Page 65 of The Cupid Chronicles

She frowns. “Right, but I actually like people, so to me, this isn’t a chore.”

I stuff my hands in my pockets and shake my head. She really doesn’t get it.

“What about when you have to help someone during your regular work hours? Or in the middle of the night? What about when ‘helping someone’ requires you to put yourself out there in ways you don’t want to—and it’s awkward and uncomfortable?”

She seems unbothered. “I think it will be worth it.”

I laugh and look away. “You’re so naïve.”

My insult lands. She looks away.

I instantly want to take it back.

“I like the idea of magic.” She shrugs. “I like knowing it exists.” And then a little more quietly, she adds, “For other people, anyway. It’s nice.”

There’s something in the way she says it that makes me curious. And as a general rule, I don’t get curious.

She pulls a pair of gloves out of her pocket and stretches them on. “Winnie is a good person, so if we can help find her other good people to spend time with, I think that’s kind of great.” She eyes me for a long moment. “Maybe that’s why I’mhere. Maybe I’m supposed to find people foryouto spend time with.”

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say probably not,” I say.

She stops. “Did you ever stop to think how cool it is that you get to be a part of so many people’s stories? Of helping so many people find happiness?”

I don’t respond. Because what am I supposed to say? That helping other people find happiness leaves a bitter taste in my mouth when this kind of happiness is the last thing in the world I want to find?

“You’re so closed off,” she says. “No wonder you need my help with this.”

I scoff and start walking again. “I don’t need anyone’s help. What I need is for someone else to be responsible for this junk.”

She follows me. This time, I don’t slow my pace. “Well, apparently, the building thinks you do. Maybe it wants to make sure that the person playing Cupid actually cares about who he’s helping.”

“I will gladly hand you my bow and arrow and let you take over,” I say. “It’s not like I asked for it in the first place.”

“You really can’t see how cool this is, can you?” she asks.

“I really can’t. Because it’snot.” We’ve reached the restaurant, and I put my hand on the door as I stop walking. “But the sooner I share everything I know with you, thenhopefully, the sooner I can be free of it.”

She cocks her head, studying me. “Is it because you don’t believe in soulmates? Or romance or whatever?” she asks.

“That sounds like a personal question,” I say. “And those are off limits.”

“Right.”

I walk inside the restaurant and, like a lot of things I don’t want to face right now, leave her on the other side of a closed door.

Chapter Nineteen

Iris

He shutthe door on me. Again.

Rude.

I pause, trying to decide if I pushed things too far, or if I’m being annoying, or if I’m going to do what normal Iris would do and dive in, headfirst, come what may.

I decide the latter and go to grab the handle, when the door opens.

It’s Matteo.

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