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“She did?” he says, his lips tilting up in a small smile. “Do you believe her?”
“I don’t know. It’s really none of my business anyway.”
“She’s lying.”
“Were you two together?” I ask, all too worriedly.
“I don’t sleep with my workers.”
“But you wanted me to come and work for you.” Beat that logic.
“You are an exception. And I haven’t slept with you – yet.” Nice save.
“And how many other exceptions are there?”
“Tegan, you are the only exception.”
I laugh. “Yeah, I’ll believe that just as soon as hell freezes over.”
Ethan studies me a moment. “You should think about believing in things more often. You might even be surprised at what you see.”
In an effort to ignore him I begin randomly switching nobs on his CD player. But it won’t come on for some reason, so I just sit back and stay quiet. When we pull up outside of my apartment block Ethan just sits still and gazes at me.
“What?” I ask.
“I’d love to come up there with you,” he breathes.
I’m silent as he watches me but I think he gets the message from my facial expression.
“Here,” he says, handing me a small white business card with his number on it. “I’d like it if you’d call me.”
“We’ll see,” I tell him before opening the car door and getting out. As I make my way up the steps to the front door of the block I look back at him and he gives me a lazy wave.
Once I get inside my place I call up Nicky and ask her if I could borrow some job hunting clothes for tomorrow. Then I get into bed, crank open my laptop and make a list of all the places in the city who’re hiring. Not long after that I fall asleep.
Chapter Three
Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble
The next day Nicky brings over a black bag full of clothes for me to pick from. She tells me that she’s brought over enough to last me for a while, not just job finding clothes. She says she’s got too much at home anyway and that I’d be doing her a favour by taking some of her older stuff.
“Oh, by the way,” she begins. “Did that blond guy from Crimson call you? I gave him your number the other night when he asked me for it, I hope that’s okay.” I can see the nerves in her expression. Poor Nicky, she must still think I’m on the verge of breaking down at any moment, especially if we get onto the topic of my love life.
“Yeah he called, and don’t worry about giving him my number, it’s fine.”
“Cool, so what did he want?”
“He asked me out for dinner”
“And you went?” she asks in surprise, hovering by the door and checking her watch. I know she’ll be late for work if she stays much longer, and I’m glad because I’m not in the mood to tell her about Ethan just yet.
“Go to work, Nicky,” I tell her, “we’ll talk about it later.”
She gives me an exasperated look but doesn’t argue and instead gives me a quick hug before rushing out the door.
My job hunt goes disastrously until I get to an occult shop called Indigo. It’s the kind of place that sells crystals, incense, angel figurines and books about witchcraft. I’ve passed by it a couple times but have never gone inside. I’m not much of a believer in the spiritual, I believe in what I can see with my own two eyes. But I suppose I could fake an interest if it gets me a job.
Chimes ring above my head as I enter the shop, the furnishings are all light pine wood and there’s a mezzanine floor with bookshelves and a cash register. A man in his fifties with long grey hair tied back in a ponytail is drinking a cup of herbal tea. He sees me approach and smiles widely, but for some reason as I finish climbing the steps and come face to face with him he narrows his gaze.
