Treasure Hunt

"Jude said those exact words to you?" I ask.

"Yes."

Although my heart's shattering like broken glass, I say, "That's what you guys' intimate talk was about?"

"Mhmm."

"Is he in love with you too?"

"What? No! And I'm not in love with Jude. After we talked, he explained why I felt that way. Everything I shared was his words. I just repeated his wise counsel to you because it made perfect sense. Also, as you know, he can mate by biting. He once thought it was the only way, but now he knows there's a deeper connection involved when mating."

"So you don't love Jude?"

"Have you heard a word I said? Yes, I love Jude, but I'm not in love with him. He's going to skin me alive for telling you this, but I kissed him."

"When!?"

"When we first went to Knight Island," he says with a yucky face, "It was disgusting."

"Did he kiss you back?" I wince.

"Not at all. He tried to kill me."

I watch him, hands over my mouth. Waving me off, he says, "Go ahead and laugh."

An uncontrolled laugh erup