair, strutting like the marble tiles were her personal runway. She turned back, flashing a grin at her boyfriend.
“You’re walking like a man carrying bricks,” she teased.
“I am carrying bricks,” Brandon said, dramatically shifting one of the bags. “Bricks in the shape of overpriced shoes.”
Stella rolled her eyes fondly and reached out to straighten the strap of a bag slipping from his shoulder. “You’re doing amazing, babe.”
“Am I your boyfriend or your personal assistant?”
“My fabulous boyfriend who looks cute even when buried in couture,” she said sweetly, linking her arm through his and dragging him toward the next store.
He groaned, but not really. Brandon had long accepted his role as Stella’s human coat rack. And honestly? He didn’t mind. Watching her light up at a new dress or squeal over a pair of sunglasses that “totally matched her vibe” was kind of his favorite thing.
“You know, you could carry one bag,” he said as they stepped into the next boutique.
She gave him a look. “Brandon, baby, if I break a nail lifting something, who’s gonna comfort me for the rest of the day?”
He smirked. “Probably still me.”
“Exactly. Efficient.”
As she vanished into a fitting room with three dresses draped over her arm, Brandon plopped onto a little pink couch, surrounded by the mountain of bags like a soldier at rest. One of the sales associates passed by and gave him a sympathetic nod.
“Long day?”
“Long girlfriend,” he replied with a grin.
Minutes later, Stella peeked out, twirling in a golden dress that sparkled in the boutique lighting. “Well?”
Brandon sat up straighter, the grin turning soft. “That one,” he said. “Definitely that one.”
She beamed. “You have great taste.”
“Wonder where I got it from.”
When they finally left the mall, Stella holding nothing but her iced coffee and a hair flip, Brandon still had both arms full of bags. But she was smiling, the sun was warm, and she kissed his cheek on the way to the car.
Totally worth it.