Falling for the Genie (Genie's Love, Book 1) (14 page)

Later that evening, my phone rings. “Hey, Mace,” I say.

“I heard what happened between you and Max. Are you okay?”

I lie down on my bed and stare at the ceiling, not caring that my wet hair is soaking the bedspread. I’ve just come out of the shower and Sebastian is watching a game show on TV. “I’m okay. Who told you? Him? What exactly did he say?” And why do I still care?

She pauses before saying. “He told Andy it wasn’t working. I thought you liked him.”

I sit up. “He said I broke up with him?”

“He didn’t give many details. Andy called him to ask if he wanted to double date with us. He wanted to surprise me and you, so he had to check in with Max about your plans. God, Lily. I never expected this. Do you want me to come over?”

I peer into the living room, where Sebastian has moved closer to the TV, focusing on the question being asked. When the host reveals the answer, my genie pumps his fists along with a cheer. I can’t help but smile.

“Lily?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m coming over.”

“No. I’m okay. Really.”

She doesn’t say anything. Knowing Macy as well as I do, I know she’s most definitely slipping on her shoes.

“Macy,” I say. “You don’t have to come running to my apartment every time something goes wrong. I love you and everything, but I need to be strong, you know? You’re
engaged
. Go spend time with Andy. I mean it.”

She’s quiet for a bit. “Well, he does have reservations to that restaurant. Ooh. Maybe you can still come and he’ll invite one of his single friends.”

I grip the phone. “Macy…”

“What? You know what they say. The secret to a break up is a hook up.”

I’m not sure I’d be interested in being set up again. I’d rather meet a guy on my own. Not that it matters, though. I have Sebastian.
He’s only temporary
, a voice in my head reminds me. I fling it aside.

“So, what do you say?” she asks.

I want to spend every second with Sebastian. To soak in as much time as possible because I don’t know when it will be our last.

“Macy?”

“Yeah?”

“Did he tell Andy he’s back with his ex?”

There’s a pause before she says, “He said he met her at a party or something last night and they started talking. He said you guys broke up before then.”

“What an asshole.” I don’t mean for it to slip out, but it does. I can practically see the shock on Macy’s face. She’s well aware that I rarely call anyone that unless they pissed me off to the extreme.

“What the hell happened between you guys?” she asks.

“He cheated.”

“
What
?”

I swallow. Damn. Why do I still care? Maybe this has nothing to do with Max and everything to do with the guy sitting on my living room couch. I’m using the pain from Max as a front for my true fears and insecurities. Because my heart knows I’ll never feel this way about a guy again.

“He was two-timing me,” I say.

“That’s impossible.”

“No.” Sebastian would never lie to me. “And he was in contact with his ex for a few days already. He was looking for the perfect opportunity to break up with me. Right after your engagement party.” I slap my forehead. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. Your engagement party was beautiful, Mace. You looked stunning. I’m so happy for you and Andy. You guys deserve the best.”

My gaze returns to the living room. Sebastian cheers another time. I can’t believe I won’t hear those sounds soon. I won’t see that look of wonder on his face. Won’t feel the softness of his gold-colored chest.

“He was
seeing
someone else while seeing you?” she repeats, her voice filled with disbelief. “How could he do that?”

The next words come out before I can stop them. “He said he was using me to get over his ex. He never liked me.”

“I’m so sorry. I had no idea he was like that. I never would have pushed you to go out with him. What an asshole.”

I go over to the window and peer out. It started raining a few hours ago and hasn’t let up. When it poured like hell at Daisy’s funeral, I thought the world cried along with us. If not for Sebastian being in my life, I’d probably feel the same way now. Once he leaves, the pain will crash over me like cement.

“Are you going to be okay?” Macy asks.

I could tell her I’m with Sebastian now and don’t give a damn about the jackass, but not yet. I want what I have with him to be special, just for the two of us. Our little secret.

“As long as you promise me one thing,” I say.

“Yeah?”

“Not to make a big deal about this okay? It happened. It’s done. I don’t want to think or talk about that guy again. Is that okay?”

“Sure. You sure you don’t want me to come over and give you a hug? We can gorge on ice cream and watch one of those movies you love that I hate.”

I laugh. “I’ll be fine. Have fun on your date.”

“Thanks. But call me whenever you need me.”

She kisses me goodbye through the phone, and I hang up. I lower myself next to Sebastian, whose eyes are furrowed in concentration. I read the question on the screen. “Santa Fe,” I say.

He turns to me.

“The capital of New Mexico,” I tell him.

He frowns. I laugh and kiss his cheek. “Don’t be so hard on yourself for not knowing all the answers.”

“I’ve been on this world for hundreds of years. I feel like I should know everything.”

“Even the great geniuses don’t know
everything
.”

He nods slowly like he’s considering my words. He then grins and wraps an arm around me, tugging me close. “You smell good,” he whispers.

Heat flushes my cheeks.

“Can I try to shower?” he asks. “I’ve never done it before.” He intertwines his fingers through mine. “I want to do everything you do. To be as close to you as ever.” The tips of his ears grow pink. “I want to smell good.”

I press my nose to his chest, feeling his silky skin. “I love your smell.”

He laughs softly. “I haven’t bathed ever. I can’t smell good.”

I lift my head and look into his eyes. “You don’t stink, Sebastian. Don’t change anything. I love you just the way you are.”

He smiles and bends close. When our lips roll over one another, these tingly sensations explode all over my body. His hands dig into my wet hair and my fingers grip his shoulders. Our mouths never breaking apart, he lies down on the couch with me on top of him. Our legs tangle in each other’s and I’m so numb I can’t tell which is his or mine, since both of us are barefoot.

Breathing heavily, I trace the swirly designs on his chest, from left to right and all the way down. I stop at the top of his black pants. The designs are just as rough as the ones on his lamp. I trail them back over his stomach, up his chest, then down again.

Sebastian trembles beneath my touch. His lips are red and swollen, eyes heavy and hot. With each stroke of my finger, he shudders more. I stop.

Panting, he takes my hand and puts it back on his chest, running it across the same way I did. “Don’t stop,” he breathes.

I lower my mouth to his chest and kiss each design. His shaking intensifies, which fuels me to go on. I love the way he melts beneath my touch. That I evoke these feelings in him.

“Lily.” He gathers me in his arms and holds me tight. The TV host talks in the background, but our breathing is too loud to hear him. Our lips connect, then break apart. He teases my mouth with his lips, sending jolts all over me until I can’t support myself and collapse on top of him.

He brushes soft kisses along the left side of my face. Everywhere he touches stings in the best way possible. “How am I doing?” he asks, his voice barely audible.

“You’re amazing,” I whisper, planting a kiss on his lips.

His cheeks redden slightly as he curls his fingers over the back of my neck and kisses me, slowly at first, then growing faster and rougher. He rolls us over so he’s on top and has full access to my neck, where he trails his lips along its length. My back arches as my fingers dig into the couch. When our mouths meet once again, flames burst inside me.

“I’ve never felt this way before,” I rasp.

He presses his forehead to mine, his breathing uneven. “You’ve never done this with a guy?”

“I’ve kissed guys before, but not like this. You do magic with your lips.”

He smiles. “I only react to how I feel. To the way you make me feel. I never imagined human emotions are like this.”

I twirl my finger through is hair. “I’m glad I can show you.” And I’m glad he’ll remember me this way.

There’s only one wish I want, one I can never have: him.

“You sure you know what you’re doing?”

I play with Sebastian’s locks of hair. He’s sitting in a chair in the bathroom, facing the mirror with a towel wrapped around his shoulders. His eyes keep flicking to the scissors in my hand, then back to his hair. He gulps.

“Not really,” I say. “But I used to cut my dolls’ hair all the time when I was a kid.” I bend close to his ear. “Most of them ended up with half their hair chopped off.”

His eyes widen and face pales.

“I’m kidding!”

He sighs in relief. “I’ve never gotten my hair cut.”

“Really? For hundreds of years?”

He nods.

“How’s your hair not sweeping the floor, then?” I play around with it some more, letting the strands fall through my fingers like a silk curtain.

He tugs on his bangs. “I don’t age or anything, right? Except for my hair. It grows a little every hundred years.” His eyes meet mine in the mirror. “I barely notice it. How did you?”

I suggested earlier to give him a haircut because his bangs keep falling into his eyes and it doesn’t seem comfortable. “I don’t know,” I say. “Guess I notice a lot about you.”

He smiles and reaches for my hand. I place the scissors on the sink. “Are you sure you want me to cut it?”

“Yes. I want to see what it’s like. I’ve watched it being done over the years and I’m very curious.”

“Okay.”

I grab the scissors and get to work. I start with the back, only trimming a little because he told me he still wants long hair. I then do his bangs, making sure to keep them even, unlike with my dolls. As I snip, Sebastian stares into my eyes with that intense look that’s mixed with love, and I lose focus for a second, nearly chopping his ear off.

“Stop,” I say.

“What?”

“You’re distracting me.”

“Sorry. I just love watching you.”

I smile and resume cutting. He keeps his gaze on my hands, then the floor before staring at me again.

“How do I look?” he asks.

“Like a golden Ken doll with all his hair chopped off.”

With eyes bugging out of their sockets, he grabs his hair, then narrows his eyes. “That’s not funny.”

I lightly kiss his cheek. “I’m all done now.” We turn to the mirror and study him. “Do you like it?” I ask.

It hasn’t changed much. It reaches right above his shoulders and his bangs are out of his eyes. “Yes, thanks.”

“Anything for you.”

We’re gazing at the mirror, admiring my work, when something happens. The tips of his hair begin to lengthen, and soon they stretch past his shoulders, just as they were before. So do his bangs. Sebastian and I exchange a confused look. He sinks in his chair. “It won’t let itself get cut,” he says. “I’m supposed to remain the way I am.”

I hold him close. “It’s okay. It doesn’t matter.”

He nods as he stares at himself. This wasn’t just about a haircut. He wanted to do something human, something that would bring the two of us together. It pains me to see the hurt on his face, and I wish I could do something to make him feel better.

Maybe I can. “How about we go out?” I ask him. “Let’s do something human.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Like what?”

“We can go to the mall. Maybe get you some clothes.” I have a few days off from work, and I’d love to spend every second of my vacation with Sebastian.

“Human clothes melt off me after I wear them for a while.”

“Oh. But maybe you can try them on for a bit and see what it’s like to be human. C’mon. Do you know how many times Macy and I go shopping just for the heck of it, when we know we won’t buy anything? It’s fun.”

A small smile breaks out on his face. “Sure.”

***

Sebastian holds a pair of swim trunks in front him and wrinkles his nose. “I’m not putting this on.” He places it back on the rack. We have a crapload of stuff in the cart. Clothes for him as well as for me. Of course we’re not going to buy anything. Most of the items cost much more than I can afford, plus I’d never see myself dressed in these outfits made for fancy parties. But it’ll still be fun to put them on. Sebastian also has some normal clothing in the cart because we want to see how he’d look as a regular eighteen-year-old guy.

Many shoppers pass by and see me talking to no one and that doesn’t bother me. Because I’m here with the guy of my dreams and I couldn’t be happier.

I glance at his pants. “You can’t use magic to change your clothes?”

He shakes his head. My face heats up as I keep my eyes on his pants. There are a lot of things I wonder about him. For example, if he has normal male parts down there.

He follows my gaze. “What?”

Oh my god. Was I
staring
?

I busy myself with whatever is on the rack next to me. Men’s underwear. Wonderful. Sebastian narrows his eyes at the packs. “I don’t need to try those on.”

“Do you wear underwear?” I bite my lip. Did that just come out of my mouth? I need to
shut up
.

He runs his hand through his hair, his cheeks a shade of pink. “Uh, no. I don’t understand why humans do.”

“You just appeared in those clothes?”

He nods. I can’t imagine what that’s like. To wear the same thing every day for hundreds of years. To never dress up. He never had a childhood, never played pretend like most kids do.

“Well today you get to be anyone you want.” I push the cart, leading us toward the women’s fitting rooms. I stop before the entrance. No one can see my genie so they can’t stop us, but it wouldn’t be right to bring a guy into the room.

“What’s wrong? Isn’t this where humans try on their clothes?”

I tell him my concerns, and understanding enters his eyes. “Okay, I’ll seclude an area just for the two of us. We won’t see the other people inside and they won’t see us—well, you.”

“Sounds great.”

He creates two rooms, side by side. One for him and one for me. Good thing because I would die if we had to dress in the same room. He thinks of everything.

I hand him his clothes and step into my room. We gathered different articles of clothing. Most are for fancy occasions, but a few are a little humorous, like funny hats and pajama bottoms. A few leather pants and jackets, funky glasses. Sebastian and I are going to have a good time goofing off. It’s so much easier to do this than worry about our future.

And I’m going to capture everything on camera so I can remember him forever. Maybe I’ll wonder who he is and that might spark a light in my brain. Maybe I can fight the whole forgetting about him thing and force my brain to know him.

“Lily?”

“Yeah?”

He shuffles around in his room. “I don’t think this fits.”

He’s referring to the leather pants, probably. He wanted to try those on first and I decide to match with him.

“One minute.” I quickly pull mine on, along with the jacket and glasses and slip out of my room. Sebastian is standing before his room, staring at the mirror in front of his door. He keeps tugging at his thighs, trying to stretch the pants out.

He looks like a rock star. I can’t help but stare. The hair fits the look perfectly. He’s wearing the leather boots, too. It’s probably his first time wearing shoes. His sunglasses are pushed up on top of his head.

As if he feels me gaping at him, he turns around. “What?” He shifts on his feet uncomfortably. “Do I look ridiculous?”

I try to get words to come out of my mouth, but they refuse. All I manage is to let out some weird sound that I have no idea what it means.

He totally belongs in this world.

He shifts again. “Lily?”

I blink. “Yeah?”

He pulls at the pants some more. “Do I look okay?”

I move behind him and wrap my arms around his waist as we look at him in the mirror. My hands crawl up the white shirt underneath his jacket. The material is smooth, but not as smooth as his bare chest. Though he looks as sexy as hell in human clothes, I think I prefer his genie outfit.

“You look hot,” I whisper in his ear. He intakes a sharp breath, his eyes glued on mine in the reflection. I press my lips to his ear, then slowly move it to his temple, popping soft kisses. Sebastian’s breathing grows heavily. He turns his head and our lips meet. His hands shoot to my hair, messing it around while I push myself closer to him, giving him everything I have in this kiss. I want to show him how much he means to me, that nothing, nothing can keep us apart. My brain yells at me that I know damn well that everything can and will keep us apart, but I slap it across the face. Here, in this moment with Sebastian’s lips crushing against mine, everything is perfect.

Sebastian takes my face in his hands. “Thank you for today. I’m having a really good time learning about your world.”

“I’m having a great time showing you.”

He smiles, and when his eyes dip to the phone in my hand, his eyebrows furrow. “What’s that for?”

“I want to take pictures of us. We’re rock stars, although you look ten times sexier than me.”

He bends down for another kiss. “Hell no.” He places his hands on my shoulders, turning me toward the mirror. “Have you looked at yourself?”

What I see before me is a girl who looks completely different than the girl I was four months ago. I seem…happy. More than happy. I’m alive. That’s all due to the guy standing behind me.

Smiling, I hold my phone in front of us. “Smile.”

“Lily…”

“Don’t worry. You look amazing. Smile.” I take the picture and check to see how we came out. My heart drops. Because I’m the only one in the shot. My arm is wrapped around nothing, like there’s an invisible person on my left.

An invisible person. Sebastian doesn’t come out in photos. He doesn’t exist. He takes my hands and stares into my eyes. “I tried to tell you.”

“It’s okay.” I force a smile. “It’s just a picture.”

No, it’s not just a picture. It’s a reminder than he and I can ever be. Even if he manages to stay for years without me having to use up my last wish, we can’t be a real couple.

“Hey.” He sweeps his hands up and down my shoulders. “Today is about having fun and forgetting everything, right?”

I nod. He’s right. So what if we can’t take pictures? There are a million other things we can do together. The future…forget about that. I know I need to be practical, but this is what the two of us want. This fantasy. It’s what Sebastian wants before he has to leave. He’ll have these memories with him forever. If I was able to, I’d give him the world.

“Let’s try on some more clothes,” I say.

An hour later, Sebastian and I are walking through the mall, watching all the activity going on. When we pass the food court, Sebastian stops. “It smells good.” He gives me a small smile. “Do you want to eat anything?”

“That’s okay.”

“I don’t mind.”

My stomach rumbles, so I don’t have a choice now. I order pizza and we sit down across from one another. As I eat, I watch all the other couples eating together, smiling to one another and holding each other’s hands. I take Sebastian’s and give him a smile.

From here I can see the roller skating rink on the lower level. The couples seem to be having a lot of fun, twirling around and falling together. I try not to let it bother me, but it does. I mean, Sebastian and I can do many things together, but I’d look like a weirdo talking to myself all the time. We can always seclude ourselves like we did in the dressing room, but I don’t want to be alone all the time. I want to show off my boyfriend. I want everyone to see what an amazing guy he is.

I look at him, and he smiles. I won’t love anyone the way I love him. He’ll have many more masters. Many female masters. Will he fall in love with any of them? I shake my head. I’m being insecure. And I have no right to tell him who to fall in love with. If he manages to find a way to stay with someone, then I wish him happiness. I hope he finds everlasting love and doesn’t live an empty life with memories he can’t get rid of.