Page 30 of Only Fangs

“She’s my new boss.”

“You sly dog.”

Chapter 17

Ari

Sharon turns out to be a lot of fun and a barrel full of useful insight on dating apps.

“So. I mainly use Tinder,” she says as she shows me her phone’s home screen. It’s set to look like a pretty bookcase, the apps arranged like novels on a shelf, dotted amongst a potted plant and a photo of a slightly scraggly looking dog.

“Why Tinder?” I ask.

“It’s just so easy to use and I can hop on if I have a spare few minutes and have a little swiping session. And the most important thing is the photos,” she says. Then she clamps her hand over her mouth and blushes deeply. “I mean. It’s not that I’m shallow. But it’s important to see what they look like.” Her eyes dart between me and Brody, as if she’s waiting for us to agree that looks are in fact important and no, it doesn’t make her shallow.

“You find out a lot about a person by which photos they use,” Brody says.

“Yes. That’s exactly what I meant.” She beams at him. Bless him for rescuing her, I’d have let her stew for a few more minutes. “So, like if he chooses a photo of him and his dog, then I know he likes animals.”

“We need to remember this,” Brody tells me. Then he turns his attention back to Sharon. “We’re working on a dating app together.”

“A startup?” she asks.

Brody nods.

“Oh wow!” she exclaims, looking ecstatic. “That is brilliant.” She jumps from her chair to hug him.

I look on puzzled.

“It’s what he always wanted to do,” Sharon says returning to her seat. “Oh, I’m so thrilled.” She positively beams and it’s difficult not to get caught up in her positivity. “And any way I can help, just shout.”

“You’ve already helped,” Brody tells her. “I’d not really thought that much about photos and things.”

“That’s because you’re not a shallow loser like I am,” Sharon says with a grin. She leans towards me and stage whispers, “Brody’s one of the good ones.” He turns a deep beetroot.

“There is kind of an important factor you’re missing though,” I say, waiting for him to remember that vampires don’t show up in photos.

“Ah shit. I forgot that bit. So no pictures.”

Sharon looks at me and then at Brody, confusion spreading across her features. “You can’t have a dating app without pictures.”

“The app is for vampires,” I tell her and watch the confusion shift to something altogether more primal.

“Vampires?”

“It’s a vampire only dating app. Called Only Fangs.” I add the last bit with a hint of pride, I’m still abnormally pleased with the name, even if technically it was Clara’s idea.

“Vampire only…” she turns to look at Brody. “But…” then she turns to look at me. “I…”

“I’m not a vampire, Sharon,” Brody tells her. “But you know my best friend, Matt, is.” he says it gently, like he’s talking to an aging aunt with a sensitive disposition and a poor memory.

Sharon nods.

“I’m a vampire,” I tell her.

“Oh.” The confusion immediately vanishes. “Well that explains it all.” She chuckles softly. She leans in close to Brody so she can whisper in his ear. I don’t think she realises I have better hearing than the average human. “So Ari really is your boss?” she asks him. He nods. “So you’re not on a date?” He shakes his head. “Shame,” she adds quietly. “You’d make a cute couple.”

Then she picks up her phone again and turns the screen to show me a few of the other dating apps she uses.