Page 40 of Genesis

“What the hell was that?” Bexley says once we’re on the street.

“Nothing,” I reply.

She laughs. “That obviously wasn’t nothing.”

She trips over her feet. “Whoa,” I say. “Are you drunk?”

She giggles. “You think?”

I smile at her, amused by her state. She’s had several beers and she’s tiny. “I’d be impressed if you weren’t. Come on, drunk girl. Let’s get youhome.”

Once we climb into her room, I shut the window and watch as she lies down on her bed.

I remember the bracelet in my pocket. Her eyes are shut, and for some reason, I get really nervous. “Hey, Little Girl, wake up,” I say, sitting down at the end of her bed. She opens her eyes.

“I’m awake.”

“I got you something,” I tell her.

She smiles and sits up. “What?” she asks excitedly.

I scoff. “It’s not a new car or anything.” I reach into my pocket and pull out the silver bracelet. It has a knot on it. I don’t know why I got it.

Yeah, I do.

It means something to me because I have a leather necklace that has one, too, but I’m not goingto tell her that, and she can’t see it because it’s in my shirt. This will connect us always. I don’t know shit about love or anything, and I have no vision for our future together.

Hell, if anything the girl should stay away from me. So, no matter where she is in life, no matter what happens after her mom dies, my necklace and her bracelet will tie us together.

She looks at the sliver wheat chain in my hand, and her eyes jump back to mine as I study her expression cautiously. I’ve never given a girl anything, and now I’ve given the most important one in my life a gift that means never forgetting.

I hope that every time she looks at this, she will think of me. Of course, I’d never tell her that shit.

“Happy Birthday, Bexley,” I say, trying to make like this isn’t a big deal.

She plucks the bracelet from my hand and runs her thumb over the knot.

“Why the knot?” she asks, tilting her head to look at me, and, of course, she would. Why can’t she be like other dumb girls and not question everything?

I shrug. “Thought it was different.”

She narrows her eyes slightly, not believing me, but she lets it go.

“Will you put it on me?” she asks.

I reach over and grab it as she flips her small wrist over. I gently touch her soft skin as I link the chain.

She spins it, feathering her digits over the silver, smiling a little. “Thank you,” she says. “I’ll cherish it forever.”

I swallow the feelings I have for her. “Cool,” I reply. “Well, I better go.”

“Go?” she asks. “Don’t you want to watch a movie or something?”

“It’s late and you’re drunkish.”

“Ish,” she says with a smile. “Come on. Stay.”

I do think about it, and that’s what makes me say no. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Get some sleep, birthday girl.”

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