Page 106 of Sterling Fight

Her eyes scan for other signs, catching on the violet flower for my mother and a giant sunflower beside it.

“You reminded me of a sunflower when we were younger,” I admit. “So bright, the sun worshiped you.”

“I think the flowers worship the sun,” she corrects.

“Not when it comes to you.” I smile, settling an arm behind my head.

“You marked your skin with memories of me,” she whispers, tracing over other lines of ink.

The symbol for pi as a reminder of Math Club.

The small genie lamp with a drop of blood shaped like a heart near my wrist.

“You marked my soul the moment you asked me to be your friend.”

Genie meets my eyes a second before folding back into the cradle of my shoulder and we stay wrapped around one another for a long while.

The perfect end to an amazing day.

36

[Genie]

My mind is spinning. My heart cyclones in my chest.

Judd stole this ring from his father. He took a beating for it. And his intention had been to give it to me. As a promise. Would I be his girlfriend? Would I wait for him?

So much wasted time has passed. If only the younger Judd had come to me when he was lost and hurting. I’d have been his years ago, but such was not our path.

And now we are here, curled around one another tighter than the red and white swirls on a candy cane.

“Is this how you envisioned our prom night? Did you have visions of us sixty-nine-ing?” I snort into his skin, giggling like a schoolgirl at the mere mention of such a position, despite having just performed it.

Judd scoffs. “Are you kidding me? I thought I’d be lucky enough to kiss you. Then I’d go home and whack off to the thought of your mouth on mine. This”—he chokes—“far surpasses any lame prom night fantasy I had at eighteen.”

At eighteen years old, when he suffered because he wanted me to have something of his. To be his.

“Judd,” I shift to glance up at him, my tone more serious. “I’m so sorry all that happened to you. Back then.” His father. The results. “I’m not worth it.”

Judd takes my left hand on his chest and lifts my arm upright, admiring the ring on my finger, before linking his fingers with mine.

“You are worth everything.” He sighs. “And now, you’re mine.”

“I’m your girlfriend,” I repeat.

Judd hums, noncommittally.

“Can I ask you something then?” My voice goes small. “Why haven’t we had sex?”

Judd shifts his head to glance at me. His eyes turn soft. “Because I don’t want to just fill you, Genie. I want to fulfill you. I want to make your wishes come true, however that may look.”

This man.

Still quiet, hesitantly I ask, “What if I don’t want to get married?” Although, I’ve been slowly changing my mind about the institution. Maybe it isn’t just that my mother is doing it wrong, as much as that I haven’t found the person who is right for me.

And Judd feels right. Too right.

“Then I’ll be your boyfriend.” He answers so quickly, so confidently.