**Tom**
I watched Sara take another bite of her eggs, her eyes closing in appreciation. There was something about her that just drew me in.
"This is delicious. You sure know how to treat a girl the morning after."
I chuckled, raising my glass of orange juice in a mock toast. "What can I say? I aim to please."
Sara finished chewing and then looked down at herself, tugging at the hem of her dress. "Speaking of pleasing... I hate to ask, but could you do me a huge favor?"
"Shoot," I said, leaning back in my chair.
She bit her lip, looking adorably uncomfortable. "Any chance you could grab me some clothes? I really don't want to do the walk of shame in this little number again."
I laughed, eyeing her outfit. "I don't know. I think it looks pretty good on you."
"Yeah, well, it's not exactly grocery store attire."
"Fair enough," I conceded. "What did you have in mind?"
"Just something simple. T-shirt, jeans. Nothing fancy."
I nodded, already mentally cataloging the stores in the area. "Alright, I can manage that. What size are you?"
Sara rattled off her sizes, and I made a mental note.
"Got it," I said, standing up and grabbing my keys. "One outfit, coming right up. Any particular style preferences? Band t-shirt? Tie-dye? Maybe a nice 'I heart New York' number?"
She laughed, shaking her head. "Surprise me. Just nothing too outrageous, please. I'd like to be able to wear it in public without getting strange looks."
"You're no fun," I teased, heading for the door. "Be back in a bit. Try not to miss me too much."
I stepped out into the bustling city streets, the cool morning air a welcome change from the warmth of my apartment. The nearest clothing store was just a few blocks away, so I decided to walk, enjoying the crisp autumn day.
As I entered the store, I realized I'd never shopped for women's clothes. This was going to be interesting.
I went to the women's section, feeling out of place. A cheerful sales associate approached me.
"Can I help you find anything?"
"Uh, yeah," I said, scratching my head. "I'm looking for a T-shirt and jeans."
"Of course. Right this way."
I followed her to a rack of t-shirts, trying to remember Sara's size. After some deliberation, I chose a soft, navy blue V-neck that seemed like it would suit her.
Next came the jeans. I stood in front of the wall of denim, completely overwhelmed. Bootcut, skinny, high-waisted, low-rise... who knew there were so many options?
"Having trouble deciding?" the sales associate asked, appearing at my elbow.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Just a little," she said with a kind smile. "What size are you looking for?"
I rattled off Sara's measurements, and the saleswoman nodded knowingly.
"I'd recommend these," she said, pulling out a pair of dark-wash skinny jeans. "They're versatile and flattering on most body types."
"Perfect," I said, relieved to have some expert guidance. "I'll take them."
As I followed the saleswoman to the register, something caught my eye. The bra and panties section loomed to my right, a sea of lace and satin. I hesitated, my mind racing.
Should I? It seemed a bit presumptuous, but then again, Sara might appreciate a full change of clothes. Plus, it would save her the embarrassment of going commando in public.
"Uh, actually," I said, turning to the saleswoman. "I think I need to make one more stop."
She raised an eyebrow but nodded understandingly. "Of course. Let me know if you need any help."
I approached the lingerie section like I was tiptoeing through a minefield. Surrounded by delicate fabrics and intricate designs, I felt entirely out of my depth.
What size was Sara again?
I stood there, surrounded by lace and silk, feeling like a fish out of water. After what felt like an eternity, I grabbed a black bra and matching panties that looked about Sara's size. Hoping I'd made the right choice, I hurried to the checkout, my face burning.
The saleswoman rang up my purchases with a knowing smile. "Special someone?"
"Something like that," I mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
I practically ran out of the store, shopping bag in hand. The walk back to my apartment seemed to take forever, and my mind raced with how Sara would react to my extra purchases.
When I finally returned, I found Sara curled on my couch, flipping through a magazine. She looked up as I entered, her face breaking into a smile.
"My hero returns! Did you find something that won't make me look like a disaster?"
I held up the bag, suddenly feeling nervous. "I think so. But, uh, I might have gone a little overboard."
Sara raised an eyebrow, reaching for the bag. "Oh? Do tell."
I handed it over, watching as she peered inside. Her eyes widened slightly, and I braced myself for her reaction.
"Well, well," she said, pulling out the bra and panties. "Somebody was feeling ambitious."
I felt my face flush. "I just thought... you might want a complete change of clothes. If it's too much, I can take them back."
"Are you kidding? This is perfect. I was dreading putting on yesterday's underwear. You're a lifesaver."
She stood up, gathering the clothes in her arms. "Mind if I use your shower?"
"Go right ahead," I said, gesturing towards the bedroom. "Towels are in the cabinet under the sink."
Sara headed towards the bathroom, then paused in the doorway. She turned back to me with a mischievous grin. "For future reference, I'm more of a lace girl. But these will do nicely."
With a wink, she disappeared into the bathroom, leaving me with my mouth hanging open.
I heard the shower start and shook my head, chuckling. This girl was something else.
While Sara showered, I busied myself, cleaning the breakfast dishes and straightening the living room. I was just finishing when I heard the bathroom door open.
"So," Sara called out, "how do I look?"
I turned around and felt my breath catch in my throat. Sara stood there, hair damp and tousled, wearing the clothes I'd bought her. The t-shirt hugged her curves in all the right places, and the jeans fit her like a glove.
"Wow," I managed to say. "You look... amazing."
Sara did a little twirl. "Not bad for a last-minute outfit, huh? And the underwear fits perfectly, by the way. You've got a good eye."
"What can I say? It's a gift."
"Seriously, though. Thank you for this. You didn't have to do all this."
"It was my pleasure," I said, meaning it. "Besides, I couldn't let you face the world in last night's dress. What kind of gentleman would I be?"
"A gentleman, huh? Is that what you call a guy who buys lingerie for a woman he barely knows?"
"Hey, I was just trying to be thorough!"
"Relax, I'm just teasing," she said, patting my arm. "It was very thoughtful of you. And who knows? Maybe you'll get to see them in action someday."
I grinned at Sara's playful comment. This woman was full of surprises.
"Is that so? Well, I'll remember that for our next... encounter."
"Confident, aren't we? Who says there's going to be a next time?"
I raised an eyebrow, playing along. "Oh, I don't know. Just a hunch."
She rolled her eyes, but I could see the smile tugging at her lips. "You're incorrigible."
"I prefer to think of it as optimistic."
Sara glanced at her phone, which she'd left on the coffee table. "Oh, shoot. Is that the time? I should probably get going."
I felt a twinge of disappointment. "Hot date?"
"Ha! More like a hot shower and a date with my couch."
"Want me to call you a cab?"
"That'd be great, thanks."