Falling for the Genie (Genie's Love, Book 1) Read Free

something flash across his face. I’m not sure what it is. Maybe sympathy. He doesn’t ask questions. Maybe he figures I don’t want to talk about it. He’s right.
    “How about Sebastian?” he asks. “Do you like that name?”
    “Do you?”
    He nods. “I’d like your opinion on it, though.”
    I smile. “I’ve always loved that name.”
    “Then Sebastian it is.”
    I smile again and the room grows silent.
    “How old are you?” I ask after a bit. “Do you stay the same age?”
    He tilts his head to the side. “I don’t have an age, but I’d guess somewhere around your age.”
    “I’m eighteen.”
    “Then I’m eighteen, too. And yes, I’ve always been this way.”
    It’s nice to be young forever, but I wouldn’t want to live forever, not with all the pain I carry in my heart.
    “You’re getting that look again,” he says.
    “What look?”
    He bends close, so close that our mouths are only a few inches apart. If not for the table, we’d be close enough to kiss. I glance at his lips. They’re golden, but a darker shade than the rest of his body. I won’t let my eyes wander to his chest.
    “Sadness,” he says softly.
    Memories fly into my head before I can stop them. Mom working crazy hours to take care of Daisy and me. We didn’t have a father, and of course I felt like one was missing, but Mom took on both roles. She tried really hard to give us a happy life. And we had that. Until four months ago, when my sister died in a car accident.
    I shut my eyes. “I’ve been through a lot.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    I brush all of this away and try to put on a brave face. I’m not sure I’m succeeding.
    The room is very quiet and I can’t help feeling anxious. I wish I could erase all the memories, but I don’t really want to do that. I don’t want to forget her.
    “Maybe I’ll try some of that food after all.” He nods to the pot on the stove. “It looks and smells delicious.”
    As I scoop some into a bowl, I say, “You’ve never tried human food?”
    He shakes his head.
    “Then why do you want some now?”
    “Like I said, it smells and looks really good.”
    My stomach does another weird flip. I don’t know why. He’s just complimenting the way the food smells and looks. It’s not like he tasted it. But he will soon. I don’t know why that makes my heart pound against my ribcage.
    He watches me curiously. I feel my cheeks flush as I join him at the table and set his bowl down. He inhales, shutting his eyes and releasing a satisfied sigh. “Amazing.” Then he digs his spoon inside and brings it to his lips. He gives me a small smile—I can’t believe he’s actually smiling—before sticking the food into his mouth. His eyes widen in delight. “This is great.” He takes another spoonful, then another. He’s eating so fast, it’s like he’s zapped with super speed. “Can I have more?”
    I’m so caught up on the fact that he loves my cooking that I don’t know what he’s saying. Did he say something? Or am I imagining it?
    “Lily, can I…?” He drops the bowl, letting out a loud groan. Clutching his stomach, he slumps off the chair and collapses to the floor, dragging the tablecloth and dishes with him.

Chapter Three
     
    I leap to his side. “Sebastian, are you okay?”
    He looks up at me, sweat dripping into his eyes that are turning red. His face is pale gold. I touch his forehead. My hand flies back. He’s hotter than a boiling pot of water. “What’s going on?” I ask, panic overtaking every cell in my body. “Oh, god. Is it because of the food you ate?”
    Why did I give it to him? I should have suspected something like this would happen. He’s not human. He said he doesn’t eat. This is my fault. Is he going to die?
    His eyes flutter open. “Don’t…blame yourself.”
    I grab my phone. “I need to get you to a hospital.”             
    “Lily…”
    “We’ll just tell them the gold skin is paint. They won’t