Loving the Genie (Genie's Love, Book 2) (13 page)

“Hi.”

Macy’s eyes trail to where I’m looking. “Is that Sebastian? Hi, not that I can see you.”

He chuckles softly. “Tell Macy I say hello.”

“He says hi,” I say to her.

“How are you doing?” She asks him.

“Not too great.”

I translate that for her.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she says. “Maybe this yummy dinner will make you feel better.”

He frowns.

“Macy, he can’t eat.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.”

He moves closer to her and sits down on the chair near her. I tell her he’s sitting beside her and that he’s sorry for everything that happened between her and Andy.

She waves her hand, but her shoulders are stiff. “I’ll be fine.”

“He says if there’s anything he can do, please let him know,” I tell her.

She smiles a little. “Thank you. You’re really kind and sweet. I’m sorry for everything that happened to you. It sucks. You and Lily deserve to be together.”

“Thank you.” His voice is low. He looks at me and gives me a small smile. “You’re a good friend to Lily and I’m glad she has you in her life.”

When I tell that to Macy, she laughs lightly. “Believe me, I can be a better friend, but thanks. She’s a great friend to me, too. I don’t know what I would do without her.”

I hug her. “We’ll get through this,” I say. “We’re strong.”

She draws out of the hug. “I don’t know…because the way I’m feeling, it’s like the world is coming to an end.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty accurate.”

We continue working on dinner. I leave the kitchen to get something for the soup. When I return and am at the doorway, I hear Macy whisper, “Sebastian, watch over Lily. I know you love her and will probably love her all your life. I don’t know what’s going to happen if and when you leave, if she’ll remember you, or remember the pain she’s feeling. I’m just worried she might do something to hurt herself. I don’t know how these things work.” She snorts. “I don’t know if I’m making any sense. I just hope she doesn’t go down a dark path, you know, with the loss of you in her heart or something.”

Sebastian must be revealing himself to her because she gasps. “I will watch over Lily and make sure no harm comes her way.” I lean against the wall as tears enter my eyes. I can’t bear to hear them talking like that. I can’t bear the thought of my Sebastian no longer being part of my life. My heart is definitely always going to cry for him. There’s no way it will forget him.

“Thank you,” Macy says.

When it’s quiet, I rid my tears and step into the kitchen to finish dinner.

It’s hard for me to leave Sebastian home alone the next morning, but I can’t miss another day of work. He can always “persuade” my boss to give me the day off, but that’s not fair to my coworkers who would have to cover my shift, and it’s not right for Sebastian to control my boss. Not to mention I need the money.

Mom called last night and wanted to talk to Sebastian, as she did all the other times she called. I told her he wasn’t home, that he was working. I hate lying to her, but I couldn’t tell her the truth. If Sebastian leaves, I’ll have to let her know we broke up. But for now, we’re still together, and I’d like to act like we are.

As I walk the few blocks to Inferno, a chill runs down my spine. I don’t know what it is, exactly, but it feels like someone is watching me. Peering to my right and left, I don’t see anyone. But that doesn’t stop a sick feeling from entering my stomach.

When I’m a block away from the restaurant, something black enters my peripheral vision. I whirl around, but there’s nothing there. Checking all around me, I see people rushing to work and kids running to camp.

Maybe I’m just imagining it. Or freaking out a little because I had the meadow dream again. It was short, maybe only lasting for a minute. I didn’t tell Sebastian about it because I don’t want him to worry. We have enough to deal with right now.

“Welcome back!” Macy says once I enter Inferno. My other coworkers gather around me, letting me know that they’re glad I’m feeling better. I know I’ve missed many days lately, and I feel so bad that they had to take my shifts, but I’m sort of dealing with a crisis. My boyfriend is a genie. He’s going to leave after I make my last wish. I know I told myself I wouldn’t think about this, but how can I not? I have no idea when he’ll need my third wish. It could be months.

“Lily Richards,” a voice says. I turn around and find Chef Charleston standing outside his office. His lips are pressed together tightly, and his eyes aren’t exactly friendly.

I swallow. “Yes, sir?”

“Into my office.”

I feel like a kid being reprimanded for breaking the school rules as I follow him into the office. He motions for me to take a seat. I shakily do so, forming different possibilities in my head. The fact that his face is stern tells me that this meeting is going to be anything but pleasant.

He clasps his hands together and leans back. “Lily, I noticed you’ve been skipping quite a few days.”

“Sir—”

He holds up his hand. “I expect my employees to take their job seriously. Now, a few days ago you asked me to give you some time off so you could visit your mother in California. I gave you those days and in return you promised to make up the work. Yet you keep calling in sick.”

“Sir—”

Again, he doesn’t let me talk. “When you first applied to this job, I saw the fire in your eyes, how determined you were. I even considered you for the sous chef position, which you declined. You’re slacking off, Lily. Tell me, why should I keep you here when I have many other potential people willing to work harder than you do?”

“But I do want to work hard. I just…I just…have some issues…”

“Everyone has issues. I don’t care what they are. Your personal life is your personal life. I expect you to come in and work.”

He goes on and on about what a great opportunity this is, when I notice something in the window. Sebastian is sitting there. He gives me a small smile and a wave. What’s he doing here?

“I gave you a few chances,” Chef Charleston continues. “But you let me down. I’m afraid I’m going to have to let you go.”

Let me go? My lungs grow heavy and I can’t breathe. I’m fired?

“Chef Charleston, please give me another shot. I promise I’ll be the best worker you’ve ever had.”

He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Lily.”

Sebastian jumps down from the window. He steps closer to my boss and stares into his eyes. Is he controlling him? I want to tell him not to get involved. If I got fired—painful as it is—I need to accept it. I shouldn’t have it easier than anyone else because I have a genie.

Sebastian blinks and frowns. “It’s not working,” he tells me. “My magic. It doesn’t seem to…” His eyes light up. “Because getting your job back can’t be temporary. When I do things for you, they don’t last. Only wishes do. You need to wish for it.”

Is he serious? I’m not going to waste a second wish so soon. We hardly have enough time together as it is. I shake my head.

“You’re dismissed,” Chef Charleston says. “Goodbye and good luck.”

Getting fired from a restaurant such as Inferno isn’t the greatest thing. Working here can open many doors for a culinary student wanna-be like me. I can get another job, but I don’t know if it’ll be as good of an opportunity as this one was.

But I won’t wish to get the job back. I shouldn’t cut corners. It isn’t fair.

I don’t want my genie to go home.

“Miss Richards,” Chef Charleston says. “Please pack your things and leave.”

“Lily.” Sebastian holds up his hands, pleading. “Please wish. You lost your job because of me. Please let me make it right.”

Chef Charleston is staring at me as though I lost my brain. With the way I’m gazing at the barren walls, I don’t blame him. “Thank you for the opportunity, sir,” I say before I leave his office with Sebastian behind me.

Since it’s early and not that many customers have arrived, my coworkers stop what they’re doing and look at me. Macy rushes over. “What happened? You look like you saw a ghost.”

“Lily.” Sebastian strokes my cheek. “Please.”

I’m not mad at him, nor do I blame him for what happened. How can I? It’s not his fault he’s a genie. I definitely don’t regret falling in love with him.

“Lily, please.”

I shake my head and move away from him. I wish I could sink through the floor and enter another dimension where I don’t have to deal with my problems. I feel like everything is crashing on top of me. First my boyfriend turns into a genie, now I lose my job. What’s next?

Tears enter my eyes, and I run outside to the alley behind Inferno. I drop to the ground and bury my face in my hands. What’s the best decision? Do I take advantage of having a genie around? It’s not fair that I lost my job, but that’s life. Do I have a right to take the easy way out?

Macy and Sebastian are outside within seconds. She falls down beside me while Sebastian stands behind me. Macy rubs my shoulder. “What’s going on?”

I lift my head. “He fired me.”

Her eyes bug out of their sockets. “What?”

I nod.

“The jerk. I’m going to march over there and demand—”

I place my hand on hers. “Macy, I deserved it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I promised to make up the hours I missed when I went to California, and I didn’t. So he fired me. Can you really blame him?”

“I sure can. He has no idea what you’re going through. He had no right to do that. No right.” Well, technically he did, since he’s the boss.

“Sebastian wants me to wish to get my job back,” I tell her.

“Wait, Sebastian’s here?”

I nod.

“Oh, hey, Sebastian,” she says. I guess he revealed himself to her.

“Macy, please convince Lily to wish,” he says. “I feel awful for everything I’ve caused. She needs this job.”

Macy looks from me to Sebastian. Back and forth and back and forth. Until, I’m guessing, Sebastian vanishes before her eyes.

“Go inside,” I tell her. “Before you get fired, too.”

She touches my arm. “I don’t know what to tell you. If you should wish or not. But I do know one thing—you didn’t deserve to get fired.” She hugs me. “I hate to leave you, but—”

“Just go.” I’d never forgive myself if she got fired because of me.

Sebastian lowers himself next to me and wraps his arm around my shoulder. “Lily, I know you don’t feel right wishing to get your job back. One of the things I love about you is your determination to do the right thing.” He gazes into my eyes. “I wish I could do this for you, but I can’t. Lily, will you please wish?”

“I don’t know, Sebastian,” I whisper.

He rests his cheek on mine. “I’m going to need you to wish soon, you know that. Let it be for something you really need.”

“I don’t know. It doesn’t feel right.”

He closes his eyes. “If I wouldn’t have returned to you, you wouldn’t be in this mess. All I do is ruin your life.”

“Don’t say that.”

He opens his eyes. “I won’t be able to live with myself.” He takes my hands. “Don’t you see how easily that can be fixed?”

I lower my eyes to the ground as I ponder his words. While I don’t think it’s right to use wishes to make my life easier, the truth is that it wouldn’t be the end of the world if I do. I have a genie who can grant me three—well, two—wishes. Is it bad to use them? I look into Sebastian’s eyes and see how much pain he’s in. He’ll always blame himself for my losing my job, especially because working at Inferno can open many doors for me. Maybe another chef position will open up one day. If I’m fired from there, Chef Charleston wouldn’t so much as look my way. If I was employed here, I’d have a shot.

I don’t want to hurt Sebastian, and if my wishing makes him happy, I’ll do it for him. He might live his whole life yearning after me. The least I can do is make him happy.

“Okay,” I say. “I’ll wish.”

He nods as a swallow makes its way down his throat. I know what he’s thinking, that this is my second wish. One more and…

No, I won’t think about it.

I stand up. He does the same, and we face each other. I take a deep breath and then let it out slowly. Once I make this wish, there’s no going back. I’ll use up my second wish, and Sebastian will be one step closer to leaving me forever.

Gazing into his eyes, I say, “Are you sure you want me to do this?”

“Very sure.”

“I can always get another job…”

He runs his thumb across my lips. “When I leave, I want to be assured that I did everything I could for you. Working at Inferno is important to you and I won’t let you give it up.”

I nod, unable to stand the thought of him blaming himself. “Okay.” I step back and take another deep breath. “Sebastian, I wish to get my job at Inferno back.”

I’m snuggled in Sebastian’s arms as we lie on the couch, watching TV. It’s not romance this time, but a cooking reality show. I don’t think either of us can handle watching the whole happily ever after thing. After my boss called me into his office to tell me he made a mistake and would like me to have my job back, I came home and spent a few hours on the computer, clicking link after link. Again, I couldn’t find anything. As determined as I am to find a way for Sebastian to stay, a large chunk of myself wants to give up.

Is being a genie for the rest of his life Sebastian’s fate?

His hand runs up and down my hair as he chuckles softly at the TV. Apparently one of the contestants in the cooking competition won’t stop cursing. I wish I could laugh along with my genie and pretend everything is okay. But after hours of finding nothing online, I can’t even smile. A hole is growing inside me. I know it’s going to grow each day that passes. Until it’s bigger than the sun and explodes—leaving me with no memories of the man I love.

Sebastian chuckles again. Normally, I love watching these types of competitions, especially cooking ones, but I feel like I can’t enjoy anything anymore. Which is really unfortunate, since I want to cherish my short time with Sebastian.

I think about Macy and how lucky she is. That sounds very strange, but Andy isn’t going anywhere. Sure the two of them are broken up, but there’s always a chance. There’s hope. With Sebastian there’s…nothing.

I sit up sharply as an idea spins around in my head.

“Lily?” Sebastian asks.

“I think I need to talk to Andy.”

His eyebrows lift. “About what?”

“He needs to know how sorry Macy is and how much she loves him. Macy has been such a good friend to me and I want to do something for her. I don’t know if it’s my place to get involved, but I want Andy to see how precious and short life is. That he and Macy have a shot, that he should grab it before it’s too late. Because you never know when it’s going to be over, and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

Sebastian tugs me closer to him. “You’re referring to us.”

Tears fill my eyes. “I can research and research and spend hours and hours bent over my laptop, but I don’t think there’s a way. I’m not going to give up, but—”

“Lily, I think we both know it’s over,” he says softly, his eyes filled with grief. “I feel it in here.” He taps his heart. I’m pretty sure I feel it, too.

I swallow back some more tears. “I’m going to call Andy and ask to meet with him. I know those two love each other. Maybe someone just needs to open their eyes.”

***

An hour later, I’m sitting on the park bench a few blocks away from Andy’s apartment. After moving out of Macy’s house, Andy bunked in with some of his old friends. Not Max, though, which was a huge relief to hear. Andy told me he no longer associates with him.

Sebastian is on the ground a few feet away from us, lying on the dirt. His chest rises and falls gently, a sign he’s asleep. It’s pretty interesting how he’s not getting dirty. He’s never showered as a genie. I guess his body is made to repel dirt.

I know he hasn’t been getting a lot of sleep because he’s worried about leaving me. I’m glad he can rest now.

“You said you had something urgent to tell me?” Andy says.

I nod. “This might not be any of my business, but Macy is my best friend and it pains me to see her so upset.”

He’s quiet for a bit before saying, “I know I hurt her and I feel terrible about it. I just can’t…” His foot twitches. “I love her, but ever since she kissed that guy, I feel like this wall has been built around me and I can’t look at her the same.”

“That kiss was an accident.”

“She told me that, and I believe her. I trust her…sort of. I just feel so distanced from her. It’s like our relationship has been turned upside down.”

I place my hand on his shoulder. “I understand what you mean, but you need to let yourself forgive her. You two love each other and I know you want to make it work. I can see it in your eyes.” I take in a breath. “You should get back with her before you lose her completely.”

He turns to me with wide eyes. “She’s with him…?”

“No. No! What I mean is you and Macy have something special and you should grab it, hold onto it, because you never know if you might lose it.”

His eyebrows furrow.

“Sebastian is a genie again,” I say. “There’s a high chance he’s going to leave me. But Macy isn’t going anywhere and neither are you. You two
can
be together. Do you know what I’d give to be able to be with Sebastian? To not have to wonder which day will be his last. Macy is here—well, not
here
, but you know what I mean. She wants to get back together, more than anything. Is there any chance you feel the same?”

He puffs his cheeks as he stares at the ground. Then he looks at me. “Sebastian is really going to leave? I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks. I wouldn’t wish this feeling on anyone. It hurts so much. I don’t want Macy or you to go through that. I don’t want either of you to one day regret not working on your relationship. Do you want to one day ask yourself, what if?”

He shakes his head. “I want to be with her.”

“And she wants to be with you. I know you said you have a wall around you, but do you think you can slowly demolish it? I’m not saying you and Macy are going to go back to how you were, but maybe with time. She’s willing to work for it. Are you?”

“I don’t want to lose her.”

“You don’t have to. You have a choice. You can fight for the girl you love.”

He nods, like my words are making sense in his head.

“Don’t let the little fights tear you apart,” I continue. “You guys should cherish each other, because what you have is really special.” My throat gets scratchy, and no matter how many times I swallow, it doesn’t help.

Andy hugs me. “Thanks for talking to me, Lily. I guess I was too stubborn and prideful to admit I was wrong. But you’re right. I love Macy and I want to have a future with her. I shouldn’t let little things get in the way of our happiness.” He frowns. “I’m really sorry about Sebastian. Is there anything I could do?”

“Not unless you know how to turn genies into humans.”

He laughs lightly. “They didn’t teach us that in school.”

I join in his laughter, but it’s empty. I don’t know if I’ll ever laugh again. No, that’s not true. I’m pretty sure I’ll laugh when I forget Sebastian.

“I’m going to get Macy back. That is, if she still wants me.”

“She does.”

He smiles. “Thanks again, Lily.”

I return the smile, although it’s a little forced. I might not be able to fight for a future with Sebastian, but I’m happy to fight for my best friend’s future with the man she loves.