CHAPTER 15

Alysha

I WAS NEVER DRINKING AGAIN. Which was what I always said every time I drink. I usually do pretty well about keeping to that promise, but then eventually I have a shit day like yesterday and it happens all over again. The difference between all those times and last night though was the warm muscular chest I was cuddled against.

My eyes blinked open as the sun shone into the room. Thankfully, I didn’t have to work today or I’d have been in trouble for not setting my alarm. I did have class though.

Letting out a sigh, I glanced up at my pillow who was fast asleep still. His long dark lashes brushed against the top of his cheeks as he breathed in and out. The nose on his face was a strong, almost aristocratic. Which made since now that I knew he was a prince. My gaze fell to his lips.

I’d never had I been so attracted to someone’s lips before. They were just the right size; not too puffy or too thin. And when he kissed me. I let out a dreamy sigh, which turned into a groan. I needed to get to class soon.

Reluctantly rolling over in bed, I checked the clock. Just after nine o’clock. I was surprised I’d slept that long. Usually, I had to be up before seven. Sleeping in wasn’t like me. Then again, I’d never had such a comfortable bed partner to give me a reason to.

Trying not to wake Mac up, I inched out of the bed. I watched his face as my foot came off the bed only to land on a wet towel. A squishing sound made me grimace and I jumped to the side. Suddenly, last night flashed back at me.

I’d gotten sick. Worst yet, I’d gotten sick in front of Mac. Embarrassment filled me and I rubbed my hands across my face. Then I remembered how Mac had taken care of me. Even after I had been horrible to him, he had helped me clean up and probably had even been the one to put me to bed in the first place.

Smiling down at the sleeping genie, my heart swelled. How could I ever let someone like him go? I realized then that I couldn’t. Which also meant, I could never make my last wish.

Guilt ate at me. I couldn’t do that. If I didn’t make my wish then Mac couldn’t go home. Could I force him to stay here with me if he really wanted to be somewhere else? No. It wasn’t right.

Problem was, if I made the wish I might never see him again. The thought of that made my eyes burn. It’d only been a short few days and already I was attached to him. And we hadn’t even had sex yet!

I quickly cleaned up the mess from last night, trying not to wake Mac before I made my way to the bathroom for a much needed shower. So much for keeping him at arm’s length. It seemed the universe was bound and determined to make me fall in love with Mac.

Love? I stopped in front of the bathroom mirror and stared at myself. Was in love with Mac already? Wasn’t too soon?

I’d heard of people clicking right away, and I‘d even heard of love at first sight, but I’d never believed in it. Never imagined it’d happen to me.

Well, it hadn’t really. A voice reminded me. True enough, Mac had hated me at first and I hadn’t had any warm and fuzzies for him then either. I’d been too focused on not getting fired. Now, though, I peeked back out of the bathroom at Mac, still asleep on the bed. Now, I couldn’t imagine ever giving him up.

But how did I make him want to stay? I asked myself as I turned on the shower. I couldn’t. I was finally able to answer myself. If he wanted to stay he’d stay on his own, but I couldn’t force him.

I heard a groan and movement from the other room. I quickly washed up and jumped out of the shower. Drying off, I paused at the door, I realized I hadn’t grabbed any clothes.

Chewing on my lip, I then decided what the hell. It would only be a big deal if I behaved as if it was.

Opening the door as if I didn’t know he was awake, I marched across the room covered in just a towel and into my closet. I thanked my lucky stars that I had cleaned yesterday. It was easy enough to find something to wear and head back to the bathroom. Not one time looking over at Mac, though I could feel his eyes burning into my skin.

With the bathroom door closed behind me I pulled on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved black and grey striped shirt. Not bothering to dry my hair, I put it up in a hair tie and then I was ready.

I made my way out of the bathroom, this time almost running into Mac.

“Woah,” he said as he grabbed a hold of my arms.

“Sorry about that,” I muttered and then added at the last moment, “And thanks for, you know, last night.”

Mac stared down at me confusion on his face, “Don’t worry about it.”

“I’ve got to get to class and then I have to head over to work to pick up my check,” I talked animatedly with my hands, trying not to look at him too long. “If you want I can come back by here first and we can go get lunch afterward?”

I took a deep breath as I finished talking and glanced up at him. He watched me intently, as if trying to decipher my intentions. Then after a moment he seemed to have given up.

“That sounds acceptable. Do you want me to walk you to class?” he asked, a hopefulness in his voice.

I shook my head. “No, it’s alright. I wouldn’t want you to have to walk all the way back here.”

“I don’t mind,” he tried again, taking a step toward me. I countered by stepping backward. Distance was good. I didn’t know where we stood yet, so best not to get too comfortable. Cuddling while I was sick was one thing but if I let myself get too used to it I’d just end up hurt.

“It’s fine. I’m running behind anyways,” I declined again, “You go take a shower and I’ll see you in a few hours.”

“Alright,” Mac drew out, clearly not happy with my answer but I was already headed to the door.

I opened the door and almost walk into Mac again. “Wait. Weren’t you just?” I twisted around to look back into the room. I’d just left him there. And now he was right in front of me. Scowling, I said, “What are you doing?”

“Something’s wrong.”

His words made my blood freeze. He knew! And then I chastised myself. He didn’t know. How could he? I’d just figured it out myself.

“I don’t know what you mean?” I said trying to play it cool, “But I’ve got to get to class, so if you would excuse me.”

I pushed by him but he caught my arm, “There’s something different about you today,” his eyes searched my face. It felt as if he were peering into my soul, and my face to heat up.

“Nothing’s different. I’m the same old Aly,” I tried to reassure him, slipping my arm out of his grasp, “I’ll see you later okay?”

“Alright,” Mac said finally, though the frown on his face said differently.

Before he could stop me again I raced from the apartment. I didn’t slow down until I had reached the school, and even then I was moving faster than the rest of the students..

I tried my best to pay attention. I really did. But all the words seemed to mix together my mind so focused on the genie back home. He suspected something, I couldn’t keep dodging him forever.

If you made your wish it wouldn’t be forever, a voice reminded me.

I shoved the voice down. I wasn’t going to make my last wish until I knew where I stood with Mac. But the only way to find that out was to tell him how I felt. The thought made my stomach twist.

Suddenly, Jade’s voice filled my head. “Nothing good ever came from waiting on the side-lines. If you see something you want you have to take it or someone else will.”

Of course, she had said those words to me when referring to my bakery but I felt like they still applied here. She was right then and right now. If I wanted Mac, I had to tell him. No matter what he said in return.

After class, I decided to pick up my check first and then grab Mac. I need to figure out what I wanted to say to him.

When I got to the coffee shop, Bruce was back and on crutches. He was fighting with Lisa, the assistant manager. Luckily, there weren’t many customers to witness their display but enough that I was sure it would be around the town in no time. Nothing was secret in a small town like ours.

Lisa was the polar opposite of Bruce. Where he was tall, she was short. His skin pale, hers darker than the coffee we sold. There was not a thing about them that matched up, except maybe their souls. Which I was sure were both pitch black.

“You never spend time with me. All you care about is this stupid shop,” Lisa yelled at Bruce, throwing a paper cup at him.

“This is my job, and yours,” Bruce snapped back as he batted the cup to the side, “I can’t just drop everything because you want to go on vacation. I’m lucky to have employees who do a good job or I’d be screwed with this leg.”

Lisa snorted and crossed her arms over her chest. “They don’t deserve this place. They leech off of you and you just let them. You’re a pathetic piece of sh—”

I cleared my throat and Lisa to stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes narrowed but she didn’t acknowledge me. She shot Bruce a dirty look before stomping toward the office in the back.

Bruce sighed and for the first time I felt bad for him. No one deserved to be treated the way she had been yelling at him. Bruce might be a lot of things, but pathetic wasn’t one of them.

“Hey Alysha,” Bruce maneuvered over to the cash register on his crutches, “I’m assuming you are here for your check?”

“If you wouldn’t mind,” I pressed my fingertips together and rocked on my heels. Trying not to seem in a rush, I forced myself to wait patiently as he unlocked the register, where our checks were usually stored. I really didn’t want Bruce to take his anger out on me.

“Here you go,” Bruce handed me my check without much more of a look.

“Thanks,” I took the envelope and spun on my heel to leave but stopped. Turning back to the counter, I asked, “How are you doing, Bruce?”

Bruce’s eyes widened in a surprise and then he seemed older all of a sudden. It reminded me that he was quite a bit older than me, though how old I wasn’t sure.

“In pain but getting better,” Bruce answered, and then gave me a tight smile, “Thanks for asking.”

“No problem, boss,” I mock saluted as I backed out of the shop.

With a smile on my face, I turned my feet toward my apartment. Unfortunately, I didn’t get more than a few feet from the shop before I was grabbed by the arm and yanked into the alley beside the shop.

“Hey babe,” Jared said with a nasty smile, “It’s time we had that talk.”