Cupid’s Match

“I really don’t see why you feel the need to come along,” says Cal.

We’re back in the Aston Martin on the way to the Cupids Matchmaking Service to access the digital copy of The Records of the Finis. Cal clearly doesn’t want Cupid here, but after a bickering match between them following Selena’s exit, it seems he’s decided it might not be such a bad idea to keep an eye on his brother after all.

While we’re gone, Crystal is keeping watch over Charlie, who woke up just before we left. Crystal said she’d thought the initial influence of the arrow had worn off enough that she could reason with Charlie, though I’m sure I overheard her snippily tell Cal she’d have to lie about Cupid and me to do it.

“Getaway driver,” Cupid says brightly. His dark mood seems to have vanished. “Plus, I don’t trust the Matchmaking Service. Speaking of which, did you tell Crystal what we were going to the Matchmaking Service for, Brother?”

He gives a stiff shake of the head. “I thought she might alert someone, since she doesn’t like you. I told her I was going to draw up the paperwork about you leaving town,” Cal says. “Which I am—once we’ve found out where this stupid arrow is.”

I sink back into my thoughts as Cal mutters under his breath about what a pain in the ass his brother is.

I don’t know what to think. Cupid doesn’t trust the Matchmaking Service. Selena doesn’t trust Cupid. Cal doesn’t trust Crystal. And I don’t trust anyone in this whole mythological mess . . .

“So, what’s the plan again?” I ask from the backseat.

“You’ll come in with me,” says Cal. “There won’t be too many cupids about at this time of night, so hopefully we won’t run into too many questions. We’ll say that you have an appointment with me in my office. I can access Carter’s login from my computer. We’ll print off the document, then get out of there.” He throws a warning look at Cupid. “And Cupid will stay in the car.”

Cupid grins. “Me going in there is a one-way ticket to the Matchmaking Service dungeons. And I really don’t want to end up there . . . again.”

Cal doesn’t return the smile. “Do you know what I’m risking for you? If they catch us with The Records of the Finis, they’ll know it’s to help you. I’ll be banished, or worse.”

“It’s not me that you’re risking yourself for,” Cupid says quietly.

I wonder what he means by that as we pull up to the side of the road, just down the street from the dating service.

Cal stares stiffly ahead. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

Cupid laughs. “You don’t have a good feeling about anything.”

Cal ignores that and turns in his seat to face me. “Come on, let’s get this over with.” He fires a look at Cupid. “And you, you stay in the car. I’m serious.”

That just prompts Cupid to make a big show of exiting. “You sure you want to do this?” he asks, sidling back to open my door while Cal huffs and slams his own.

“Sure,” I say. “This mystical arrow is the only way I can get you to quit bugging me? I’m in. Let’s figure out where it is before they do.”

Cal stalks around to our side, his face twisted with fury. “I told you to stay in the car.”

Cupid holds his hands up in surrender as I climb out of the Aston Martin. “I’m just going to walk you to the door. If you get caught, you’ll need my help to get out.”

He gives his most charming smile, which Cal counters with a humorless stare.

“Fine,” he says. “Just stay out of sight.”

Cal stalks off toward the Matchmaking Service. I watch him go, his hair pale in the moonlight. I think back to what he said about risking his place at the Matchmaking Service.

“You really are infuriating, you know?” I say, looking up at Cupid. “Couldn’t you have just done what he asked?”

A smirk tugs at his lips. “I know, I know, I’m sorry. I’ve condemned you to a half hour with Moody Cal, the even-worse version of Sullen Cal.” As I shake my head and start toward

the building, he falls into step beside me. “I just need to make sure you’re both okay. None of this is how I expected it to be,” he says. “When I came to Forever Falls, I thought . . . I don’t know what I thought.”

The sadness I glimpsed on the balcony has returned to his eyes. And now it seems there is regret mixed in there too.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Have you ever been sure that what you were doing was right, but then as everything starts to fall into place you begin to wonder whether it was worth it?”

“I entered a hot dog–eating contest when I was fourteen,” I say. “Threw up for the entire evening afterward.”

He gives a surprised laugh. “Well, you know exactly how I feel then.”

I look at him seriously. I’m guessing his question was referring to coming here—to finding me. “Who is the founder of the Matchmaking Service? Selena said that person would take over if we were, you know . . .”

“Matched?”

I nod, feeling heat grace my cheeks despite myself. His eyes burn into mine for a few beats, but then he waves his hand dismissively and drags his gaze away.

“Won’t happen,” he says. “The founder is gone. People need to stop worrying about it.”

Suddenly Cal spins around ahead of us and takes several strides back.

“Brother?” Cupid says, amused.

“Cupids can’t be matched,” Cal says sharply. “I trust you know that. I’m taking part in this escapade because I want Lila safe, and because as much as I hate to admit it, I don’t want you killed. But know this: once you have the Finis, I want you out of Forever Falls. I want you gone.”

A strange look passes over Cupid’s strong features as they stand face to face, tension crackling between them. Not for the first time, I wonder if it’s going to develop into a physical fight.

Then Cupid takes a step backward and shrugs. “Let’s just get the Finis. We’ll deal with all that later.”

“Yes, we will,” Cal replies.

We carry on in silence until we reach the glass shop front of the Cupids Matchmaking Service. I can’t believe how much has changed since the last time I was here.

Cupid lingers by the neighboring wedding boutique, eyeing the excessively frilly dress with a look of bored intrigue.

Cal looks at me. “We get the copy of The Records of the Finis—then we get out. Ready?”

“Ready.”