“Why would I mind?” I shake my head. “Besides, it’s notthatsticky.”
Raya leans into me again, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. With my limited arm movement, I move the one from between us, wrapping it around her waist and holding her close.
“So, now that I’ve applied to some apartments, what should I—or we—do while I wait to hear back?” I ask, planting a kiss on the top of her head.
She shifts away, her eyes shifting as she wriggles her eyebrows at me. “How about a trip to the punchbowl, and then some…activities?”
My heartbeat drops to my groin, and I can’t help but grin. “Now,thatsounds like a great plan.”
Chapter Thirteen
A Few Months Later
RAYA
“Alright, chat, I know what everyone has been waiting for…” I pause for dramatic effect, watching the chat become flooded with messages. “My boyfriend reveal.”
My smile grows as I read the supportive and excited messages, everyone eager to see the man behind my newfound happiness. The support from my viewers has been amazing, better than I could ever have wished for—not that I’d ever actually make a wish.
Taking my headset off, I set it to the side. There’s no sound coming through them right now anyway, and I don’t want it to be weird when Armandoesn’thave a headset.
I slide my chair to the side slightly, placing myself off-center in the camera view. “Come on in, Arman.”
The door to my office opens, and Arman walks in. He chose to be in his most human form for the reveal, just in case.
I told him I don’t care what any of them potentially think. If they support me, they’ll support him.
He has a grin plastered on his face as he slides the extra chair over, sitting down next to me. He extends his hand out, reaching it across the armrest, and I slip mine into his.
“Hey everyone, I’m Arman.”
I watch him as he watches the screen, his cheeks gaining a purple hue. He must’ve found where the chat is on the screen, and is reading all their messages.
Forcing myself to look away from him, I turn to read what people are saying. Everyone is being so kind, so accepting—just like I knew they would.
People comment on how attractive he is, the way he looked at me when he walked in, the way I looked at him when he sat down. All around, everyone is fawning over us.
The first question we get a bunch of is how we met, so I tell them. “A while back, I was taking back a cart full of parcels from the post office. He saw me doing so, which wassoembarrassing.”
“I remember thinking, who is thatgorgeouswoman pushing a post-office cart.” He laughs. “I also remember wondering if she stole all of the packages.”
I give him a playful nudge with my shoulder. There’s nowayhe actually thought I stole all of those. Me? The girl who looked like she was about to pass out the moment he started talking to me.
A few people ask what kind of monster he is, which he must see. “I’m a genie—a wish granter, if you will.”
This instantly brings another flood of questions from my viewers, one of them being if he’s granted me any wishes. I giggle just watching the question being repeated. It makes sense that’s what everyone is wondering.
“No, actually, she wouldn’t wish for anything. But she grantedmea wish…” he begins, turning to look at me. “Her. She’s the only wish I’veeverhad.”
My cheeks instantly feel hot, and I fight every urge to lean over and kiss him right now, while the stream is live.
“You did grant me a wish—you just don’t know it.” I smile at him, giving his hand a squeeze. “It was a wish I didn’t even know I had until I met you.”
He raises a brow at me, laughing. “What? What was the wish?”
My heart beats fast, pounding in my chest. “To fall in love, and to be loved.”
His lips part and his eyes widen, scanning my face. There’s a moment of silence where we just stare at each other.
