Page 8 of The Omega's Third Wish
Oh, my heart. “Oh, Mindy,” I moaned, trying not to let her hear the emotion in my voice. I leaned forward and hugged her.
“You’re welcome,” she giggled, mistaking my hug for gratitude and not sorrow. My poor little girl, wishing for my happiness instead of something like a pony.
I pressed my face against her hair, silently vowing that no matter what happened, I wouldn’t let her see me struggle like that. Even when this fell apart and we were back in a crummy, cold apartment, I would smile for her.
It was all so wonderful… and I knew it wouldn’t last. Each passing day was one day closer to the curse rearing its ugly head and ruining it all. What would happen, I wondered. Would I get the house so in order that Zeph would decide he didn’t need help anymore? Would he decide he needed more help; a maid for the house and a PA for his work and replace me with two people? Would I fuck something up and be let go?
The answer was, of course, none of the above. All because of one clogged drain and a fast clock…
~~~***~~~
A wonderful Halloween in Vale Valley had come and gone. It was yet another tortuously bittersweet night with the Zephlyn Family. Mindy and Rosie trick-or-treated and Zeph and I went with them. I swear, I almost took his hand more than once as we walked along the sidewalks. The girls filled their buckets with candy and we went home and watched probably a dozen different Halloween classics, some of which I hadn’t seen I years.
The air was cold now. Mindy and I would have been freezing in our old apartment – any single one of them – instead we were cozy and warm in a house. The Halloween decorations were slowly being replaced by leaves and gourds and the occasional turkey. Bright orange leaves blew across the streets and a hint of snow filled the air.
Every day felt more like we were family. Even Tau had taken a liking to me. The tabby could often be seen prowling around. I couldn’t shake Mindy’s words though, “all of my wishes came true.”
She asked me one day what I had wished for. I told her it was for all of her wishes to come true. After she thanked me and danced away, I realized with a start that ithadcome true. In fact, hadn’t my other wishes been granted? A steady job – I had held one for over a month now. And a house with heat and a room just for Mindy. Check and check.
I was awake late into the night, thinking about it. It was eerie, if I was honest. Surely we hadn’t encountered a real genie! I wasn’t even sure if they existed. Even if they did, why would a genie grant wishes to us? Real genies wouldn’t operate out of garish-looking carnival tents and sell wishes written on index cards… would they?
The next morning I was exhausted. I stumbled into my bathroom and turned on the light. I promptly flicked it right back off, blinking. I was too tired for that level of bright.
I took off my clothes and tossed them in the hamper, but then stood at the sink, staring sleepily at my dark reflection. I took a shower in the dark. Mindy often laughed when she caught me, but it was my way of relaxing. It was especially relaxing here, with hot water that didn’t run out and a fluffy towel waiting for me.
After a few minutes, feeling quite a bit perkier, I shut off the water. I stood there for a minute, basking in the warm air, bracing myself for the chill that would hit me when I opened the door.
The sound of the bathroom door opening and closing echoed and I froze. The towel was a few feet away and I didn’t want to scar my poor daughter. I huddled in the shower, hoping she’d quickly use the toilet and then leave the room.
To my utter shock, the door opened a moment later and a shadowy hand reached in and turned on the water! Before I could say anything, the door opened farther and Zeph jumped into the shower!
“Whoa, hey!” I cried out.
“Oh, shit!” he gasped. He spun in alarm and slipped on the wet tiles.
I tried to grab him and we both slid and crashed to the ground in a tangle of limbs.
“Theo?!” he demanded, squinting at me in the dark.
“Yes! I’m sorry,” I gasped.
“What are you doing?!” he demanded. “Were you showering in the dark?”
We were still on the floor, with the hot water beating down on us. His hands were clutching my arms and I was holding his. I moved my head away from the water and found myself almost nose to nose with him.
“I um… I find I can collect my thoughts better in the shower… when it’s dark,” I admitted.
“The water was off,” he pointed out with a chuckle.
“I just turned it off. I was preparing for the cold air…”
He laughed again, this time I joined him. We started trying to stand up, but slipped back down again.
“Are you hurt?” I asked.
“No, just startled.Verystartled,” Zeph said.
I put one hand on his shoulder and adjusted my leg, trying to get back up without slipping. My thigh ended up between his and I accidentally brushed against his dick. He gasped – a husky, erotic sound that I wasnotprepared for. His hand clenched around my arm and I felt his shoulder stiffen.
