Saturday nights were typically the busiest for Lunar Pulse, but not until closer to nine.A few customers always trickled in at opening, but nothing that required two people behind the bar.
So when a group of six walked in the second we opened, followed by Konni, I was a little surprised.
My uncle saw him, chuckled, and said, “You take him.I’ll handle the group.”
Walking to the end of the bar, I waited for Konni to take his usual seat.
“You’re early today,” I said.
“Coming here for a drink has become the highlight of my day.”
“That could be a hint of alcoholism talking,” I said.
“Better make it a mocktail tonight, then.”
I started making him something sweet and felt him watching me.
“Something on your mind?”I asked as I traded the drink for cash.
“Yeah.Were you serious last night?About the daddy issues.”
I felt my face heat, and it wasn’t all embarrassment.
“Are you offering to spank me, Konni?”
He looked down at his drink for a long moment.When his gaze met mine, I saw raw desire there.
“If I knew you were serious about it and not just toying with me, I’d say yes without hesitation.But I wasn’t talking about the spanking part.I meant, is your home life okay?”
The concern behind that question robbed me of all my bravado and made me realize Konni actually cared.Guilt hit me hard even as my danger alarm sounded.
Emotions, such as caring, were deeper waters than I wanted to swim in the dating pool.
“My home life is fine.I promise.I don’t live with my dad.In fact, I’ve successfully avoided him for eight years.He’s a people-user, and I don’t want to be his next victim.”
I thought of the lunch invitation.
“What was that look for?”Konni asked.
“You sure you want to know?”
“Absolutely.Hearing about someone else’s troubles lightens my own.You tell me yours, and I’ll tell you mine.”
“Okay.My estranged father showed up at my house yesterday—the first time I’ve seen him or heard from him in eight years—and said he wants to have a family lunch tomorrow, not with me and my mom, his ex-wife, but with his new family and me.
“I don’t trust him or his invitation.He doesn’t do things unless they benefit him in some way.So, I’m wondering how he plans on using me.It’s not as if I can offer him more money or a higher social status.
“The only way to find out is to show up.”
“Why do you need to find out?”Konni asked.“Can’t you just tell him no?”
“That’s an option.However, if there’s a chance to use him like he used my mom, I’d like to take it.He owes her.But the only way for me to use him is to find out how he plans to use me first.”
“Leverage?”
“Exactly.But only if it’s worth the trade-off and only if it doesn’t violate my rich people principles.”
“Rich people principles?”
