Chapter 65 - My Boy Instead of pulling away like I expected, Bubba pulled me into another, deeper kiss that lasted for hours, until I could barely breathe but didn't want to let go to inhale oxygen. Who needs oxygen, anyway?
Finally, our hands still holding, we separated and swayed from side to side, both a little dizzy. And I suddenly realized that he was a genie, bound to his lamp, and against dynasty rules.
"
I would like to make my first wish now," I announced, still a little shaky. "
I wish to free the genie Bubba Foley."
Violet light surrounded Bubba as he rose into the air, propelled by a cloud of mist. "
In order to free the genie," he intoned, "
you must perform a series of tasks. First, put the lamp through the most extremes of cold and heat, then--"
"
Wait a moment," I interrupted, "
can't I just throw a Potent Cure elixir at you?"
"
Sure if you don't want to do things the fun way! Now, as I was saying--"
Rolling my eyes, I picked the Potent Cure elixir out of my inventory and tossed it as Bubba. As the glass broke at his feet, a blue glow surrounded him, encasing him entirely . . .
The cloud disappeared and I stepped forward. "
Bubba Foley, would you like to move in with me, or should I find more appropriate lodgings for you--such as a zoo or circus?"
He pretended to think thoughtfully. "
Okay, if you insist, I'll move in with you--but first I'm changing out of these clothes. Might you show me to your bedroom so I can use your dresser? No worries, I won't try anything while we're in there."
Bubba traded in his turban for an orange baseball cap, which he then pounded until it completely lost shape and set jauntily on his head. I honestly don't know why he didn't just wear it forward, like most people, but he does have lovely blue eyes.
In my opinion, he dresses like a wannabe rockstar or rapper, but on the other hand he picked out the formal with a bowtie just for me! Why must he be so constantly confusing?
I was sitting in my laboratory, completely absorbed in my chess set, when an exaggerated cough alerted me to Bubba's emergence. "
Can I help you with something?"
Taking my hand, he dragged me out of my seat and said, "
The spring festival just came to the park, and I've never been, so you're taking me."
"
No, I still have three logic challenges to complete, and you only let me tutor you for five hours--"
"
C'mon, babe, it'll be fun! Live a little!"
"
Okay, on one condition. You are never calling me 'babe' again, because it is a completely useless and hackneyed term that is derivative of . . . okay, let's go."
Once at the park, we sat on one of the benches and just talked for a while. Bubba told me all about how his wish used to be to have a bottomless nectar cellar but, since our cache of nectar easily fulfilled that, he plans to go into politics. I think he would make a great leader--easygoing and fun enough to manipulate his subordinates, but not at all corrupt.
"
Anyway, being just an ancient and humble genie--"
"
Ancient and humble are two words that come to mind," I muttered loudly.
"
--I'm not exactly up to speed on modern courtship. However, I believe that the current trend is for one person to put his arm around the other, so . . ."
Almost shyly, he slid his arm up around my shoulders, and the other rested on my hand. "
I probably should have asked this earlier, but are you single and, regardless of your marital state, would you like to kiss now?"
"
You're asking if I'm married and want to cheat on my husband with you?" I asked skeptically. His eyes twinkled as he shrugged. "
If you must know, I don't have a boyfriend, but we already kissed earlier and I don't see the point of kissing more now."
"
But it's fun--and anyway, kissing is a normal part of a romantic relationship. Why don't we compromise: we'll kiss once, and if you want to continue, we will. Cool?"
I thought about it for a moment and nodded, then we slid closer together . . .
And we continued to kiss for several hours, ignoring the festival workers packing up and leaving, until I yanked him towards me so hard that we both fell sideways on the bench and collapsed into fits of laughter, and I felt like I was glowing.
We did waylay the greeting card tent for a picture, although the cameraman told us to "Keep it PG for the camera." That was slightly disappointing.
Once he finally drove us away from the park, we held hands and walked across the road to the diner for a late dinner. Fortunately Grandmother Serena wasn't at work at the time, so we were able to "hang out" in the courtyard for some time, talking and laughing . . . and doing our fair share of kissing. Bubba was right--it
is fun!
Bubba asked if I would like to be his girl, to which I responded that he would also have to be my boy, and we kissed again to seal the deal before heading home.
The next morning, Aunt Rosalia quit her job at the movie studio because she didn't want to be in another movie filled with drama and Woohoo.
In that moment, the diva of the past few years disappeared, and my fun-loving, flower, boho, silly, beautiful, rainbow plantsim aunt returned for good, and registered as a self-employed writer at City Hall.
