Page 84 of A Witch in Notting Hill

“Grand, yeah.”

“Grand as in you don’t want to talk about it, or grand as in actually grand because you’re having a secret fling with a beautiful American celebrity?”

“No one’s having a fling, mate.”

“Maybe she can give you some acting lessons while you’re having a fling,” he said, “because you’re shit at lying.”

The bartender reappeared, and I drank nearly half my pint in one go.

“It’s that obvious?” I asked.

“Nah, just haven’t seen you this keen on a woman in a while. Kind of endearing, if I’m honest.”

“Oh, piss off.” I laughed. “It’s nothing. Just a bit of chemistry, that’s all. She’s got some bloke back home and she’s going to leave next month as soon as her thing is done, so.”

“I don’t see that bloke here,” Min said. “And she’s an actor. Can’t she just hop on a private jet and fly back here any time?”

“I’m not sure that’s how it works,” I said. “Even if it did, I doubt she’d want that. So I’m afraid it hardly makes sense to pursue this at all.”No matter how badly I want to.

“But do you want to?”

“Do I want to what?”

“Pursue it. In a perfect world. Or even in this world. You’re interested, yeah?”

Of course I was bloody interested. Anyone with eyes and ears and half a brain would be interested. And Min definitely knew that, so I wasn’t sure why he needed to hear me say it. But the way he was looking at me with his brows raised and his pint halfway to his lips, I knew I’d have to say it anyway.

“Yeah, I’m interested. But it doesn’t matter, really. Besides, there’s the whole witch thing, which you know I think is shit, so.”

“And yet, here you are.” He smiled, and I didn’t like where this was going. “At the full moon festival. Dressed in a mask and a sport jacket and preparing to stay up until tomorrow night even though you could be literally anywhere else.”

“Doesn’t mean I believe in it.”

“Supporting something and believing in something aren’t the same thing,” he said. “Just keep an open mind, Ol. You don’t have to believe in everything she believes in. You just have to support her. Try not to be a dick about it and this might work out for you.” He raised his glass, and his smug smile made me want to slam my head into the bar.

“And what about the fact she’s going back to LA, hmm? Can I find my way around believing in that?”

“Of course you can,” he said, “by keeping an open mind. And not being a dick.”

“Very funny.”

“I’m serious.”

“Won’t matter if she runs away because we aren’t back with a drink fast enough,” I said, grabbing the other two glasses and nodding toward Lola and Willow. “Ready?”

“Areyou?”

I rolled my eyes, and Min nudged my shoulder, following me through the crowd.

Not that I’d ever say it, but he did sort of have a point. Was it possible I could look past the witch thing? Chalk it up to two different belief systems? It would be like dating someone who wasn’t Jewish. Or who though milk belonged in tea.

Not that we were dating. Or even could be.

I was getting way too far ahead of myself and needed to reel it in before it was too late.

“It’s about time,” she said as we approached, taking the proffered gin and tonic from my hand.

“Missed me?”