Page 9 of Luck Be a Genie

I found the courage to look up at him, though it was difficult. “What if my curse kills you?” I whispered. I was terrified that one day my curse would take the life of someone I loved. Terrified. I couldn’t handle it if that happened, so I’d walled myself off from loving people for a very long time.

Until Dice, I’d only had my grandfather, who was immune to my magic.

“Genies are mostly immortal.”

I shook my head hard enough to make my braid whip across my face. “But not completely. Something could still happen to you. Like, I don’t know, a safe could fall from the sky and crush your skull or something.”

His lips twitched with the beginnings of a smile. “Have you seen many safes fall from the sky, Lucks?”

“It could happen!” I threw my hands in the air. “Anything could happen around me. That’s the point!”

Nick looked like he was seconds from getting up from his seat to come around to mine and comfort me.

“Don’t you dare do it,” I warned in a low voice. “They’ll all think you’re proposing. Either that, or that I’m off my meds.”

“If I thought you’d say yes, I’d propose right now,” he said, all traces of humor gone.

“Nick,” I whimpered.

Nick took my expression in, then stood to flag our waitress, and quickly came around the table to help me up. “We’ll be right back,” he said to her. “Here’s my credit card as collateral so you don’t think we’re skipping out on the bill. When we get back, we’ll have the desserts, but I think we’re done with our meal.” He checked with me, and I nodded. I didn’t think I could eat another bite. I’d try to find room past the choked feeling in my throat for dessert though. Dessert was always worth it.

“Of course.” She pocketed the card, and left to refill another table’s drinks.

Nick herded me like a sheep dog toward a secluded corner behind the restaurant, well out of view of everyone else.

“Do you know what she thinks we’re doing right now?” I hissed at him as he pulled my trembling body close, and cuddled me in an idealistic attempt to soothe me. The sound of the crashing waves was louder in the little secluded corner he’d pulled me to. They pounded into the shore with the same intensity that my heart was thudding against my ribs.

“Getting lucky?”

“Very funny.”

He pulled back from me just enough to peer tenderly down into my face. “Am I. Getting Lucky?”

I bit my lip. “I don’t want to hurt you,” I said brokenly.

Nick nodded. “What if we take these thirty days as a test? You’re certain your chaos will drive me away or hurt me. If you’re willing to try, I’ll prove to you that no matter what life brings our way, I’m up for the challenge.”

“Why would you want to live your life like that, though? Always on edge. Always waiting for the other shoe to drop. I can tell you from experience that it isn’t fun.”

He gently cupped my cheek. “Because I would do anything for you, Lucky.”

I had to blink up at the pink sunset to keep dumb tears from leaking out of my dumb eyes, but when I had control of myself again I said, “Okay. We’ll do a thirty day test. If you’re not dead or done with me by the end of it, we’ll consider a longer term situation.”

“Like marriage?”

I laughed, thumping my forehead against his chest in surrender. “Nick! What am I going to do with you?”

He kissed the top of my head. “You could make out with me?” He sounded hopeful.

I sighed as I shook my head and towed him back to our table.

“You’re not getting that lucky.”

Chapter 4

Lucky

“Everybody get down on the ground with your hands behind your head!”