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2

He’s cute—college-aged, with messy dark hair and a charming smile. But he’s definitely…human.

I chuckle and put a hand on my hip. “Sorry, I’ve got a…” My voice falters before I can finish the word “boyfriend.” Right. I guess I don’t have one of those anymore. Once again, Clinton forces his way back into my thoughts.

“A what?” the guy asks, his fingers brushing lightly against my arm.

I jerk away from the touch, quickly stepping aside to break the contact. I recover fast, inhaling deeply while searching for an excuse. My eyes flick to the bar. “A girlfriend,” I reply, throwing Kyara a playful wink.

She catches my drift, and though she probably can’t hear me over the noise, she smiles and tips her head while pouring a pint.

“Whoa, that’s hot,” his friend says, his eyes wide as he stares.

I laugh softly and roll my eyes as I walk away. “Enjoy the beers, guys.”

Having shifter hearing can be a real curse sometimes—I catch every word of their conversation about how my shorts fit, all the way back to the bar. Pervs.

“So, are you finally going to spill what’s been bothering you?” Kyara asks as I round the corner to join her behind the bar. She leans casually, one elbow propped on the counter, and tucks a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.

I sigh, crossing my arms. “You already know, Kyara. Don’t make me say it.”

She lets out a breath. “Yeah, I figured.” She reaches out, giving my arm a comforting rub. “That jerk didn’t deserve you, Quincy. The sooner you move on, the better off you’ll be.”

“Easier said than done,” I mutter, staring at the floor.

“Nope, that’s it,” Kyara snaps. I glance up at her and see that determined glint in her eyes. “You’ve been sulking around here long enough. We’re going out tonight, and you’re going to meet someone who’ll make you forget all about that cheating loser.”

I shake my head. “I’m not sure I’m ready…”

“I’m not giving you a choice,” she cuts me off, raising her hands. “Best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.”

“What?!” I sputter, laughing. “Did you just come up with that? I don’t think I’m looking for a rebound.”

“Oh, you definitely need a rebound fling,” Kyara says with total confidence. “After our shift, you’re coming to my place. We’ll get dolled up and go break some hearts.”

I scrunch my nose. “On a Wednesday?”

“Especially on a Wednesday,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows. “Hump day.”

I laugh, playfully swatting her arm. I could keep arguing, but I know it’s pointless—she won’t back down.

Truthfully, I’m a bit curious. Kyara’s from Clearwater, and I’ve never been out to the bars there. Before I started working at the brewery, I rarely left Sommerdame’s territory—I never had a reason to. Now that I think about it, there’s no reason I shouldn’t explore other towns, especially where I won’t risk running into Clinton. He’ll never leave the comfort of Sommerdame.

“Alright, fine,” I sigh.

Kyara’s face lights up, and she squeals, fists clenched in excitement as she bounces in place. “Yes! This is going to be amazing!”

I can’t help but laugh at her reaction—she looks like an excited kid. Even though Kyara’s two years older than me, she has such a youthful vibe. Maybe it’s her petite frame, her doll-like face, or the freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks, but she could easily pass for a high schooler.

“Alright, I’m texting Tony to see if he’s in,” she says, pulling her phone from her back pocket.

The mention of her boyfriend dampens my excitement a bit. I thought this was going to be a girls’ night, just the two of us. Adding Tony into the mix shifts the whole vibe.

It’s like she can sense my hesitation. “Is that okay?” she asks, her big brown eyes blinking up at me.

“Yeah, of course,” I say, forcing a smile.

Can’t wait to be the third wheel on your date night.

Kyara’s fingers fly over her phone screen as she quickly types out a message to Tony, sending it before glancing back up at me.

“Great! We’re off at nine, so I told him to meet us there at ten. That should give us plenty of time to get ready.”

I nod, smiling again. “Sounds good.”

Kyara’s eyes flick past me, and a smirk spreads across her face. “Looks like you’ve got some fans over at table six.”

I chuckle, rolling my eyes. “Yeah, about that…”

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