Page 42 of Sterling Fight

“Are you rich?” The question is asked with curiosity.

“I’m good at investing.”

Genie twists her lips, questioning my non-answer. The poor kid inside me, the boy who was once hungry and wearing clothes that didn’t fit him as he grew, wonders if money matters.

“What happened first, investing or accounting?”

“Definitely accounting.”

“Because you like money,” she teases.

“Because I never wanted to be poor again.” My sharp answer wipes the smile off her face. Shit.

Her mom’s call still lingers in my head. Her words a trigger for the voice of my father’s in mine.

What a fucking runt. You weakling. Pathetic coward.

“Sorry,” I mutter, brushing back a clump of wet hair plastered to the side of Genie’s face.

Genie nods once, accepting my apology.

“Tell me more about the special dates you put on your calendars. Tell me more quirky ones.” I need to shift this lingering anger to something that makes Genie happy.

Genie is thoughtful for a moment. I can touch the bottom of the lake where we are but Genie drifts beside me. My hand is still on her hip, but she slips away from me, so she’s only holding onto my shoulder, anchoring her from floating away.

“Let’s see. There’s World Kiss Day, on July six.”

My gaze instantly drops to her mouth, and I roll my lips inward, as if the motion will quell the instant desire to kiss her.

“And as Sebastian pointed out yesterday, National Sex Toy Day is in early November.”

Internally, I groan. Is she telling me these dates on purpose?

“Might not want to talk about that date around here.” I snort. “The Sterlets will make you their newest member and demand a festival.”

“The Sterlets?” Genie tips her head. “Vale told me something about them. It’s a book club that meets on Thursdays.”

I chuckle. “If that’s what they’re calling it.”

“It isn’t a book club?” Genie’s brows lift. Her eyes flicker from the sunshine reflected in them.

“I think I’ll leave it up to Vale to explain the details.” I do not want to discuss how the book club has a secret side that involves self-pleasing toys.

“Well, Vale invited me to attend on Thursday, and it’s not even National Book Lovers Day, which takes place in August.”

I laugh. “I think you’re making some of these dates up.”

“I’m not,” Genie says emphatically, dragging her body closer to mine beneath the water and then drifting away from me. “That’s the beauty of calendar design. A calendar practically fills itself. The world is full of diverse traditions, various cultures, different nations, and tons of religions. Plus, there are themed calendars, like library-related ones. Or teacher ones.”

“Is there an accountant calendar?”

“I don’t know.” Genie’s head pops upright and her eyes widen. “But there is World Savings Day, strangely on Halloween. National Dollar Day in August. And of course, Tax Day, April fifteenth.”

“Of course.” I arch a brow.

Genie snaps her wet fingers and a bit of water sprays toward me. “Oh, and there’s National Lucky Penny Day at the end of May, not to be confused with National Lost Penny Day, which happens on February twelfth. Ironic how the lost penny day is the day after Make a New Friend Day.”

The mention reminds me once again that I turned her down to be her friend when we were both children, and how I’m enjoying becoming her friend on a new level as an adult. At least, I hope we’re becoming friends.