CHAPTER 18

Alysha

I COULD KILL THE GUY at the bank. Seriously, could he have been any more prejudiced? Sure, I was young and yes, maybe I didn’t exactly look like a responsible business owner, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t be one.

I threw my keys onto the side table by the door. My eyes immediately searched out Mac, but he wasn’t in the main room and the bathroom door was closed.

Maybe he was going to the bathroom? Then I wondered. Did genies even do that? There was so much about Mac that I didn’t know, and now that we’d slept together I needed to clear the air between us. Find out who I really was getting into my bed with.

I started toward the bathroom, intent on knocking but my phone went off. I glanced down to see Jade was calling. She’d want to know what had happened at the bank.

“Don’t even ask,” I said as I answered the phone. I plopped down on the couch with a tired sigh.

“Didn’t go well I take it?” Jade asked sympathy in her voice.

“The guy is such a hater. I don’t think I’d ever get a loan from him unless I changed how I looked entirely, and even then if I didn’t have a husband to help me out he’d still tell me I was in over my head.”

“Misogynist,” Jade snarled and I couldn’t disagree. All of the employees seemed to have a twenties mind set. If I didn’t have a man to stand by me, I wasn’t worthy of their time. My piercings and tattoos just added to my offenses.

“I’m just so tired of being rejected,” I sighed into the phone, “I just want someone to give me a chance.”

“You’ll get it don’t worry,” Jade tried to console me, “Remember, I have a feeling.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know,” I interrupted her before she could go on a long tangent about her psychic abilities, “But your feeling or not, it’s not happening now.”

“You don’t know that. It still could. Just give it time.”

I drew my legs up under me and growled, “You know, I just wished for once someone would care about my dreams and ambitions and not the bottom line. I wish I could get everything I wanted without having to fight so hard for it.”

“Well, you know what they say about wishes,” Jade said a smile in her voice.

“Yeah well. I’m about all out of wishes,” I muttered. Jade didn’t know how true that statement was. I had one wish left and I could use it to get my dream but then I’d lose Mac and that wasn’t something I was willing to trade.

“Anyways,” Jade continued, “I’m in the middle of a crucial piece. Can I call you later?”

“Sure,” I said half-heartedly and hung up the phone. Talking about it wasn’t going to make me feel any better. If anything, it would make me feel worse.

What would make me feel better was the sexy genie who was supposed to be at my beck and call. I frowned again at Mac’s absence. Where was he?

“Mac?” I called out, my eyes scanning the room even though I knew there was only one other room. I stood from the couch and started toward the bathroom again. I only got about half way there when I stopped for some reason.

Why was I going to the bathroom again? I didn’t need to go. My head fuzzy, I had a weird feeling that I was forgetting something. Something important. Maybe I had a test?

No. I didn’t have one. I thought after I peered down at my calendar on my phone. What the heck was it?

Before I could think on it any longer my phone rang. Glancing down at the caller I.D. I frowned. What was the bank calling me for? They’d already told me no for the millionth time, did they just want to drill it in more?

“Hello?” I answered, irritation in my voice.

“Alysha?” the man from the bank, Mr. Harold, asked as if unsure he had the right number.

“This is she,” I said, crossing one arm under the other holding the phone. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m glad I caught you. You see, there’s been a change in your application.” There was a gleefulness to his tone that bothered me. I didn’t trust it.

“What could have changed in the last half hour?” I said between clenched teeth, “You made it pretty clear that I was never going to get a loan from you.”

Mr. Harold cleared his throat and then stumbled over his words as he said, “That’s true. I did say that. But it was a mistake. We here at Alinity Credit Union would be delighted to lend you the money to start your bakery. I’ve personally had the pleasure of having one of those delicious creations you make for Coffee and Stuff and think you have a real chance of succeeding.”

Speechless. I was utterly speechless. I grabbed the back of the couch as my knees became weak beneath me.

“Alysha? Are you still there?” Mr. Harold asked, and I shook myself out of my stupor.

“Yes, yes. I’m still here,” I quickly said before he could hang up. “So, what exactly are you saying?”

Harold sighed, frustration clear in that one breath. “I’m saying you got your loan. If you don’t want it . . .”

“No! No.” I said, forcing my voice back to a normal tone, “I want it. I just never dreamed I would actually get it.”

“Well, believe it,” Mr. Harold stated, “If you could come in on Monday to sign some papers we can get you started on finding your new shop.”

I nodded, then remembered I was on the phone and he couldn’t see me. “Yes, I can be in on Monday. Bright and early.”

“Why don’t we say ten o’clock? Gives me time to get into the office.”

“Fine. Yes. Ten o’clock. I’ll be there,” I confirmed and then stared down at the phone after Mr. Harold said goodbye.

I’d actually done it. I was going to get the money I needed to start my own shop and I got it all on my own. Letting out a squeal, I ran around the apartment. Jumping up and down on the bed, I couldn’t contain my excitement.

“I have to call Jade,” I said after a moment and got off the bed to do just that. My foot caught on something and I almost face planted into the couch.

Frowning, I picked up the item I had tripped over. It was a pair of men’s pants. Staring at it curiously, I wondered. Where had these come from?

I didn’t spend much time fretting about. Figuring it was something of Jared’s he’d left there, I tossed it toward my laundry basket. I missed, but I didn’t bother to go pick it up. Instead, I dialed Jade’s number and almost screamed into the phone.

“Jade you won’t believe what happened!”

“What? Did you finally get laid?” Jade’s teasing voice said back.

Scowling, I said into the phone, “No, you know I haven’t been with anyone since Jared,” not letting her bring me down, I changed the subject, “I got the loan.”

“What?” Jade gasped and then let out of a squeal of her own, “That’s great news! See I told you I had a feeling. You didn’t listen.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re right. I’m wrong,” I chuckled.

“Well, this means we have to celebrate. Get your butt over here. We are going to get smashed and then decide how we are going to tell Bruce to suck it.”

“You got it,” I laughed with her as I grabbed my keys off the side table by the door. My hip bumped against the side of it causing an ugly bottle I didn’t remember buying, to fall off and break into several pieces.

I frowned down at it but then brushed it off. I’d clean it up later. Who wanted to clean on a day like this?

“I’m on my way,” I told Jade as I hung up the phone. I pushed the broken glass to the side with my foot so I wouldn’t step on it when I got home. Bag and keys in hand, I closed the apartment door and locked it behind me. My heart full of the future.