Valentine's Day : CUPID'S MATCH BOOK 2

Chapter 11

Softly I click shut the door and head over the road, pulling my hoody closer to my body to keep out the chill.

Cal leans against the trunk of the tree ahead, his arms folded – watching me coolly. When I reach him he takes a moment to look me up and down as I stand there in front of him - taking in the rabbits and pink hearts on my pajamas. The corner of his lip twitches slightly.

"Go on, mock all you like..." I say. "They were a Christmas present."

He shrugs.

"Wasn't going to say anything..." he meets my eyes. Then he shakes his head and exhales heavily. "You shouldn't be out here. It's not safe."

I come and lean against the tree beside him, our shoulders touching. I feel his warmth through his blue sweater. He's placed his bow down by his feet. 

"Who were you talking to?" I ask.

He doesn't look at me.

"Someone I'd prefer you didn't meet."

"Well...that clears that up then..." I say.

He doesn't say anything.

"Come on, who is she?" I say.

He sighs.

"She runs a company...with her sisters. They do some work on our IT systems at the Matchmaking Service."

"I overheard something. She said something about things not being the way they should be," I say. "About the gone not being gone."

Nothing.

Talking to Cal is like talking to a brick wall.

"Well...? What did she mean?" I say.

A troubled look crosses his features. He looks to the side, catching my gaze with his.

"Honestly? I don't know. But when she feels the need to get involved it's not a good sign."

He turns his head back toward the street – his eyes focusing back on my bedroom window. Shadows flicker across his face, and I feel the tension in his shoulder, still pressed against mine.

"Something is coming," he says.

***
The next day at school I sit with Charlie in the canteen on our lunch break.

"You on any matchmaking cupid assignments at the moment?" I ask her over the bubble of noise.

She shakes her head – picking at the crusts of her sandwich.

"Crystal wants me to focus on my education. She says if anything cupid related comes up at school then I'll get the job. Plus," she says – grabbing one of my fries, "I'm supposed to be looking out for you, what with the whole Valentine thing..."

She reaches back for my tray, her fingers pinching above my food. I slap it away and she grins at me – raising her hands in mock surrender.

"You find anything out about him?" I say. "Cupid and Cal were both really cagey about it when I asked."

"No – not mentioned him to Crystal yet. I'm headed to the Matchmaking Service tonight though, I'll see if I can find any records of him. Want to come?"

"Yeah – I'm actually heading there too. Cal's picking me up after school. He wants to train with me."

Charlie looks at me, a dark glint in her eye.

"I'm sure he does..." she says, raising an eyebrow.

I narrow my eyes at her.

"Don't do that," I say. "It's not like that between me and Cal. I'm with Cupid..."

I close my mouth.

Are we together? I mean, we kissed last night – but did we actually establish anything about our future relationship?

And even though he's been gone all night, he hasn't texted me since. I'd thought he would have.

Charlie gives me a sympathetic look.

"You still not had the girlfriend, boyfriend chat, then?" She slurps her coke. "That sucks."

She launches into a speech about how I should take the lead – announce my undying love for him or something... but I'm distracted. The hairs on the back of my neck are prickling. I look over my shoulder toward the doors of the canteen.

A girl with long black wavy hair looks pointedly at me, then heads out into the school corridor.

I frown. She looks familiar.

Is she the girl from the Love Shack last night?

"Hold that thought," I say to Charlie, who watches startled as I jump to my feet.

I hurry out of the canteen after her. When I emerge into the locker lined corridor though, it is empty.  I frown. She can't have been that far ahead of me.

Charlie trundles over and peers over my shoulder.

"What is it?" she asks.

I shake my head as the bell rings for class.

"I don't know – probably nothing."

Together we head toward our lockers. I open mine and frown as I see the slip of paper on top of my English textbook.

I pick it up and read it – my heart beating fast. It's from the girl - I know it.

Valentine's Day is coming. Stay away from your match.