Falling for the Genie (Genie's Love, Book 1) (7 page)

Sebastian’s heart is beating at an erratic pace. His chest rises and falls rapidly, and I swear his arms are a little weak, since they’re trembling a bit. I want to ask what exactly that was. What am I to him? What does he feel? But I keep my mouth shut because I’m scared he’ll give me the answers I don’t want. Here with my head resting on his chest is perfect. I don’t want to ruin it. I don’t want to think. Just feel. I shut my eyes, taking in his sweet smell and soft skin. I can stay here forever, in his arms and swaying to the soft music.

I don’t know how long we remain like this before something that feels like a table slams against me, and I crash to the floor. When I look up, I see all the furniture is back and I’m wearing my jeans and T-shirt. The walls are back to their usual, white selves.

The fantasy—my magical night—is over.

Sebastian stands up, his eyes on mine. The fantasy may have been just a fantasy, but the kiss sure wasn’t. His lips are a little swollen, his chest is still rising and falling. There’s a look on his face that I don’t understand. It’s not anger, not confusion. And—my heart drops—it isn’t happiness, delight, or passion, either. He doesn’t seem as moved as I am.

Without a word, he transforms into a cloud of smoke and shoots to my room, where the lamp is. I chase after him and pick the lamp up. Sure enough, the swirls are there, which means he’s inside.

I run my finger along it, softly so he won’t come out. As much as I want him to, I can see he doesn’t. After placing the lamp on the table, I walk to the window and peer out. Sebastian and I shared a kiss, a kiss that was so passionate it couldn’t be real. But it was very, very real, as was Sebastian’s rejection. It cuts deep, to places I didn’t know could feel so much pain.

I press my forehead to the window and shut my eyes. In those few minutes in Sebastian’s arms, I didn’t think about Daisy or my mom. All that mattered was the feeling of his lips on mine. Now that it’s over, everything comes crashing down on me.

Monday mornings suck. After the weekend, it’s hard to get back to work. But on this particular Monday, I don’t want to get out of bed for another reason. I dozed off by the window last night and woke up at five in the morning. I don’t know what I was thinking, hoping that Sebastian would be in my room, waiting for me. Whatever happened between us…I’m not sure what to make of it. What to make of him. Obviously I like him in a way I shouldn’t, and if he doesn’t feel the same…then what? I make two wishes and send him packing? But the thought of him no longer being in my life tears me apart. I want to see that sweet smile, to see his intense eyes filled with passion, curiosity, intrigue. I don’t want him to leave.

My eyes drift to the lamp sitting on my night table. He’s still inside, which doesn’t surprise me since he doesn’t have to get up early for work. I don’t understand why he kissed me. He told me he has no “needs.” Why would he kiss me? And it wasn’t just a kiss. It was a
kiss
. I felt many things from him, but not the most important one: his true feelings. Was he just messing around? Was it the genie/master thing? These thoughts and questions keep rolling around in my head and I’ll go insane soon, but I can’t help it. I need to know. But not now. I’ve got to get to work. I can’t lose this job.

I perk up when I remember I’m having an interview today. I applied for the sous chef position. There’s a high chance I won’t get it, since they’re looking for someone with experience, but at least I can focus on something else besides Sebastian.

As I munch on some toast, Sebastian walks into the kitchen. He looks…normal. Not bothered or turned on or anything to indicate he can’t stop replaying the kiss in his head. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he completely forgot about it.

He smiles. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

I force my eyes not to go to his lips. Those lips that felt so smooth and warm as they swept across mine and sent blood rushing to every part of my body.

He leans against the counter. “I was thinking about your next wish.”

My guts squeeze together. He wants me to wish. Wants to get as far away from me as possible. I take another bite of my toast, squaring my shoulders to pretend this doesn’t bother me. “What about it?”

“I just wanted to tell you…”

I shut my eyes.
Don’t say it, Sebastian. Please don’t tell me to get it over with so you can leave.

“…to take your time.”

My eyes spring open and I turn to him. He has an indifferent expression on his face. His eyes don’t have that intensity, but they’re bluer than ever.

“Have a good day at work.” He walks out of the kitchen.

I stare after him. What the hell was that? Does he mean what I think he means? To not wish so he can stay?

I follow him, but don’t see him anywhere. Maybe he’s in his lamp. “Sebastian?” I call. He doesn’t answer. Perhaps he wants to be left alone. I quickly wash my dishes and rush to the restaurant.

The day drags on, and all I can think about is last night. No matter how much I try, I can’t get it out of my head. The same goes for the words Sebastian uttered. He doesn’t want me to wish. He wants to stay with me. But why give me the cold shoulder, then? I’m so confused. Why am I making a big deal about it? It was just a kiss. It’s not like our fate is sealed or anything. Sebastian is a genie. He lives in a lamp. He’s bound to the lamp and the master who summons him. He can’t have a future with anyone.

“Hey, Lil.”

I jump. Macy gives me a curious look. “Are you okay?”

I push some hair that escaped from my ponytail out of my face. “Yeah.”

She scrutinizes me. “You seem a little jumpy.”

“Yeah. Just nervous for my interview.”

“You’ll do fine.” She hugs me. “I was thinking of hanging out after work. Maybe we can go catch a movie or something?”

I nod. A distraction is the perfect thing I need right now. Plus, I’d love to spend more time with my best friend. Maybe I can slowly get my life back.

***

After my interview, I sit outside Inferno and bury my face in my hands. I was a mess, stuttering over my words and spilling my ingredients on the floor. They wanted to see my cooking skills, and I’m not sure I did them justice. I know I could have done so much better.

“Lily?” a voice says. I look up and find Sebastian standing before me.

“What are you doing here?”

He looks toward the entrance of the restaurant, where a guy rushes out, crying and tripping over his feet. I sit up. He was another applicant, Joshua, who had his interview after me. When I look at Sebastian, I see a smug smile on his face.

“What did you do?” I ask carefully.

He beams. “I—”

“Lily!” Macy yells from the door. “Chef Charleston is looking for you.”

The owner of Inferno wants to see me. I scramble to my feet and smooth down my skirt. Is he going to tell me I didn’t get the job?

Inside his office, he beckons me to sit down. He’s a short guy with gray hair and a belly the size of a beach ball.

“You’ve been with us for a short while,” he says. “And though you don’t have much experience in the kitchen, you’ve proven yourself as a hard worker with a lot of promise. I think you’ll do excellent as our new sous chef.”

I stare at him. “Me? But what about…?”

He waves his hand. “You showcased how well you can handle a busy kitchen. The other applicant, well, let’s just say he burns under pressure.”

That can’t be true. I’ve known Joshua since high school. He graduated two years ago. While we waited for our interviews, he told me that he’s always wanted to be a chef, but his parents pressured him to go to law school. He dropped out and moved to New Jersey, where he works in a fast foot joint. I remember when he cooked food for a charity event our school hosted. The food was amazing. He was careful, meticulous, was absolutely calm under pressure. No, whoever Chef Charleston is talking about has to be a different person.

In my peripheral vision, I catch Sebastian sitting on the windowsill. He still has that proud smile on his face. Wait a minute. Did he have something to do with my getting this job?

Chef Charleston holds out his hand. “Congratulations. You start tomorrow.”

I thank him, then leave the office, my head spinning. There’s no way I got that job on my own merit. I completely screwed up my interview. Something’s up, and I suspect my genie is responsible.

Macy comes out of nowhere and throws her arms around me. “I heard you got the job. I told you that you would.” She smiles, then frowns. “Did you hear what happened to Joshua? He spilled soup on Chef Charleston and was thrown out on the spot.”

That doesn’t seem like him. This doesn’t feel right. “Thanks so much, Mace. I’ll see you later.”

“You’d better. We’re changing tonight to more than just a hangout. We’re celebrating your new job!”

I smile and nod. I need to talk with Sebastian. As I pass my coworkers and the diners, they all congratulate me. I give them fake smiles. None of this is right.

Sebastian is leaning against the low wall outside the restaurant. When he sees me, he smiles his sweet smile. I can still see the mischief in his eyes, and I know without a doubt that he had something to do with my getting the job.

“What did you do?” I ask.

“What?”

“Joshua is one of the calmest people I know. It’s not like him to spill soup on Chef Charleston. You did something, didn’t you?”

He nods. “I pushed him. The soup didn’t burn your boss. I made sure not to hurt him.”

I rub my temples. “I can’t believe this.”

“I don’t understand—”

“No, you don’t.”

He slinks back, his eyes filled with shock, confusion, a little pain. “Lily—”

“I never wished for it, did I?”

“No—”

“How could you do something so awful?”

His forehead wrinkles. “Awful? I got you the job.”

I count to ten to stop myself from exploding. “Sebastian, Joshua deserves this job, not me. I screwed up my interview. He’s a better chef than me. Why would you do this? I don’t want a job I didn’t win fairly.”

He doesn’t say anything. His gaze is on the ground. After a few seconds, he looks at me and says, “I knew you wouldn’t wish for it. That’s why I did it for you.”

“I don’t need you watching over me. You’re just…”

“A genie?”

My heart clenches. “I didn’t mean that.” I have no idea how I could have said such a hurtful thing to him. No, he’s not just a genie. He means so much more to me.

He tears his gaze away.

“I need to fix this.” I rush into the restaurant and head straight for my boss’s office. “Chef Charleston, I appreciate you offering me the job, but the truth is that Joshua would make a better sous chef. He’s quick, careful, he does well under pressure. Please give him another chance.”

He looks at me, shocked. “You don’t want the job?”

Words can’t describe how much I do. But I don’t deserve it. If not for Sebastian doing what he did, Joshua would have the job.

“Please, Chef Charleston. He’s a good chef. He catered events when he was in high school. Him alone. With no help. You’d be crazy not to take him.”

I want to slap myself. I just called my boss crazy. I tell him in detail all the great things Joshua did. I hope he hires him. He needs to. I have to undo the damage my genie caused.

He rubs his chin. “Hmm. I’ll consider it.”

“Thank you.” If he doesn’t give the job to Joshua, I’ll have to use my second wish. It’s only fair.

“Lily, if he gets the job, you’ll keep your current position.”

I nod.

He lifts his hands like he can’t believe what he’s hearing. I thank him one more time before leaving the office. Macy is waiting for me with a big smile on her face. “What did Charleston want?”

I shrug. “I think Joshua is having another interview.”

Her mouth drops. “What?”

I shrug again. “It’s okay. Whatever happens happens. Are we still on for tonight?”

“Yep.”

She gives me a hug before climbing into Andy’s car. I find Sebastian where I left him leaning on the wall. He straightens up. “Hi.”

“Hi,” I say. “Look, I’m sorry for yelling at you, but you can’t meddle in my life like that. Joshua deserved the job.”

He doesn’t answer. He’s hurt, and I hate that I’m the cause. What I hate more is the real reason I exploded on him. Not only because he ruined things for Joshua, but because he won’t talk about last night. He won’t even give me a hint of what it meant to him. If it meant anything at all.

A little voice in my head whispers that he caused Joshua to mess up for me. Because he likes me. Another voice yells that he isn’t human and doesn’t have emotions like we do. I want that voice to shut up. Because whatever he was feeling yesterday, it was as human as he can ever be. His breathing was heavy and his heart was pounding. The kiss meant something. It
had
to.

I reach for his hand, but he backs away. “Sebastian…”

“I heard you’re going out with your friend later. I hope you have a good time.”

“Sebastian, look at me. Please.”

He does, and I can still see the pain in there. I take his hand before he can pull back. “Do you forgive me?”

“Of course. But you will never forgive me.”

I sigh and sit down on the lower end of the wall. “Of course I do. I just want you to understand that you can’t meddle like that. Okay?”

He nods. “I want you to be happy. I want you to make money so you can go to culinary school.”

My heart melts and I want to pull him into my arms and give him the deepest kiss ever, but I hold back. “Thanks, but I’ll get in,” I tell him. “It just won’t be this way.”

He nods again. “I won’t meddle unless you wish it.”

We’re quiet before he says, “I’m enjoying your world.” He shakes his head. “But maybe I’m not meant to be part of it. Only to serve humans. I should remain in my lamp and only come out when summoned.”

“Don’t say that.”

He shakes his head again. “I’m a genie. I’m required to stay in my lamp and only come out when my master calls for me. Those are the rules. It’s always been that way.”

I place my hand on his. “I don’t care about the rules. I want you out here. Can we forget this happened and go back to being friends?”

He laughs lightly. “Friends. A master and genie can never be friends.” His eyes meet mine. “Because when I leave, it’ll be hard.”

“I know.”

“Not for you,” he says. “The moment I’m gone, you’ll forget I ever existed. But me…” He shakes his head another time.

“You remember them all,” I finish. He nods.

I don’t want to forget him. I don’t want to forget that I met a magical genie with piercing blue eyes that made my stomach fizz every time I looked into them. I don’t want to forget the way he looked at me. The smoothness of his skin and hardness of his chest. His sweet smile and kind heart. The kiss we shared last night that won’t leave my head. The friendship that’s blossoming between us. I don’t care what he says—he’s my friend. More, even.