Retribution

Chapter 30 - New Clothes and New Levels

After a brief stop at Charlie's so she could change her clothes, we were ambling around Kingsbridge Shopping Centre. Being only a thirty-minute drive from the vets, I knew she'd feel most comfortable here.

Marco and Jonny were following us from a safe distance behind. I'd insisted to them, whilst she was changing, that having them breathing down our necks would only continue to remind her what situation she was in. They had some reservations but relented on the condition we stayed within sight of them at all times, unless we went into changing rooms of course.

We wandered in and out of several small shops, browsing through the latest spring/summer collections. When we headed inside a lingerie store, I turned to them both, raising an eyebrow.

"Really, guys? You want to see us picking up frilly pink thongs and peephole bras?"

Marco's cheeks flushed pink. He looked at Jonny who kept his focus on Charlie. A couple of seconds ticked by until Jonny nodded and turned away, taking Marco with him to wait outside.

Charlie giggled. "You should have let them follow us in. I'd have loved to have seen their faces when we got to the sex toys." She took my hand and pulled me towards the back of the store. "Hey, Jonny, this one—" she picked up a box with a bright pink vibrator "—or this one?" Grabbing another box with a purple rabbit inside, she burst into laughter.

I laughed with her. "Stop it," I said, my cheeks already burning from the curious stares of the shop assistants. "You're too embarrassing."

She put the boxes back on the shelf and put her hands on her hips. "Let's face it. It's not like I'm going to be getting any for a while, is it? May as well have all the pleasure and none of the hassle. At least I don't have to dress up and pretend to be all sweet and nice for one of them, plus I know it won't be visiting other women."

Giggles from the shop workers sounded with mine. There was little finesse with Charlie. She said what she thought without dressing it up, even if it was a little precarious sometimes. I loved this side of her though, she never failed to make me laugh.

"Get one then," I said, giving her a cheeky wink. "It can't talk back, it won't leave socks and dirty pants everywhere, and it won't care if you put on half a stone. As for the kids thing, there's always sperm banks."

Her mouth dropped open. Then a beaming grin spread across her face. "There's my best friend. Right when I need her." She turned to the vast array of women's toys in front of us. "Help me pick one."

"What? No way. I know we've shared some moments, Charls, but picking out your new...bed toy is definitely a step too far. I'll leave you to it."

"Oh, don't be such a prude," she said, clamping her hand around my forearm. "You've been away from all this for the last decade. About time you loosened up." Striding to the other end of the display, she picked up one giant box and one medium sized box. "Now, which one is more like Jake?"

I couldn't help but double over in fits of laughter, especially when she stuck her tongue out for extra effect. My temperature was through the roof, despite the steady breeze from the air conditioning above us.

Looking at the five-inch dildo next to the monstrous sized one, I shook my head. "I have absolutely no idea. What the hell was that thing moulded from? An elephant?"

Charlie shrugged her shoulders. "Looks far too painful for me." Narrowing her eyes, she scrutinised the giant toy for several seconds. She looked up at me, eyes wide, and thrust the box in my face. "Is that bigger than a baby's head?"

"What kind of question is that?" I asked, struggling not to laugh.

"A serious one. How big was Harvey when he was born? Like, his head?"