Geanie tugs at his collar, popping it up as he does an impression of Marlon Brando, bringing things to a close. “So let loose, let go, and let the Lost Girls take you on a journey of hedonistic delight, where every potion is a ticket to a realm where all your wildest fantasies come to life!"
With a final, sweeping gesture, he signals the lights to return to their original soft glow. The music fades into the typical dance music, the normal buzz of the bar resumes, and we get back behind the bar to please the people with booze.
* * *
Snow ismy shadow for the night. It doesn’t require her to do much more than watch me work to get comfortable with the flow of things.
“Have you noticed how every guy in this bar can't take their eyes off you?” she finally asks. She really leaned into the role of ‘shadow,’ so at times I forgot she was there.
“It’s the three of us,” I say, shrugging it off. “A lot of people come here to hang with the Lost Girls.”
Still, I can’t help but notice she’s right.
Snow goes on with her questions when there is a lull; Cinder on the other side of her. “Do you guys get hit on a lot here?”
Cinder and I exchange smiles. Rap doesn’t want us to scare her off, but Snow needs to know what she is getting herself into.
“All the witchtitting time, but it usually is with the intent to score free drinks from us,” Cinder answers.
Something sours in my heart. I pull out a glass and shovel ice into it. Filling my glass with water before taking several large gulps, I am determined to stay hydrated. “I don’t recommend taking the flirtation past this bar.”
One of Snow’s eyebrows raises at the venom in my voice.
Cinder pulls out a rag and wipes her already clean countertop. “Don’t mind her. She’s bitter because she’s sworn off men.” Then her lips twist. “Though they seem to sense it and are coming after her harder than ever before.”
It’s true.
In fact, the moment I swore off men, they seemed to come at me like a gang of sexy cannonballs, testing my resolve.
“How about women?” Snow shoots back. Then she tenses as her eyes widen, as if she can’t believe she just said that. I bark out a laugh and Cinder giggles. A rare but wonderful tinkling sound. Snow’s shoulders lower a fraction as she realizes she’s still safe.
What happened to her, I wonder? Something that forces her to measure every word before committing to one.
It pulls on something deep inside me. A part of me that understands having to measure all of my actions and words until I’ve made myself as small as possible. And when I wasn’t small enough, because—faelords—I’ve never actually been so. . . I wished I could disappear altogether.
I plan to coax it out of Snow. Sweetly, persistently, in a way she won’t even know she’s given up clutching her trauma, so I could help ease the pressure on it just a fraction.
Cocking my head to the side, I pretend to think about it. “Touche, I guess I didn’t say that. Females are fair game.” My smile doesn’t reach my eyes at my own joke though. I’ve always done far better with men than I have with women.
You have good female friends now, Goldie. Everything has worked out.
Cinder scoffs. “Pfft, like you could give up the sausage.”
I nod gravely. “It’s true, Snow, I’m an absolute carnivore. But as of now,” I raise my glass in a cheers. “I am committing to meat substitutes from here on out.”
Snow’s nose crinkles as she gives me a half-smirk. “Is that like a veiled commitment to dildos only?”
Cinder’s snickers explode into a full-on laugh as she rests her head against her arm on the bar.
I gravely nod at Snow. “Yes. I am only seeking the one true sex toy to rule them all. And when I find it, I will marry it.”
Snow’s lips stretch into a devious grin, showing off her straight teeth. “Dibs on maid of honor.”
An invisible pressure lays against my skin. Automatically, my gaze lift up to meet a pair of smoldering brown eyes. They are already trained on me, despite the fact the brown-skinned smoke show is standing with four friends. They are talking, but he doesn’t even pretend to listen. I have his full attention.
He asked me out as soon as he stepped up to the bar earlier. He seemed almost as surprised as I was by his date proposal, but then a strange hunger crept into his eye.
I’d been so thrown off; it was easier than I expected to turn him down. He shook his head, as if trying to clear his head, then ordered a drink. I had Cinder take over, not trusting myself enough to stand in front of him and say no a second time.
