All Bottled Up Read Online Free PDF Page B

expression about him again. His bottle sat on the coffee table beside him, looking unharmed.
    “We won’t get very far with your wishes if you choose to hide all day in your bed.” 28

     
    She lifted the covers to see she still wore her tiny, weenie, way-too-small thing that masqueraded as a bathing suit. Apparently her body had been enough of a deterrent to protect her from his advances.
    Using the protection of the comforter, she leaned over and grabbed the one over-large T-shirt Beth had allowed her for a nightgown. Once it was safely secured on her body, she stood up and padded her way over to face him.
    Viola leveled him with a steady stare and crossed her arms over her chest.
    “What can I do to make you leave?”
    “Make your wishes,” he said without missing a beat.
    “There’s no such thing as genies—”
    “I’m one—”
    “Just like there’s no such thing as vampires—”
    “They exist too—”
    “Or werewolves—”
    “Wrong again—”
    “Or ghosts!”
    “Okay, I’ll give you that one.”
    Their voices echoed in the room. Is this guy for real?
    “So you’re trying to tell me that genies, vampires, and werewolves are real, but not ghosts?”
    “In a manner of speaking. That’s why I’m not able to bring people back from the dead.”
    In a very strange way, it made sense to her. She frowned, driving her fingers into her hair.
    “You are something else.” Viola rolled her eyes and marched over to sit on the edge of her bed.
    “I can prove to you I’m a genie, if you’d like.”
    “Oh this should be good. Will it use up one of my wishes?” She made sure to inject enough sarcasm into her voice someone with ear plugs could hear it.

    29

    “Of course not. Are you ready?”
    “What do you plan to do?”
    Jerod shrugged. “Something dramatic I assure you.”
    “Go for it, buddy.”
    Jerod snapped his fingers. Instantly Viola was standing next to him. Instead of being in her room, they were standing on top of the ocean waves, the resort and its beach a small dot on the horizon. The water crashed over her feet and legs, cold enough to jolt her from her disbelief.
    “Oh shit!”
    Viola threw her arms around Jerod and tried to climb up into his arms.
    “See. There is no way I could bring you here if I wasn’t indeed what I say I am.”
    “Bring me back, please, now,” she pleaded, tears flooding her eyes and spilling over her cheeks. “Don’t let me fall. Oh my God!”
    “I won’t hurt you, Mistress. I wanted to prove to you—”
    “Please bring me back,” she said as a sob escaped her.
    “Viola, it’s okay. I’ll protect you.”
    Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it was about to burst through her chest.
    The rest of her body began to shake and she felt the nausea that usually preceded her passing out creep up her throat. Her eyes were squeezed shut so all she could hear was the waves, squawking of the seagulls and her heart pounding. Jerod’s hand stroked her hair as he made soft, reassuring sounds. Slowly, she felt her nerves begin to settle.
    “You are perfectly safe. Look,” he cooed into her ear.
    He lowered her until her feet skimmed the surface of the cool water. He kept his hands around her waist until she felt the surface hold her. Viola squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. Her grip increased on his arm and neck.
    “Trust me. Open your eyes.”
    She couldn’t. But after a minute or two of listening to the waves and Jerod’s quiet reassurances, Viola’s body began to relax. Another minute and she was able to open her eyes, if only to look at him.
    30

     
    He was smiling at her.
    “That’s better. You wanted me to prove my powers to you. I believe I have. Look around,” he said as he wiped a tear from her face.
    She’d pushed him into this. Now that she was here, she couldn’t chicken out. Viola forced her body to relax some more and slowly looked down at her feet. The view was breathtaking.
    The way the light cut through the water, she