Page 76 of Sterling Fight

For the moment, all feels right again. Genie staring down at me, those expressive eyes sated. The fire in them more of a smoldering gleam.

Picking her up like I did the other night, she wraps herself around me, like a bear cub in a pine tree.

Then she lifts her head. “Your side.”

“Feels nothing.” It’s a lie. My lower abdomen is screaming. My opponent got me good tonight. I also have a no face policy, not wanting my family to visibly see what I’m doing, and yet tonight, my opposition got me in the cheek.

The blistering punch was a reminder of my father’s from decades ago.

And yet all I could think about was Genie. She wouldn’t like the mark. She’d be concerned for me.

Genie wiggles in my arms, forcing me to set her down.

“Come to bed with me?” She’d been in the guest room, but I don’t want her sleeping in there. I don’t want her sleeping anywhere except with me.

She nods and I take her hand, leading her to my bedroom, envisioning us doing this every night. Going to bed together. Sharing the nights together. Being here for each other.

Which I can’t do if I’m not present. If I’m off fighting. I want to argue that she’s wrong. I do need the fight. The thrill. The relief.

But she’s just drained me in a new way, and I’m reminded once more that I have something good at the tip of my fingers. I don’t want to waste it, and I only have a few days left to convince Genie to stay longer.

My wish? Eternity for Genie and me.

I lead Genie directly to the shower, pulling her in behind me and turning on the spray. She squeals at the initial rush of cold water.

“What are you doing?” Then she laughs. Deep and rich, and full of glee. She’s so bright and vivid. My firefly.

Her spark is leading me out of the darkness, and I need to keep following her lead.

As the water heats, I slip off her night dress and then remove my shirt. I don’t want to fuck her. I just want to hold her. Chest to chest. Cheek to cheek. Bare skin to bare skin.

So once my pants are removed, and we’re both naked, I pull Genie in for a hug, and then just hold her as the shower heats our flesh.

And my heart feels like it’s melting, moving from a cold state of numbness to the low heat of a springtime campfire.

This feels like love.

In the morning, I leave Genie in bed as she slept fitfully. I couldn’t imagine what kept her shifting and rustling within my bed, but I clung to her until she clung to me.

When she rushes into the great room, while I’m preparing a cup of coffee in the kitchen, she startles me. “Hey.”

“Hi.” I smile wider than I think I ever have and adjust my glasses. I don’t typically wear them but today my eye socket is screaming.

Genie looks extra adorable, especially as her hair has a lump on one side. The other side is more limp. She went to bed with wet hair. My bed.

She stills and toys with the hem of the T-shirt I slipped over her head last night. The same Seed & Soil one I continue to put on her, liking how she looks in my things.

“So, today is Mother’s Day.”

“Oh.” In the recesses of my mind, I’m certain I knew the date. Second Sunday in May. This weekend is also officially planting season, and why I’ve had Genie helping me the past two days.

So, yes, on some level I know the date, but I typically try to ignore it. I don’t have a mother to celebrate, and while I could meet my family for an annual remember-Mom celebration, I find them too painful to attend.

“My mom has asked me to meet her for brunch.”

My brows pinch. “Okay.” I pause a beat. “I hadn’t known you were in contact with your mom.” After last weekend’s hang up, I’d hoped Genie hadn’t had any other interaction with her mother.

Genie shrugs. “She left me a message.” She glances to the wall of windows. “More like a demand.”