Page 39 of His Flash Mate
I went back to the bar to fix him an Old Fashioned, sweet, but didn’t stay to chat once I delivered it.Instead, I checked on the private room again.They needed another bottle of bourbon and more crackers.By the time I returned to Konni’s table, he was gone.
“He left you something,” Erika said.“I put it behind the bar.”
“Thanks.”
A bag with a box inside waited for me.I opened it to find a pair of sneakers and an envelope containing a note and a thick stack of one-hundred-dollar bills.
You can take it as a tip or a loan.Thanks for the drink.See you tomorrow.
~K
I slipped in the back with the bag and counted the cash.Five thousand dollars.Enough for Mom and me to gain some breathing room with the bank.I had my pride, but I also had logic, and logic was currently winning over pride.Unless we borrowed from somewhere, we would lose the house.What harm was there in accepting help when needed?
I’d tell Mom it was tip money from a private party, which technically it was, and work out a payment plan with Konni.Mom would be happy it wasn’t from Uncle Jay.Konni would be happy he had a reason to see me every day.And I would be happy that my Mom didn’t lose her home.A win for everyone.
Maybe.
As long as Konni didn’t try to use money to control me.
I took a picture of the note so there would be a date associated with the evidence that the cash had been freely given, and tucked the envelope into my purse.
Then, I took out the shoes.He’d somehow managed to get the right size and even included socks.I suffered no internal debate accepting those gifts and swapped shoes with a sigh of relief.
When I joined Uncle Jay again, he noticed my smile and the shoes.
“From the creeper?”
I rolled my eyes.“I don’t think he’s a creeper.Are you really getting creeper energy from him?”
He sighed and gave me a side hug.“No.I just don’t like him because I don’t trust any man with you.”
I grinned.“Aw!Thanks!”
“It’s hard to say what you would do to him,” he added, “and lawsuits are expensive.”
I swatted his chest in mock outrage, and his responding laugh drew everyone’s attention.
“Get back to work,” I told him.
He winked and started talking people into fresh drinks.
Mom was already up,getting ready for work, when I woke the next morning.
“Another early shift?”I asked.
“A double, actually.”She flashed me a smile, and I knew she was thinking about the income.
“I have more good news,” I said, handing over the stack of cash.“It’s from a private party last night, not Uncle Jay.You can even call him and ask if you want.”
She looked from me to the cash to me again.
“What kind of private party?”Her concern and skepticism were more sad than hurtful because I knew she didn’t doubt me but the world.
“The kind where I heard business talk and had to restock the most expensive bourbon that Uncle Jay carries.If Lunar Pulse allowed smoking, they probably would have had cigars.Thank you, shifters everywhere, for having sensitive noses.
“And, no, we shouldn’t have a problem taking money from people who like to throw it around,” I added when I saw her lingering hesitation.“Do you have time to swing by the bank, or should I?”
“I’ll make time.Thank you for this, Sophie.I’ll pay you back.”
