8. Caleb

EIGHT

Caleb

After a frustrating afternoon of trying unsuccessfully to pair the most stubborn of my matches, the next day dawned to find me at Alki Beach. I was following Marigold, the female half of said match. She and Axel were ordained by the heavens, and yet I’d tried and failed to get them together no fewer than a dozen times. Having him accidentally deliver her flowers. Causing a minor fender bender between them. Having them run into each other at a nature conservation conference… I’d tried it all.

And each time, they reacted with more firecrackers and napalm than sparks of joy.

So, here I was, dreaming of Josie while tramping through wet, sticky sand. I didn’t see the appeal of the beach now that I no longer had wings, but it wasn’t optional. If I couldn’t get this couple matched, and soon, they might miss their chance at forever, and that was irreparable. The dominoes that would fall the wrong way were irreversible, and they impacted untold generations.

It was not a screwup the Host would overlook, especially not for me. After all, I was the angel whose own transgression was unforgivable. The one where I had fallen myself—right into Josie’s arms.

That was specifically why I was sent back, to put these couples back on the right track, prove my worth, and save love-meant-to-be from going down the drain.

Axel and Marigold were not making it easy.

Marigold was blithely unaware of my struggle to give her the gift of true love, contentedly following her daily routine of picking up trash from the beach as she walked. They were both very dedicated to the environment, and I knew I needed to use that, but I’d tried and failed with that tactic already.

No, what I needed was something new, something fresh. Something like Josie’s perfect insight with the books yesterday. Damn, she was stunning. And she didn’t even seem to realize it. Probably because her family didn’t appreciate her, which pissed me off. But at least that was something I could help her with, and the thought excited me.

Not as much as the excuse to get and stay close to her again, but it was hard to match that level of need. Josie called to me. Every second I spent in her presence lit a fire inside me that drove me to touch her, claim her. Bind her to my light. But the claiming required a Chosen, not to mention wings, and mine were gone.

I still felt them, sometimes, ghostly beats against my back, the ruffle of wind that wasn’t there in my hair. It was a constant reminder of my failings, and the sting brought me back to the here and now.

The couple.

Could I send Marigold and Axel to the Bookish Cat, or would they somehow object to the use of so much paper?

It was an endless back and forth. Maybe I’d just go back and ask Josie what she thought. I’d need to bone up on what her family was up to lately as Victory had suggested, and Josie could help me with the perfect fix-up for a pair of Earth-conscious lovers.

It definitely wasn’t just so I could get another whiff of her shampoo. She hadn’t changed it, all these years later. And the scent brought back memories. Memories of us tangled up together in her sheets the first time. Memories of kissing her forehead before I walked away, sucking in a lungful of that uniquely her scent as if I could memorize it.

Watching Marigold pick up trash certainly wasn’t sparking anything for me, except for the fact that she was lonely and could pick up twice as much with Axel by her side.

I tried not to let the comparison sink too close to home, but it was hard not to think about how much happier I had been once with Josie at my side. I left the beach, no more able to shake the regret from my heart than I could all the sand from my shoes.

The Bookish Cat was already growing familiar, and the happy jingle of a bell overhead made me smile as I scanned the cozy scene for Josie. She wasn’t at the checkout counter, though the glass surface glistened, free of fingerprints. Her pride in the shop was palpable, folded into every nook and cranny.

But where was she? I let my senses unfurl and located her tucked together with Barb in the back right corner. A purr reverberated up my leg, and I looked down to find a fluffy Calico cat circling my left ankle. I let my power brush up against it gently and discovered she was a girl.

“Well, hello there. You’re friendly. Can I give you a scratch?” I murmured, and offered her my fingertips to sniff.

Some animals didn’t like supernaturals—wolf shifters particularly got a bad rap with the animal kingdom—but this little feline was as bold as brass. The purring intensified, and she rubbed her face against my hand, scent-marking me.

“You little hussy!” Barb’s voice made me jump, startling the little cat into hissing. “That’s Josie’s man—you can’t steal him after she gave you a roof over your head.” The cat looked up at me as if to confirm this, so I shrugged. She strutted away, tail flicking her annoyance overhead as she left. Barb tutted and left me standing there like an idiot as she went into the back room.

“Barb, who are you talking to?” Josie’s voice sounded funny, and curiosity dragged me into the aisle so I could see her better. She was on top of a round stool, books overflowing beneath one arm, one under her chin, and her other hand adjusting the ones already on the top shelf in front of her.

She saw me and started, dropping the book under her chin. She flailed briefly, and I sped behind her, steadying her with my hands on her waist. I couldn’t reach the book, but I snapped it up with a tendril of power, not letting it hit the ground. It floated back up to where she could reach it, and her hand shook as she plucked it from seemingly thin air.

“I’m still not used to that,” she murmured, setting the book on the shelf. “I’m steady now, thank you.”

I reluctantly removed my hands, the soft warmth of her branded onto my skin. Skin that I’d tasted before, nibbled before, knowing well the soft gasp she’d make each time. I was instantly fighting a hard-on, and had to clear my throat before I could answer. “You’re welcome. Can I lend you a hand? ”

“Here, Romeo. Juliet needs these on that shelf over there,” Barb said, shoving a stack of books into my hands. “I’m going to take my fifteen. If you two get up to anything naughty, I expect a full report.” She waved over her shoulder and didn’t waste any time disappearing into the back again.

I shook my head at the retreating store clerk. “She’s like a modern-day ninja. I haven’t heard her coming once, and people usually can’t sneak up on me.”

Josie hummed a noise of agreement. “She’s quirky, but she’s an amazing employee.”

“The quirkiest people are often the most interesting to be around,” I offered as I crossed to the shelf Barb had indicated and began carefully shelving the old books. I seemed to be in the psychology section and handled with great care a first-edition of The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud. We worked in companionable silence for a few moments before Josie spoke.

“I know you didn’t come here to be bossed around by my helper and shelve books. Is there something you want to talk about?”

“Yes, actually.” I placed the last book carefully onto the shelf and turned to watch her climb down from the step stool, feeling guilty for letting my gaze linger longer than I should have on her perfect ass. She dusted off her hands and propped them on her hips, not giving me an inch or an invitation to hang around.

I have a lot of making up to do. She agreed to help me, but she’s not comfortable yet.

I was oddly nervous when I proposed my idea. “I was hoping we could get together tonight, maybe over dinner, and talk about both of our projects.”

“Uhm, is that necessary? ”

I straightened, taking a step closer, irrevocably drawn to her. “If I’m going to play your boyfriend, I want to be convincing. I need to know current news about your family, and I’d love to get your opinion on the couples I need to match. I can’t bring them all here for a book match, so we’ll have to think of something else.”

“I hadn’t considered that,” she admitted, fidgeting with the hem of her fitted T-shirt. It was cute, a cat wearing glasses and reading a book of Voltaire’s poetry. I could feel the reluctance rolling off her, but it was deeply important to me for reasons I wouldn’t examine that she not say no.

“Come on, Josie. Nothing untoward; just two old friends catching up. You’ve got your mission, and I’ve got mine. We can be friends, right?” I waggled my eyebrows, hoping the silliness would loosen her up.

She snorted at my juvenile attempt at humor. “Yes, we can have dinner and discuss things.”

Score one for the angel.

“But just this once, okay? It would be easier for both of us if you knew what’s what with Nana Geraldine’s birthday ahead of time, but I don’t want you getting the wrong idea.”

And what exactly is the wrong idea, sweet Josephine? I longed to ask it, but I couldn’t, not now.

“Deal. I won’t take up too much of your time, I promise.” I reached up, lifting a loose strand of hair and tucking it behind her ear. Her skin was so soft, and she caught her breath at the brief contact.

“Okay.” She leaned toward me, wavering in her stiff posture. I longed to close the distance and touch her again, no matter how briefly.

Her mind was telling her to push me away, but her body was as drawn to mine as ever .

“And I’ll be the best centennial-birthday companion you’ve ever had.”

She rolled her eyes at me but took a half-step closer. Her tantalizing curves were nearly brushing my chest now.

One more step, sweetness. That’s all we need.

“You’re the only centennial-birthday companion I’ll ever have.”

“So, it won’t be hard to smoke the competition.” I grinned, loving the light banter but feeling like I was walking a razor’s edge between desire and flirtation. Too much, and she’d run. Not enough, and I’d lose this chance.

I didn’t deserve another chance.

Despite the attraction sizzling between us, sadness stole in, poisoning the moment with painful memories.

Like that time on the beach. The memory flooded my mind…

“I have powers that help me do my job. Only for good, I promise, if that’s why you’re looking at me funny.”

“Wait, go back. Never mind powers and whatnot. Did you really just say you’re an angel?” She shook her head as if she saw an apparition. “What kind of job does an angel have? Don’t they just… float around and play harps all day?”

I snorted, amused by her innocence, her curiosity. “Not exactly. There are guardian angels, messenger angels, and then the more specialty types. I’m a cupid.”

“Hold up.” She sat bolt upright. “You’re serious? You expect me to believe that you, an average twenty-year-old native of Federal Way, Washington, are not only a real-live angel, but a cupid of all things? The little naked guy who flies around with the bow and heart arrows?” Her voice went up angrily the longer she spoke, and I cringed back from the fury and disbelief turning her aura an unusual shade of burgundy .

“It’s the truth, Josie. I need to be honest with you. We’ve gotten closer, and I can’t hide my nature anymore.”

“Right. Is this your move? The thing you tell girls to get them to ? —”

Horror washed over me as I realized what she was insinuating. “Josie, no. I’ve never told anyone on Earth this before. We’re not allowed to tell humans.”

“Are you even twenty years old? Or are you actually an immortal, alive since the dawn of time?”

“Not quite that long.” I ran a hand awkwardly over the back of my neck. This was going terribly, but I had no idea how to fix it.

Her eyes widened. “I was joking! This can’t be happening. You must think I’m the most gullible girl in town to believe this kind of bullshit.”

“Never. If you’re willing, I can show you ? —”

“Stop. Just stop right there.” She pushed herself up off the picnic blanket, shaking her head. “This is too much, Caleb. Really. I need some space.”

“Josie, please. I can prove it. Let me show you.”

“If you think some five-dollar magic trick is going to fool me, you’re dead wrong.” She walked away with a look of disdain, leaving a gaping hole in my chest where she was supposed to be.

I shook my head, dissolving the painful memory. It had only gotten worse from there, with the clarion call coming a week later, and all that followed.

No, I couldn’t go back, and I couldn’t make those mistakes again. We were only friends, and that would have to be enough.

“I’ll pick you up at seven?”

“It’s a date.”

Everything in me longed to stay. But I walked out the door.