Can't Fix Cupid

The vicious, barking dog makes it to my prone form, and I flinch and quickly sit up, but instead of it attacking me, I feel it start to lick me all over my sandy limbs.

“Get back, dog,” the voice says.

I freeze.

My insides go totally frozen while my skin immediately heats with nerves. My body knows the truth even as my mind is struggling to keep up.

I hear his footsteps, and then I’m looking up at his dark, shadowed figure standing above me.

He kneels down in front of me, and as soon as his eyes land on my face, shock washes over his features. We stare at each other unblinkingly with matching looks of disbelief.

I can’t believe this is real.

This can’t be real.

Am I fricken dreaming?

Did some twisted shitfucker sandman trick me or something? If I wake up right now, I’m going to be pissed. I will Light up someone’s ass with my angelness so damn strong their shits will glow.

I reach up to pinch my nipple to make sure that this is all real. I hiss in pain immediately. “Ouch,” I say, dropping my hand.

That fricken hurt. Hindsight, don’t pick the nipple to pinch.

But the pinch test worked, which means...

“I’m here?”

Warren’s eyes run over my face like he can’t believe what he’s seeing. The feeling is mutual because I can’t believe it either. I never thought I’d see him again.

“It is you,” he whispers, as if the nipple pinching was what convinced him.

I can’t speak. I can’t even move. All I can do is look at him, because he’s here, he’s alive, he’s okay, and he can see me.

Healing him right after I became an angel was difficult. I nearly destroyed myself from the amount of power I pushed into him. For a new angel, it was a dangerous thing to do, but the risks never mattered. I’d do it all over again if he needed me to.

Tears fall from my eyes as I study him. He looks so different from the last time I saw him.

“You’re okay,” I murmur, like I need to reassure myself.

He nods slowly, and I see his throat bob. “The doctors called it a miracle. My heart is completely healed with no abnormalities or deficiencies. They can’t explain it.”

I smile secretively to myself. “I’m glad.”

I want to throw myself in his arms. I want to kiss him. I want him to hold me and let me feel that he really is okay, but I don’t do any of those things. Because despite the fact that I love him with all of my being, he still ended things between us, and I don’t know where he stands.

“I can’t believe you’re here. That you’re real…” he trails off, his voice holding a hint of awe. “I dream

ed about you when I was in the hospital. Just like this. Golden hair. White light. Your voice...” he says quietly, his eyes trailing over my features. “That damn dream has been burned into my mind for months. You told me not to be an asshole.”

A little snort escapes me, even as my throat bobs up and down with emotion. “Did you listen?” I tease.

The first hint of a smile cracks his lips. “Sometimes.”

“I’ll be sure to grade you on it later.”

His grin widens. “I’d expect nothing less.” His eyes flick downward. “I see you’re naked again.”

I brush away the tears that fell unbidden from my eyes and sigh. “Yeah. It just sort of happened. Again.”