Well, Raya, I will prove to you that I want to get to know you—not trick you.
Chapter Three
RAYA
“Did that really just happen?” I throw my arms out as Orie turns the corner into her stockroom.
She cocks a brow at me. “What part exactly?”
“Um, hello, a man’s…dickjust burst through his clothes,” I remind her, waving my hands at my crotch. “In front of us. Because of agenie.”
She nods at me. “Yes, that did just happen.”
“Stop being so literal.” I cover my face with my hands.
I feel a slight weight on my shoulders, Orie’s hands gripping them. Lowering my hands, I let them fall to my side.
Her expression is soft, but only briefly. The corner of her lips curve up, and her eyes narrow at me as they shimmer.
“Did you also forget the part where you stared at his chest like a lost puppy?” Her words make my cheeks feel like they’re on fire. “Or the part where you audibly wentholy shit? You rarely curse, and yet he was worth dropping one.”
I shake her hands off of my shoulders, crossing my arms in front of me. “I’m about to drop another one—fuck off.”
She places a hand over her heart. “You don’t mean that. Maybe what you mean was,oh Mr. Genie, you’re so hot, please fuck me.”
“No—I—no.” I turn and look away from her, trying to occupy myself with whatever shelf I’m closest to.
She lets out a laugh, followed by a sigh. “Raya, if you think he’s attractive, and he’s clearly interested…why don’t you at least give it a shot?”
“After what we just saw? He’s bad news. No way.” I shake my head, fiddling with a bottle of who-knows-what on the shelf.
Her silence drags my eyes back to her, no matter how hard I try to fight it. She still just stands there, hands on her hips, staring at me.
I’ll never admit it, but she’s right. Idothink he’s attractive. When we first—briefly—met, I didn’t look closely enough at him to have an opinion. But getting to watch the way he talks, moves,transforms…okay, he’s superhot.
That doesn’t matter though, because he’sclearlytrouble.
“You’re just scared to let someone else in, aren’t you?” Orie’s voice is soft, even as she calls me out.
My eyes flicker away from her, the weight of her question feeling like it’s crushing my shoulders. She knows metoowell.
“No.” I stare past her, focusing on a wall.
“You look away when you lie,” she reminds me, which brings my attention back to her reluctantly. “Listen, I know you worry, I know you don’t want to feel like a burden to anyone, but you have to give people a chance—like you did with me.”
“Yeah, well, not everyone is as understanding as you are,” I grumble.
She raises a brow at me. “How do you know he won’t be understanding?”
I open my mouth, not a single word leaving me. She’s got a point; I don’t know if he’ll be understanding or not. I’m making an assumption.
But assumptions keep me safe. Assumptions keep me…stable.
“It’s not a risk I’m willing to take,” I say quietly, moving to walk around her. “I’m going home now. I’ll…see you later.”
She lets out a sigh from behind me, but doesn’t push me any further. “Okay. See you soon, Raya.”
I scan the sidewalk and road through the window, looking for any sign that the genie is lingering about. When I deem the coast is clear, I unlock the door and scurry out.
