Page 15 of Oohs, Ahhhs, and Orbs

BRIDGETTE

Shayla and I were leaning over the counter, enjoying a cup of tea as we watched a group of four girls who looked to be in middle school browse through the shop, giggling as they moved around. There was a lot of pointing and whispering among each other.

“I remember those days,” I murmured as I blew on my tea.

Shayla groaned. “Oh man. Remember when we went to the discount store after school? The things we would find there. Hours of pure entertainment.”

As they ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’ over the gemstone collection, I watched as one of the girls picked up one of the prettier pieces of amethyst and slipped it into her pocket.

“Oh, that’s bold,” Shayla muttered as she inhaled the fragrant tea. I hummed my agreement. A second later, I felt a tingling under my skin as the shop’s wards activated. The amethyst reappeared on the shelf, and I grinned as the girl looked down at it, confused.

She patted her pocket, then darted a startled look my way. I gave her a little wave, allowing pretty purple sparks to danceacross my fingertips. Her eyes grew wide as she realized she had been caught in the act. Immediately, she turned and started whispering frantically to her friends. She began to drag one of them by the arm while the others complained loudly. Eventually, she won the battle, and as they headed for the door, I called out to them.

“Bye, ladies! Come back soon!”

Once the door closed behind them, Shayla let out a snort. “I love it when you do that.”

I sighed, then straightened up and turned to lean my back against the glass case. “I just hoped she learned her lesson. I’d hate for her to try her five-finger discount in another store and ruin her future.”

“I have no doubt that she learnedsomethingtoday,” Shayla laughed. She straightened up next to me and nudged my shoulder with her arm. “So, tonight’s the big night, huh? What are you going to wear?”

My heart sped up the way it did every time I thought about my date tonight, but I ignored it the way I had been all day. I glanced down at my clothes and grimaced, thinking about what my mother would have to say. “This, I suppose.”

Shyla took in my black jeans and lace top. “It’s nice enough, but I’m surprised you would be so… casual. What gives? Wait! You’re not trying to do the minimal effort thing in order to turn him off, are you?”

I eyed my friend speculatively. “Do you think that would work?”

All I got was a perturbed look and a “Girl” in aget realtone. With a sigh, I pulled the phone out of my pocket, opened it up to the text message Logan had sent me as I had been getting ready for the day, and handed it over.

“Are you serious? He actually told you to wear jeans and to braid your hair. Is this some kind of sex kink?”

It was my turn to snort, then I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder to make sure my mom wasn’t around to hear me, even knowing good and well that she wasn’t, but old habits died hard. “No, I think he wants to take me out on his motorcycle. He was riding one the first time he showed up at the shop.”

“Oh. I don’t know if I’m disappointed or not. It doesn’t mean that he’s not kinky in other ways, though, right?”

“Shayla!” I laughed and gave her a shove that barely moved her. “What’s with you lately?”

“Well, one of us should be enjoying a little something. Kink is healthy as long as you’re both consenting adults.”

“Well, you could be getting something if you stopped playing hard to get with your professor,” I said slyly, hiding my grin behind the rim of my cup. I watched the tip of her ears darken, the only sign she ever gave away that she was embarrassed about something. I gasped. “What happened? Tell me now before I shock you!” I held out my hand and let the sparks dance on my fingertips again.

“Nothing happened. Today I got aBon one of my exams. I was so pissed! Then I saw that he wrote a note telling me to see him after class.”

She was practically mumbling into her tea, and I was getting impatient, so I zapped her on the arm. “And?”

“Ouch, bitch! That hurt!” She rubbed her arm but didn’t continue, so I reached out again in warning. “Okay, okay! Damn impatient witches. When I met with him, he told me I could get extra credit to make up for theBby helping him in his office a couple days a week.”

I almost choked on my own spit when I inhaled another gasp. “What does he want you to do?” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “Does he want sexual favors?”

Her ears got dark again as she shook her head. “No. I think he wants me to organize his files or something.”

“Do you think he just wants to spend more time with you until the semester is over? You won’t be in his class anymore, right?”

“Nope. No more Professor Hotty after this semester.”

I squealed in excitement. “I bet that’s what it is! He wants to spend time with you the only way he can. I bet that as soon as he’s no longer your professor, he makes his move.” I watched her closely, then narrowed my eyes. “And you do too. Did he say as much?”

“Yes and no. He may have alluded to it.”

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