6. Caleb

SIX

Caleb

I spent three days chasing my last few couples all over town, but none of them were ever in the same place at the same time. Which was probably why they were the last ones on my list. They posed a real challenge, even for someone with my abilities. And now that Josie had entered my life again, it felt all the more important to remain focused on this goal.

After all, she was a big reason I found myself without my wings.

And so I sat, frustrated and no further along, back at Rocksmith Café for a club sandwich and a bottomless lemonade.

I was distracted, my senses stretched out to follow the easiest match left on the list, when Victory dropped off my sandwich.

“Look okay?” she asked, a little quieter than usual.

“Looks great, as always.” My power reached out on instinct to inspect her aura, and I was immediately hit by a deluge of turmoil. “Are you okay, Victory?”

She bit her bottom lip, hesitating .

“Would you like to sit with me and talk about it?” I pulled the typical angel move, glad to focus on any problem besides my own. I was fallen, earthbound and wingless, and yet I’d still rather embroil myself with human imperfections than face my own sins.

Victory glanced quickly around the otherwise empty patio, then sank into the wrought-iron seat across from me. “It’ll sound crazy.”

“I promise I won’t judge.”

“Do you believe in the… supernatural ?” she whispered, as if someone was going to jump out screaming at the word.

I smiled. If only she knew. “I do, actually. Why do you ask?”

“I’ve just recently found out—no, I’ve recently seen some things I didn’t know were possible. And I’m not sure how to deal with it.”

Going from mundane human to “I’ve got a wolf-shifter fated mate” overnight was probably overwhelming. “Ah. That can be confusing.”

“Very.” She fidgeted with the bottom of her half-apron, not meeting my eyes.

“And frightening, if you’re not expecting it,” I coaxed, sensing the true issue underneath.

Her gaze whipped up, and she nodded.

“I’m sorry to hear that something scared you. Was it Jaime? He seems like a nice guy.”

Victory was shaking her head before I finished the sentence. “It’s not that he scared me. He’s been treating me… almost too well. Like I’m made of glass. Something precious.”

“And that’s a bad thing?” I asked, genuinely confused.

Wolf shifters always treated their mates with the utmost care; they believed their fated mates carried the other halves of their own souls. Unless I was missing something, Jaime would treat her like a queen for the rest of her days.

Although the whole biting-to-bond thing would probably come as a shock to a human.

“No, it’s not. But I’m not anything special, Caleb. I’m a regular woman. I work a dead-end job for tips, my family disowned me, and I didn’t even finish college. He’s wise and rich and… special ,” she whispered again, and I had to hold in a laugh. It was cute, the way she tiptoed around the issue, but I knew she wouldn’t see the humor, not yet.

“You don’t have to be special to be special to him . Shifters take their fated mates very seriously. They only get one, their whole lives.”

“You know? You know what he is?”

I nodded.

“Are you a wolf, too? Or something else? He told me there are tons of types of shifters, but?—”

“No, I’m not a wolf. Just someone who can sense things.”

Best to keep it simple. She’s already overwhelmed with what she’s learned.

“Wow. And here I’ve been bringing you lemonades for a year now, and I never knew. We’re going to have to develop a system, you know. Blink twice if my table is something besides human.” She sank her head into her hands, not looking pleased by the prospect.

If I had to blink twice every time a supe came in, she was going to think I had a problem.

“Do you not want to be his fated mate?” I leaned forward, more invested in her answer than I should have been. Victory was human. Josie was human. And they both found themselves wrapped up in supernatural relationships.

This is not about Josie .

This is not about Josie.

This is not about ? —

“No, it’s not that. I think I might actually really like him. It’s just bizarre. We’ve barely met, and he says I’m the one. How can he know?” She raked her hand through her hair, and I could read her genuine distress from her aura.

“He knows.” I thought about my feelings the first time I saw Josie. The way the earth itself shifted under my feet, the way my wings burned with the power surge that shot through me the first time our hands brushed together, skin on skin. The taste of her lips, the first time I’d stolen a kiss. “You’ll just have to trust him on that and give yourselves some time to get to know each other better. See how you feel.” I cleared my throat, trying to remove the gravel that had lodged itself there at the memory of my first meeting with the woman I thought was my own Chosen.

Who wouldn’t look at me twice now.

Desire pulsed through me like it was yesterday, and not seven years ago. I was never going to get over her, just like Jaime was never going to get over Vic.

“You sound so certain, just like him.” She looked sad, sinking back against her chair.

Her pungent fear washed over me, and I debated whether to ask or wait.

I gave it a minute, letting the moment stretch between us, nothing but the tempting smell of French fries and an afternoon breeze to distract her from her heavy thoughts.

“I’ll think about it. What about you? What’s got you so distracted this afternoon?”

I saw the subject change a mile away, but I wouldn’t pry if she wasn’t ready.

“Ah, this and that. Investigations. You know, the usual. ”

“I’m not buying that. Come on, penny for your thoughts.”

I considered her demand for a moment, tempted to give an excuse about work, when an idea came to me. “Actually, I could use your help with something.”

“Whatcha got?” She was visibly relieved at moving the focus off herself.

“I was invited to be a plus-one at a family birthday party, one where I need to be on top of my game… except I’ve never done this before. Any tips on being the best birthday party companion around?”

She tapped her fingers on her chin, squinting at me. “Do you like this girl?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Okay, so, here’s what you need to do. When you pick her up, you need gifts for the birthday person. Nothing too show-off-y, but nothing cheap. Think classy. Then you also need something for her. Flowers, chocolates—that stuff’s okay, but it’s better if you can get something she loves. It can be small if the relationship is new.”

“What if the relationship started seven years ago, and I royally screwed it up and haven’t seen her again until last week?”

She winced.

I sighed. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“No, it’s okay. If she’s giving you another chance, there’s still hope. You must have left some kind of good impression if she invited you to the party, right?”

“I hope so.” Damn, I hoped so.

“Think slightly bigger on the gift, but again, not showing off. Thoughtful. Meaningful. And you need to put in the effort. Is this a family party or a friend party?”

“Family. Her great-grandma is turning a hundred. ”

“Whoa. Big one, then. Okay, you need to study up. Know everybody’s name from great-grandma down and at least one to two things about each person. The more personal, the better. Somebody’s allergic to dairy? You know it. Somebody owns a sailboat and loves to talk travel? You better know every knot and every sailing term.”

I leaned back in the chair, surprised. “I’m not sure memorizing facts will be enough to impress her. Not after I left last time. She’s still keeping me at arm’s length.”

She frowned, weighing my words. “It might not be enough, but you have to start somewhere. Plus, it gives you an excuse to spend time with her again. When’s the party?”

“In a week.”

“Good. That gives you time to keep showing up, to prove that you’re not just here to leave again. She’s afraid, most likely. You’re a great guy. I’m sure she doesn’t want you to slip away again.”

I wasn’t so sure. Would it be best for her if I let her keep me at a distance? What could I promise her, after all?

And yet, something deep inside me couldn’t bear the idea of losing her again. She was mine. No matter how hard I fought it, the truth was immutable, unchanging. There would never be another woman for me.

“You’ve got your homework now, cowboy.” Victory winked and looked away but didn’t leave.

Her frown turned into a grimace, and I knew she was thinking about her own fears. She was hesitant when she spoke again. “What if he changes his mind, Caleb? Everyone else in my life has. If I give it time, let him get to know me, he might realize that he can do so much better.”

I reached across the gap between us, resting my hand over hers. “Victory, that’s not going to happen. ”

“It might. You don’t know. And if I get to know him, fall in love with him, too, and then he leaves…”

“That’s never going to happen.” Jaime’s words startled her, and she jumped, snatching her hand from under mine.

“Jaime! I didn’t see you there. I thought we were going to meet up later, after my shift.”

“We are, but I felt that you needed me.” He gestured to his chest, where their bond was anchored.

“I—we were just talking. Everything’s fine.”

He turned a questioning look on me, and I bobbed my head slightly. It was theirs to work out, but it wasn’t in my nature to leave a couple on the precipice and in pain.

“Can you take a break?” Jaime’s eyes were on fire for her, a look I knew well.

She cast a worried glance at me, but I waved her off. “I’m good. I need to eat this and get on the road.” I picked up a triangle of sandwich and took a too-big bite to illustrate my point.

Victory rolled her eyes at my immaturity but allowed Jaime to lead her off, his hand gentle on hers.

My mind wandered back over the conversation, seeing things about Josie in a new light. Was she afraid I would leave again, too? Get bored of her, or think she wasn’t special?

That couldn’t be further from the truth, but if that was why she was pushing me away…

No. I wanted to repair our friendship, but I couldn’t afford to do anything more. I had to repair my mistakes, regain my wings, and move forward. No matter how much I cared for Josie, I couldn’t go back.

The last time was disastrous enough.