Page 2 of His Flash Mate
Erika showed me which section of the bar was ours and gave me a quick rundown of what to expect and what not to tolerate.I could see why Uncle Jay put me with her.She was close to my age but had the no-nonsense attitude of someone much older.
Unfortunately for Uncle Jay, there wasn’t a crazy rush when the doors opened.It was more of a slow trickle, exactly the way I remembered business being before I went to school, too.Lunar Pulse wasn’t losing money, but it wasn’t growing either.
While I slipped into the familiar routine of mixing the standard bar drinks people ordered, I brainstormed marketing ideas.Uncle Jay always tried to feature a drink special.Something novel.But people didn’t come here for that.Really, they came here for him.So, between orders, I took a quick video of him working behind the bar that really showcased his good looks.
Miranda showed up around ten.The crowd hadn’t grown much, and I’d taken enough of Erika’s customers to prove that I could work on my own during the next shift, so I clocked out early and found Uncle Jay.
“Can I have access to Pulse’s social accounts?”I asked.
“Sure.”
I held out my hand for his phone.
“Now?”
I grinned at him.“Yep.You’re going to help me build my business skills portfolio.Marketing is the backbone of business growth, and I have ideas.”
He unlocked his phone and handed it over.I quickly gave myself permission to all of Lunar Pulse’s business socials and pretended not to notice the messages from women who were hooking up with him.I didn’t see any harm in hookups so long as both parties knew that’s all it was.And it seemed all his companions did know.
Once I was set, I gave him his phone back and went to join Miranda.
“I thought you were going to serve, not drink with me,” she said when I handed her a pretty cocktail I’d snagged from my uncle.
“That’s not for drinking.Yet.Just hold it and look sexy for a second,” I said.
She struck a provocative pose, just as I knew she would, and I took a picture.The gorgeous brunette with a soul-searching gaze and lips that would tempt any straight man or queer woman would pull in the patrons as much as the tempting drink she was holding.
“Are you hooking me up with someone?”she asked, watching me upload it.
“Nope, you’re holding tonight’s drink special and helping class up the place.You can drink now.”
She chuckled and took a sip as I finished promoting Lunar Pulse’s drink and dedicated cocktail enthusiast, my uncle.Then I sat back and looked over my friend.She looked as fit and as fashionably fabulous as ever with her glossy hair and chic sleeve dress to accentuate her figure and…
“New earrings,” I said, my gaze lingering on the high-end fashion jewelry.“How long did it take you to save for those?”
“Forever,” she said with a pout before she preened a little.“Wrenly never notices when I wear something new.This is why I like hanging out with you.”
“Is she really okay?It’s not like her to be sick.Ever.One sneeze and her family has her getting a check-up.”
Miranda grinned.“You’re not wrong.The jury is still out on whether she’s sick or just still addicted to going to Pound Town with her mate.”
“It’s been a year.”
Miranda shrugged.“With us shifters, that mate spark takes a long time to fade…if ever, if we’re lucky.”
I made a face.“No thanks.I like my sex life like my bank account—frequent deposits, quick withdrawals, and zero regrets.”
Miranda smirked.“Still no interest in the white dress and tiara.”
“Hell no.I’ve seen firsthand the trauma that follows the ‘I do’ ghost garb and refuse to be another victim.”
“Ghost garb?That’s a new one.Explain.”
“It’s what you wear before you become a faded version of your former self.”
“Ouch.Okay.So you’re saying no man would stand a chance at winning you over?”
“For some stress relief between the sheets?Maybe.Depends on our chemistry.I like fun, but I’m not free and easy.If he’s looking for something more?Hard pass.”
