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I lean into the armrest, closer to the boy who called me a sucker. “I’ll give you twenty bucks if you convince the class they don’t want to learn today, and you guys leave.” I pull out a crisp twenty from my jacket pocket and hold it up.

“Whoa!” the kid says, jumping out of his chair. “This dude is trying to bribe me.” He snatches the twenty from my hand. “Thanks, man, but I take my education seriously.”

“All right, everyone,” Genesis says, finally taking control of these bad-ass kids, “let’s all be nice. This is my friend, Julian. He’s going to hang out with me while I teach today.”

“Friend orboyfriend?” one girl, who looks to be the youngest, asks, turning in her chair to give me a thumbs-up. “He’s sooooo cute.”

“Friend,” Genesis clarifies, motioning for her to turn back around.

“Listen,” the one who stole my twenty says. “We love Ms. Genesis. She’s the coolest, and she spends extra time with us. If you break her heart, we will not be happy around here. Got it?”

I salute him. “Won’t happen.”

He holds out his fist, and I fist-bump him.

Then I make a grab for the twenty on his desk, but he swipes it before I can.

“Don’t think you’re faster than me,” he says with a childish smirk. “I can hear your old bones sounding creaky way over here.”

I draw back, shocked that this kid is talking to me like this.

Hell, is this how kids are?

Will mine come out talking shit and swiping cash?

With Bellini blood, who knows?

Genesis snaps her fingers. “Alllll right, everyone. Pay attention, or everyone gets an extra essay to write.”

I hear groans, and moans, and ughs coming from every corner of the classroom with one exception of a girl saying she loves homework with a squeal.

As she starts her class, I lean back and kick my foot on the desk.

The kid beside me does the same.

That results in a glare from Genesis, and I drop my foot, feeling like a student scolded.

I watch Genesis teach them about World War II.

Then tell them about Shakespeare.

It’s the most random class of stray knowledge I’ve ever heard. It’s like she just throws out whatever’s on her mind. Not only are the kids fully engaged with her, but so am I. They listen and answer her questions.

Watching her teach and have patience with these kids relaxes me.

Puts me in a trance where I can’t take my eyes off her.

She’ll be a phenomenal mother.

I chose well.

But did I only choose her for a child … or did I also choose her for me?

31

Even though Itried to hide it, I was worried about Neomi and her sisters coming to Safe Hearts today.

We normally have the same staff and volunteers.