Page 7 of Mixing Drinks For Tipsy Weasels

"Well, if you had your own music, then maybe it wouldn't be so annoying to you."

"I don't have any," he murmurs.

"You can listen to mine." I take out my earphone and put it back in the box. The music immediately starts playing through my phone speaker. "The sound quality isn't great, but I guess we could bring a speaker next time."

"It's better than your singing," he mutters.

I roll my eyes and place my phone somewhere I'm certain it isn't going to get knocked off before turning my attention back to painting. It doesn't matter what Rupert says or does, I'm not going to let him get to me. All I have to do is think calm thoughts and not be overly sarcastic towards him.

How hard can that be?

Chapter 5

Erica

The shop doorcloses behind the last of the customers, and I let out a relieved sigh. I'd known it was going to be busy in Danielle's shop today, but it was a whole other level. It feels like the entirety of the Obscure Academy student body has been in and out of those doors today, even if I know that would both be impractical and impossible.

The bell rings and I'm about to put on a happy smile and attempt to sell another of my sister's dresses, when I realise it's Danielle coming back and not a customer.

"Oh good, you're back," I say.

She chuckles. "That bad?"

"It's been fine, but I wouldn't want to do this every day."

She laughs. "All right, no leaving the business with you if I go on holiday then."

"I mean, you can. Especially over summer. I'll need a job anyway," I point out.

"Consider yourself hired," she responds. "Though I have to ask what happened in here?"

I shrug. "Told you it would be busy. There are some reserved dresses in the back as well, and a couple of orders that I said you'd need to confirm. I didn't want to take the money if the dresses wouldn't arrive in time."

"Mmm, good call." She dumps her bag on the counter.

"How was your date?"

She wrinkles her nose. "Terrible. It's nothing like when I was at the academy and I could just meet people. Now I have to find them on apps or get set up by my friends..."

"Which was this?"

"Blind date. Reese promised that he was a good guy and that I'd like him, but all he did was stare at my boobs and talk about how many kids he wants."

"Isn't that the kind of thing you're supposed to talk about on first dates? The kids part, not the boob part. That's just creepy."

"I mean, yeah, I guess. I want to know whether it's worth my time to date someone, and if they don't want kids, then they're not for me. But he had a whole ten-year plan, and it was bad, Erica."

I grimace. "My ten-year plan bad?"

She snorts. "Way worse. Your plan is just what you want to do with your education and career. His included that, but also what he expected from his wife, and it was not good. I'm never going on another blind date set up by Reese again. If this is her idea of a good match for me, then I'd rather have a bad one."

I can't help but laugh. My sister has always tended toward being a little dramatic, though in this case, it does feel as if it's warranted.

"Speaking of dates, did you get one for the end-of-year ball yet?" she asks.

"No, I think I'll be going it alone," I respond. "Well, not alone, I'll be going with my friends. But I won't have a date."

"That's a shame."

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