One More Thing

Chapter Six: It's Nothing

Uh, hey," I say, almost drowning in awkwardness.

Jude smiles. "You guys having a nice day?"

"Not bad," I say. "I didn't know you worked here. Didn't have you down as a gift shop kind of guy."

Valerie, really? Just stop talking. Please, for the love of god, stop talking.

Jude laughs. "I don't know why you're so surprised."

He looks up at me through his long black lashes and I can't help but smile. As much as I can't stand Sydney, I also can't deny that her boyfriend is a sweet guy.

"Do you want a bag?" he asks Mae.

"No, thanks. Valerie will carry it for me," she gives me a playful nudge. "She's my PA."

Jude looks at me, dark eyes playful. "Got you under her spell, hasn't she?"

"Sadly, yes. Word of advise, Jude: never befriend a Wiccan."

Mae shoves me in the ribs.

"See what I mean?" I say. "She's savage."

Jude laughs.

"Wiccans are the best," says Mae. "It's the atheists you have to watch out for. Bunch of nihilistic virgins."

My mouth is hanging open like a broken gate. I can't believe she has just said this. "Mae!"

Mae sticks out her tongue at me. I'm laughing, but the embarrassment is flooding over me like the ocean swallowing a ship. My cheeks are burning. I glance at Jude and he looks amused. He's smiling ever so slightly at me, one eyebrow quirked.

"Just ignore her," I say to him quickly, wishing the ground would swallow me whole.

"Ignore both of us," says Mae. "We're bat-shit crazy in equal amounts."

Jude grins, shaking his head. "I can see that."

He slides the card across the counter before running a hand through his tousled brown hair.

"Just... forget what she said," I say quickly. "It's not true. Atheist does not equate to virgin."

Why did I just say that? Why why why.

Jude looks at me for a moment, narrowing his eyes. He bites his lip, as if weighing me up. "I believe you."

Then he flashes a devilish smile.

How mortifying. I must give off major never-been-kissed vibes. I cough to clear my throat. I have never felt so horrified in my entire life.

"You guys have a nice afternoon, yeah?" says Jude.

We thank him and walk away. On my way out the door, I glance back at the till and my stomach flips. He's still looking at me.

Feeling slightly nauseous, I give him a quick polite smile and turn my attention to Mae. She has a big fat smirk on her face.

"What the hell did you say that for?" I ask.

"Sorry," she says. "But you were asking for it by dissing Wiccans."

"You told him I was a virgin! That's ten times worse."

"I didn't say it outright. Besides, what's wrong with being a virgin? You're seventeen."

"So are you."

"Well, I'm probably in the minority."

"Whatever. Good or bad, I don't want it being outed to someone I hardly know. Especially someone like him."