She flips him off.
"Well, my ex, my only serious ex… we had some pretty emotional sex before he went abroad. I knew it was the last time and I thought he did too. But he wanted to try long-distance and I didn't," I say.
"Emotional how? Was it intense? That connection you feel in your soul?" Luna asks.
No. I was relieved. "It was kind of like… I could be more selfish, knowing it was the end. I could take only what I wanted."
"I love a greedy woman," Patrick says.
Luna holds out her handstop. "Tricky, it's not about you. I know that's a hard concept."
He scratches his head, playing dumb.
"It's okay. I'm teasing him 'cause I know how much he likes you." She shoots him a knowing look.
He returns one that saysdon't overstep. "If you're done attempting to extract free audio porn from my girl."
"No. I'm not done," Luna says. "I have way more questions."
"You're done." Patrick wraps his arms around me and pulls me into a tight hug. "Hey."
"Hey."
"You look good." He presses his lips to mine. "Hot as fuck."
"You too," I say.
"Give me five to finish. And let me know if Luna keeps asking intrusive questions. I'll have the other guys cut her off." He kisses me again. Then he pulls back and takes his customer through checkout and after care speech and walks him to the door.
"The other guys?" I ask.
"There might be a lot of free audio porn," she says.
"Free is free."
She nodsright. "I told Tricky you're smart and cute and way too good for him, so he should hold on to it, but he's not that bright."
"We're just having fun," I say.
"Fun is good. As long as you come Saturday. Please. Otherwise, I'll have to hear Lithium twenty-five times."
"That is hard," I say.
"And it will be really low-key. Mostly people from the shop. Barely any alcohol. The guys here do talk about sex, a lot, but they mostly gossip and pontificate on art. Including Kurt Cobain's brilliance." She sticks out her tongue.
I don't go to parties, normally, but this doesn't sound too bad. "I'll see what I can do."
Patrick returns to the desk, finished. "Are you messing with her?"
"Inviting her to a party," she says.
"Generous," he says.
"No," she says. "I already want Imogen to myself too. She's way more interesting than you are."
"You didn't invite me to this party," he says.
"Hmm. Must be an oversight. Don't worry. Your girl has a plus-one," she says.