Page 1 of His Flash Mate
CHAPTERONE
Returning homewith a business degree and a mountain of school debt meant swallowing a few of my principles, like never taking money from men.At least at my uncle’s club, Lunar Pulse, I knew every dollar I made was earned.
I barely made it through the employee entrance before Uncle Jay swooped in with a grin.
“Welcome back, Sophie-Girl!”He crushed me in one of his bear hugs.“I know this isn’t where you want to be, but I’m glad you’re here.I really need the help.”
I patted his arm as I wriggled free.At five-foot-five, I had to look up at him.He was tall, built like a linebacker, and as much of a draw as the pulsing lights and music were, especially in a place where humans and shifters alike mingled without distinction.While he might be mistaken for one occasionally due to his size, he wasn’t one.
“Don’t act like you’re not doing me a huge favor,” I said.“At least now I’m old enough to serve drinks instead of being an overpaid dishwasher who can take inventory.”
The man who’d been more like a father to me than my own laughed and motioned for me to follow him so he could get me situated before the club opened.Having worked there before I went off to school, I already knew the basics, but he’d made a few changes since I’d been gone.
“How’s your mom doing?”he asked after showing me the new ordering system.
“Good.We didn’t get to talk much when I got home yesterday.She had to run back to work for something, and I passed out before she got home.”
“Moving day’s hard work,” he said.“She still at Palambers?”
I shook my head.“Her position was cut there.She’s at another department store now.”
He nodded but looked troubled.I could guess why.Uncle Jay was nothing like his brother, my father.He was willing to help people even at an expense to himself.Not for the first time, I wished Mom had ended up with Uncle Jay instead of Dad.Uncle Jay would have never divorced her like my dad had.However, Uncle Jay was ten years her junior and had still been in middle school when Mom met Dad in college.
“Well, if she’s ever interested in helping out here, she can have her pick of positions,” Uncle Jay said.
“I’ll let her know.”
I wouldn’t.Despite her shattered self-esteem, Mom still had her pride.She’d once run her own company.How could she go from president to bartender?
Uncle Jay handed me an apron and the handheld tablet we used for orders.
“Play around with it for a bit.See if you can customize a drink order.When Erika gets here, I’ll have you follow her around for tonight.”
I sat on a velvet bar chair as he walked away.
He might think I didn’t want to work at his club after coming home, but I did.It was a stepping stone.Serving drinks near downtown meant money, connections, and a front-row seat to how Uncle Jay ran things.
I wasn’t picky about work.I’d start at the bottom, learn everything I could, and make sure I never ended up as someone else’s tool, like Mom had.She’d built a business from nothing, gained access to the social elites of Motan—the city I called home—and once she was at her peak, Dad took it all.
The lights dimmed in the club, and the decorative ones turned on around the bar’s back mirror.I caught a glimpse of my serious, slightly angry expression.Relaxing, I forced a friendly smile that didn’t quite reach my cosmetically accentuated blue eyes.
You can’t change the past, Soph.Get over it, and smile so the tips roll in.
I smiled wider and ran a hand over my smooth blonde hair that I’d pulled back into a ponytail.The makeup and hairdo, along with the black and white uniform, gave me a high-class look I hoped would gain me some big tips.
With my mood in a better place, I focused on successfully customizing a few drink orders and then sending a group message to my friends, Wrenly and Miranda.
Me:Who’s ready for some drinks tonight?
Wrenly:Are you back?I’m so excited!Not feeling the greatest right now, but I’ll let you know when we can get together.Miss you!
Miranda:Don’t lie.You’re probably already in bed getting what we’re not.But we forgive you.I’m up for drinks.Where and when?
Me:Lunar Pulse.I’m serving until close.
Miranda:Be there soon!
I pocketed my phone as Erika came over to introduce herself.She was sweet, like Wrenly.Not like Miranda.Miranda had bite, the kind you’d expect from a wolf shifter.Yet, somehow, despite that major difference, we had still clicked over fashion—something, Wrenly, my human ex-roommate, never cared about.
