Mingle All the Way by J.P. Sterling

Author:J.P. Sterling [Sterling , J.P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-09-24T16:00:00+00:00

ten

Jade

My car drove beautifully, but I still underestimated the time it took to get across town. My manager, Portia, had already switched the closed sign to open when I arrived late. Not that it mattered. Portia was the manager who was everyone’s best friend more than a manager. She worked the early shift every day until she could build her matchmaking business. She was amazing at setting people up, and spent more time asking customers about their love interests than making coffee. Her eyes scanned my outfit before she pushed the door open. “Cute Antlers. You’re really into this holiday stuff, huh?”

She reminded me to adjust them, and as I straightened them, I replied. “I’m into tips. They are almost double when I dress up. This is the latest costume I found at Goodwill last week. I’m not sure yet, but I think it will be even better than the elf.”

I followed her back behind the counter, and we both grabbed aprons and put them on. “Are you still struggling?” Her brows dipped, but she kept her gaze low as if she was allowing me some privacy. “I thought the new apartment was supposed to solve all your money issues.”

“It will,” I assured her. “But it will take a few months until I get ahead, and now this weekend, I’d like to send gifts home to my parents, but I’m afraid it’s already too late.”

I didn’t think it was possible, but her brows fell even more. “Oh, I forgot that you don’t have family here. It’s a bummer you can’t visit for the holidays.” Her head jolted back, and her eyes opened wider. “You should let me set you up for a Christmas—”

“No, no, no.” I wagged my finger at her, then turned my back and went down the line, switching on the espresso machines. “I’m completely okay with being single.” I turned the coffee grinder on, and refilled it with beans, fully done with that conversation, but Portia pressed on.

“I know you needed some time after your last breakup, but it might be good to get out there again. I just recruited another cute guy from the hardware store. He would be perfect for you. When’s the last time you went on a date?”

I stared forward, recalling the weekend. I wasn’t sure if I could credit myself for going on a date. It was a fake date, but in an odd way it had felt real. I had woken up this morning, thinking about how sweet Evan was for fixing my car, and I still giggled every time I thought about the cheesecake, and Greta trapping me. Portia was probably right about it being way too long to wait after a breakup, but right now, I wasn’t interested in dating. But the fake dating was fun. Fewer expectations. “I don’t know, Portia. I’m not the single-and-ready-to-mingle type.” To bring my point home, I reached into a bag of chips I had stashed below the counter for snacking, retrieved one, and popped it into my mouth.

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