Page 14 of When the Angel Falls First

“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, Icoulduse 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 somethingsheloves. 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.”

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