Free V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram Page A

ignored the keychain in my hand and instead picked up a leather backpack chain with a silver little V on it that was similar to the one I wore around my neck.
    I couldn’t believe it. He really was a virgin. He’d just been giving me a hard time that day. He smiled at my confusion and then sent me a heart-stopping wink of my very own as he walked away.
    When he was gone, I stumbled backward, collapsing into a metal folding chair.
    Cara gave me a moment before starting in on me, but then she asked—no, more like demanded, “Since when did you become such a vixen?”
    “What?”
    “Girl you were as smooth as a Ten-Ways-To-Make-Him-Fall-For-You article just now!”
    “You think?” A tiny wave of relief washed over me because her exaggerations were usually based on some form of truth. “Because it felt like I was acting like a complete mental case.”
    “Definitely not, V. I think you might have a shot.”
    “Me? Have a shot with Isaac Warren ?”
    Cara and I were startled from our conversation by a painfully familiar voice. “Is that the douche bag who was just over here?” Kyle asked. I wouldn’t say he sounded jealous exactly, more like completely unimpressed. “You’re blowing me off for that guy ?”
    “He is not why I’m blowing you off,” I said, annoyed that the dreamy, lightheaded feeling I’d been experiencing was replaced with a giant pain in my you-know-what.
    “Well that’s a relief, because you could do way better than—”
    “Don’t get me wrong,” I interrupted him. “I would dump you for him in a heartbeat, but you’ve already given me a million other reasons to do so.”
    “Name one!”
    I didn’t even know where to start, so instead I asked, “What are you doing here?”
    “I’ve got a show to do, remember? You only begged me to play for you.”
    “ I did not beg you,” I corrected him, pointing an accusing thumb at Cara. She started to protest, but then frowned because she couldn’t deny it. “I meant, what are you doing here .” I held up a keychain with a big red A on it. “Have you come to sign up for the abstinence challenge? You know, if you pledged your abstinence to me until our marriage, I might consider dating you.”
    Kyle had such a good laugh at that, that by the time he regained control of himself he’d forgotten what we were talking about. “You’re going to close up shop while we play, right? I’ve got a couple of front row seats for you and the goddess here.” To Cara he said, “Shane’s been asking about you.”
    I opened my mouth to speak, but Cara snatched the badges from Kyle’s hand before I could refuse them. “Of course we’re going to watch the show,” she said.
    I managed to busy myself with my booth in order to ignore Kyle. Apparently he didn’t appreciate that since he grabbed hold of my wrist. “That means you too, right?” he asked, not convinced that I was included in Cara’s promise to watch him play.
    I looked down at where he was touching me, warning him to let go, but instead of releasing me he slid his grip to my hand. I tried to pull away but he was too quick. “You know I’m only doing this show tonight for you, Legs.” He brought my hand to his lips. “I’d better see that pretty little face of yours smiling up at me when I sing.”
    “Fine, whatever,” I grumbled, snatching my hand free. It was a lie of course. I was not going to go be his little groupie in the front row.
    “Good.”
    He wasn’t leaving. When I questioned him about that he said to Cara, “You look like you could use a break.”
    Startled, Cara glanced back and forth between Kyle and me and shook her head. “V would kill me.”
    “I just abandoned Shane in the pizza line. He’s probably feeling pretty lonely right now.”
    Cara’s eyes grew wide.
    “Do not ditch me!” I hissed.
    “Sorry, V, the boy fights dirty. Ten minutes, I promise!”
    “Traitor!” I called out as she left me alone with Kyle.
    She blew me a kiss. “I’ll bring