Page 100 of The Genius
Marco
My apartment had never been this clean.
It had been a month since we’d found out Shelly was pregnant. Storm had finally moved out and Shelly was back from a two-week visit with her family and friends. We hadn’t had much time together because she’d been busy working and I had sensed she needed some space to come to terms with the new situation.
“Stop feeling bad about it,” Shelly insisted after I’d shown her what Advance Technologies were paying me to protect her.
“It has to be a mistake, though, right?”
“You’re being paid to be stand-by even when you’re not working.”
“But they are basically paying me two times what I make in a month as a mentor.”
“You should see that as a good thing.”
“It’s ridiculous is what it is.”
Shelly brushed her hair back and picked up a slice of the orange that I’d cut out for myself. “Why aren’t you happy about it?”
“Because it feels dishonest to take that much money for so little, especially when they’re paying me rent too.”
She shrugged. “Money is just fictive numbers changing hands.”
“No it’s not. Only a Motlander would say that. Money isn’t fictive. It’s very real. With this kind of income, I could put down a deposit for a new drone in two months.”
Shelly smiled. “Then why don’t you?”
“Because when something is too good to be true it usually is.” I placed a large glass of water in front of her and studied her closely. Shelly still looked as beautiful as when I last saw her, and every part of me wanted to kiss her. Over the past two weeks, I’d thought of this moment a million times, aware that I had to do this the right way or I might scare her. I wanted her to move in with me for real. Not in the guest bedroom as a roommate, but in my bed, as my woman.
“Don’t be pessimistic,” she said and sucked on a grape. It was all it took for me to grow hard. Trying to distract myself, I focused on the subject we were discussing.
“Advanced Technologies will realize they’re overpaying and ask to have their money back.”
“I doubt it.” Shelly smiled and nodded to the plate with fruit in front of her. “Are you going to cater to me like this all the time? Did you do that for Storm too?”
“No, but I figured I should be good to you on your first night here.”
“Thank you.”
“You had me worried. I was starting to think that you were going to stay in the Motherlands.”
Shelly frowned a little, placing her elbow on the table and resting one chin in her palm. “I thought about it.”
I stiffened and stared at her, waiting for her to continue. When she didn’t I asked a burning question. “Did you tell your family about me?”
“Only my mom.”
My face fell. “Not Rochelle?”
“She was away at school and had finals. I want to tell her in person. Don’t worry, I’ll see her in a few days at the reunion weekend. Then I’ll tell her.”
“All right. What did your mom say when you told her about the baby?”
“I didn’t tell her that part.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m only two months pregnant and it’ll take a while before it shows. I told her I’ll be living here for a while longer, and she didn’t take that well. My mother knows I’ve had sex and she was crying about it.”
