How naïve ofhim to think she would be willing to forgive him.
He eyed thebottle of wine and the two new glasses he’d bought for her—hedoubted she would be impressed by his pathetic attempt at a peaceoffering. The small jewellery box in his pocket jabbed his thigh, acruel reminder of how he’d failed her.
How could heeven think of asking her now?
Caleb stood andpaced the room, his wings hanging low behind him. He shouldn’t evenbe here. The more he thought about it, the more he realised what aninvasion of her privacy it was, him being here alone.
He traipsedtowards the window, ready to fly anywhere that didn’t remind him ofEvie, but a knock on her front door stopped him.
He froze withhis foot midway out of the window.
Whoever it was,they knocked again.
Probably someteenagers playing a prank at this time of night. Caleb headed tothe front door and opened it.
To hissurprise, Ophelia and Raphael stood there with daft grins on theirfaces.
“What are youtwo doing here?”
“Sorry, wedidn’t mean to intrude,” said Ophelia. “I know you and Evie willwant to be alone, but we have some exciting news.”
Calebfrowned.
Raphael elbowedhis wife in the side. “I told you it could wait until the morning.Sorry, Caleb, you know what she’s like when she gets a bee in herbonnet.”
Yes, he did,but it still didn’t explain why his friends were at Evie’s flatwhen they’d never visited before. “Evie’s not here,” he toldthem.
“You’re in herflat on your own?”
He could counton Ophelia to point out his blatant disregard for Evie’s privacy.“I was just leaving.”
“Where’s shegone at this time of night? Have you told her you love heryet?”
“No, I haven’teven seen her. I was going to tell her how sorry I was first, but…”He trailed off and sighed. “I’m an idiot to think everything wouldbe okay between us.”
“Where is shethen?”
His shouldersdipped. “On a date, I expect. If it hadn’t been for mypig-headedness, none of this would have happened.” He swallowed thelump in his throat. “I’m too late. She’s moved on.”
Ophelia tookhim by the shoulders. “Don’t you dare give up on Evie. You two area match made in Heaven. Just because she’s not here doesn’t meanshe’s on a date.”
She had apoint, but the ache in his heart told him otherwise. “I know, butthere’s nothing I can do about it tonight. Maybe I’ll text her inthe morning.”
Ophelia shookhis shoulders now. “I could knock your block off sometimes, Caleb.Evie needs you, and you need her. Talk to her. Tell her how youfeel.”
He changed thesubject. “What are you doing here anyway, other than trying to playmatchmakers? I swear you two have some kind of affiliate programwith Cupid.”
“Us?” Ophelialaughed. “Whatever gave you that idea?”
“If you believethat, you’ll believe anything.” Raphael laughed too. “Butseriously, we do have some news.”
“What?”
“Evie’s beenapproved to become a fully qualified angel.”
Caleb’s chestfilled with pride. He never doubted she would make it for onesecond.
“So,” saidOphelia, waggling her eyebrows. “You’ll have to talk to Evie now.You have to be the one to give her wings their gold feathers.”
“Yes, I do. Nowgo,” he said, shooing them out of the doorway.
“Don’t you needto leave too?” said Raphael, gesturing towards the corridor.
“I will, but Ifeel like taking the aerial route.” He smiled. “Bye, you two, anddon’t forget to say hello to Cupid for me.”
“Bye,Caleb.”
Raphael loopedhis arm in Ophelia’s and dragged her away.
Caleb closedthe door and headed for the window. He climbed onto the fire escapeand soared into the night, his heart filled with renewed hope.
The city’slights twinkled far below, the hum of life quieter at this time ofnight, but the city never really slept. Nor would he, not untilhe’d talked to Evie.
He flapped hispowerful wings, imagining Evie’s delighted expression when he gaveher wings their golden tips. Smiling, he visualised her pretty facewhen he confessed his love too.
Caleb touchedthe jewellery box in his pocket. Yes, everything was going to beperfect; he could feel it in his bones.
Soaring higher,where the air was less polluted, he spread his wings wide andglided for a while on an upward current, relishing in the joy offree flight.
Out of nowhere,his stomach lurched. Maybe it was his angel intuition, but he’dnever felt anything so intense in all his life. Something wasn’tright.
Evie.
Fear roseinside his gut and bubbled into his chest.
Caleb changeddirection and flew back to Evie’s flat. He landed on the fireescape once again.
The place wascloaked in darkness, as before. Gone two a.m., and she still wasn’thome.
His bones achednow, as though they were trying to tell him something.
If she was on adate, Evie could be spending the night with him. The thoughttwisted inside his belly, but somehow, he knew in his heart andsoul that Evie was in danger.
She neededhim.
Caleb raked hishands through his hair. He needed to find out where she’d gone.
Think,think.
Then it struckhim; a long shot, but it had to be worth a try.
He fished outhis phone from his trouser pocket and typed Love Bites intothe search engine. He’d deleted his profile and account days back,but if she was on a date, he might be able to find out who she waswith and where she’d gone.
Scrolling thewebsite, he cursed. He’d hoped Jamie’s popup speech bubble wouldappear, so he could ask if she could give him some information oncehe’d explained the situation. Dammit! Of course, shewouldn’t be online in the middle of the night.
Another ideacame to mind.
He tapped ‘signin’ on the website and typed Evie’s name.
Yes, it wasanother invasion of her privacy, and he might be overstepping themark, but the fear washing over him in waves warranted it—he hoped.She’d probably thump him for what he was about to do.
The popupwindow asked for a password.
Damn, he hadn’tthought of that.
What would Evieuse as a password?
Caleb typed ina couple of possibilities to no avail. He thought harder. If hedidn’t get it right this time, he’d be locked out.
Third timelucky. He held his breath and typed SidneySpider. He mighthave laughed if it weren’t for the sense of foreboding rippingalong his spine.
He was in.
Ignoring theuncomfortable prickle creeping around the back of his neck, Calebwent onto her private messages.
He drew in asharp breath. He’d been right, but it didn’t make him feel any lesslike a
