Late Sunday, Xander took me home, and that night, I woke five times. By Monday morning, I was a wreck. I didn’t trust anyone but my four angels.
It didn’t take long to understand why Xander wiped my memories. He knew this would wear me down. He knew what was best for me.
School that week was one of my hardest. Every touch or loud sound made me jump. Paranoia ran deep, expecting some horned creature to jump out of the fridge or trash can.
Beth and Mel noticed. They invited me out to lunch and shopping trips, but I didn’t want to be anywhere Xander wasn’t and he felt the same.
By the end of the week, I was emotionally drained and exhausted. Purple bruises shadowed my eyes that no amount of makeup would hide.
Sitting around the lunch table on Friday, I picked at my sandwich and Xander’s thumb traced over my knuckles.
“Abby, let’s go out this weekend! Tonight! You need fun.” Mel, bless her for trying.
Beth looked hopeful, too.
Xander tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “We should.”
I cringed. “I don’t know.”
“You need a break from this, Abby.” Trailing the hollow of my eyes, his finger heated. “It’s our four monthiversary, I want us to celebrate. Please. Caleb, Calista, and Hannah will come. Right, guys?” They nodded to him. “We’ll go together,” Xander offered.
I relented because I was too tired for an argument. “Okay. Where do you want to go?”
Mel didn’t need a second to think; the idea had already cemented in her head along with her immoveable pixie strands. “Heat Strokes! They have great music, a dance floor, and it’s an underage club.” Since most of us were still under twenty-one, it would be a nice change from the normal parties.
“Okay. Heat Strokes it is,” I conceded.
Mel grinned. “Ooh, Beth, we should see if Henry can come!”
This perked me up. “Who’s Henry?”
Beth blushed and I knew this was serious. Beth didn’t blush. “He wouldn’t be interested.” She made small tears in her napkin, avoiding my stare.
I looked to Mel, who obliged my demanding gaze. Mel bounced in her seat. “Henry is Greg’s older brother. He works for an investment firm. He met our Bethie last week and they hit it off.” Mel looked pleased with herself. My guess was she played matchmaker again.
Beth shook her head to dismiss the idea. “What guy wants to hang out with a bunch of underage college kids?”
Mel caught Greg’s attention as he paid for lunch. Jake and Greg bounded over and Greg gave Mel a kiss. She glowed when he pulled away. Did I look like that with Xander? “Do you think Henry will come out to Heat Strokes with us tonight?” Mel asked.
He looked to Beth. “You going?” She nodded to him and Greg said, “Trust me, he’ll be there.”
Beth didn’t look convinced. “How do you know?”
“I’m risking a giant foot up my ass, but he hasn’t stopped asking about you.”
I smiled at Beth, and before I knew it, Xander cupped my cheek to turn my face, and he was kissing me. The group groaned and threw balled-up napkins at our heads.
“I’m eating here!” Hannah complained.
65
Abby
“These would go perfect with your dress.” Hannah held up silver earrings.
Wearing a tight pink cocktail dress with three-quarter sleeves that came mid-thigh, I paired it with beige heels and let my hair hang down in loose waves. I took the earrings and thanked Hannah.
Getting ready with two angelic sirens was an even bigger hit to the ego than when I would do this with Mel and Beth. Calista wore a red dress that would cause accidents if she stepped out near traffic, and Hannah’s dark teal dress might cause a few heart attacks.
Caleb peeked in to make sure we were on time; he looked handsome wearing a blue T-shirt under a sports jacket and boots. He was sure to grab the attention of every female tonight. I couldn’t wait to see Xander.
With Hannah’s dangly earrings, I went to Xander’s bathroom to put them in and grabbed my lip-gloss. A dark form reflected next to mine and I spun.
Xander wore boots, dark blue jeans, and a dark gray button down shirt that really knew how to adhere to muscles. Hazel eyes sparkled. My stare was shameless as I appreciated my hot angel boyfriend. And I realized it had been too long since we dressed up for each other. Why had we waited so long?
“Wow. You look handsome.”
His eyes roamed over me and he didn’t speak.
My stomach churned; maybe he didn’t like my dress. “Do I look okay?” I asked.
Closing the distance between us, his stare intensified and caged me against the counter. Two large hands ran up my thighs to the underside of my breasts, giving me butterflies and tingles. His head dipped and warm lips kissed my neck. A freshly shaved chin slid against my throat and soft hairs tickled my cheek as his Heavenly scent blew over me.
His voice was thick and husky. “You look amazing. I love when you wear heels.”
My heart raced as if his lips alone controlled the Earth’s rotation. “You’re gonna make me want to stay home if you keep kissing me.” I craned my neck for more.
“Mmm, you shouldn’t have worn this dress.”
Hands went to my backside, pulling me flush to his body, and I gasped when his response pressed against my belly. Warm feelings imploded deep within me and my fingers itched to yank off every article of clothing between us. Fabric pulled from my shoulder, lips caressed my bare skin, and his hand gripped my thigh, making tiny circles that seemed to be going higher and closer to where I ached.
Caleb appeared in the doorway. “Later, you two! Let’s go have fun.”
Xander grumbled, “I was having fun. Brothers.”
Struggling to compose myself, Xander helped fix the dress and put my earrings in with touches completely unnecessary, but welcomed. Meeting the group in the garage, Xander complimented everyone and Caleb did the same.
Forty minutes later, we arrived at Heat Strokes. In the dense crowd, I spotted Beth with a large guy who could only be Greg’s brother, Henry. Greg and Mel danced nearby. Hannah darted across the room and invited Jake to dance. I watched Jake laugh and smile as Hannah chastised his terrible moves and my heart ached for him. His mind was innocent and his body had been used as a demon’s puppet. Jake was my friend, forced to do things he would never do.
At the bar, Danielle stood in what looked like a purple bandage. The group of guys surrounding her were older. Between two different broad shoulders, she met my gaze and her eyes narrowed. The evil eye spoke volumes, but no matter how much she hated me, I prayed she was safe tonight, that she made smart choices and protected herself. If any of those guys wanted to take advantage of her, they could.
Warm lips brushed my ear. “What’s that look for?”
“Danielle. We’ll never be friends, I know. I can’t help but worry about her.”
He kissed my neck. “You’re too good, you know that? Danielle makes her own choices and she puts herself in bad situations. She doesn’t deserve your concern. Come on, I want your undivided attention tonight.”
Xander pulled me onto the dance floor and didn’t allow any space between us. Tonight, he wasn’t sweet or gentle. We moved to the music in a different way. It was sexy and I felt sexy. He ran his hands over my body, keeping in mind people were watching.
“Your dancing isn’t terrible tonight.” He looked me up and down from the side.
I tipped my head back. “Oh? You can thank my dance instructor.”
“Mmm, you should kiss him instead,” he challenged.
I missed this. I missed being playful with each other. His strong arms wrapped around me, guarded and protected me. I was safe here, at home in his embrace.
Holding me against him, his arousal was unmistakable, hidden between us. Maybe it was the public place or just knowing what I did to him, but the heat building in my core was unbearably sweet and moved to between my thighs. His lips found mine and his tongue
did things to me that would have had me collapsed on the floor if he wasn’t an angel. This kiss engulfed us in passion and burn. The world didn’t exist, our fears melted away, and it was just us.
Someone yelled across the room, “Xander, you’re gonna sprain her tongue, man!” Cheers and whistles erupted. Okay…so it wasn’t just us here.
Pulling apart, we laughed at the football team raising their sodas to us.
Xander grunted. “I’m getting blocked from all sides tonight.”
“Not from me.”
He smiled. “No, not from you.”
“They’re jealous.” I tugged him back down for another long kiss.
Greg boomed, “This is a public place!”
Xander groaned against my lips. “We shouldn’t have come. I want to get you back home. I want to get this dress off of you.”
“You’re gonna have to wait, Mr. Wright.”
Hours flew by, filled with kissing and dancing. Xander made it clear he wasn’t sharing tonight and no one bothered to ask. I was his. He was mine.
The entire group left around midnight, hungry. We decided to eat breakfast—I would never turn down maple syrup.
We ate, laughed for hours, and we had a chance to get to know Henry. We learned that we actually had two Gregs. Henry was a tank, too. He towered over the group with dark skin, cropped black hair, playful brown eyes, and a great smile. Henry and Beth made a good match, and most importantly, he made her happy. I hadn’t seen her smile like this in months.
Xander whispered, “You look beautiful tonight. Thank you for coming.”
I kissed him and he tasted like syrup. Something knocked his lips away from mine. A balled-up linen napkin landed in our laps and all eyes avoided ours.
Xander drove us home at three in the morning. After saying goodnight to his siblings, we brushed our teeth, and then he pulled me into his bedroom. I put my heels in the corner. He picked them back up and his voice came out deep and thick. “Oh no. These stay on.”
I put them back on without questioning him.
Soft country music played from my phone’s song list, our favorites. Xander’s arms enveloped me and we picked up where we left off at the club. His hands roamed, and this time, no one was watching. His kiss was forceful, intense, a wanting for me burned in those lips and I matched it.
“Every single night you’re not in my bed is torture. I’ve missed you,” he said between kisses lacing my neck, and then broke away. Xander assessed me, considering something.
Suddenly, he grasped the hem of my dress and dragged it off. Without missing a beat, I began unbuttoning his shirt, but Xander tore it off with multiple plinks as the buttons hit the wall and furniture. His pants flew to an unknown spot in the room. The rest stayed on.
66
Xander
My knuckles rapped above the glittery wreath on the front door and Abby opened it with a bright smile; all her bags sat in the entry. “Good morning, beautiful.”
She flung herself at me and sealed her mouth to mine. “Good morning, handsome.”
“You ready to go?” I looked down to Bozo holding his tongue outside his mouth, waiting for a rub down.
Abby nodded. “I have everything set. I might need to come back in a week and check on the house.”
“That is doable.” I grabbed her bags and the dog food, placing everything in the back of the 4Runner.
With finals behind us, I had been hunting with my siblings every available moment and couldn’t wait for today. I could finally take a breath and enjoy my time with Abby.
Yesterday was Christmas, and the Millers left this morning just before I brought my car around to her house, having kept watch all night.
The drive to my place was quiet, both of us were thinking about Abby’s appointment with Dr. Joe today. It was her semi-annual check-up, and by the way her hand tapped her jean-clad knee, she was as nervous as I was.
Abby tired faster and it had been taking more of my gift to keep her heart calm, but she hadn’t been sleeping well either. I hoped to get a private moment to catch up with the doctor. We had been e-mailing, planning, and preparing for the inevitable. Honestly, nothing would prepare me for when her heart finally gave out.
Abby emerged from the hall after putting her things away in my room. “Where is everyone?” she wondered.
I couldn’t help the grin that slid onto my lips. “They left.”
“Where did they go?”
Wanting to surprise Abby, I hadn’t told her my siblings were also going to be gone for these twelve days. “They took a long flight, so to speak. They needed a break. We have a place up in Northern Arizona. A log house, it’s quiet, not a soul for miles.” I didn’t tell her they were also going to call upon the Second Choir again to plead on Abby’s behalf. Perhaps a different Archangel would appear and have a different answer for us this time, or at least give us an explanation why she wasn’t ready for judgment.
Abby’s feet shifted. “You should have gone with them. I know you could use a break, too.”
“No way.” I captured her chin and pulled it up so she could see the resolve in my eyes. “I’m exactly where I want to be.” I glanced to the time on my new watch—a gift from the Millers. “You ready to go?”
She huffed, “Yes.”
Hours passed of X-rays, blood work, ECG, and other tests. I stayed with her as much as they allowed me, held her hand, and gave her support. Abby peppered me with apologies for how boring this was. We talked and played games like Guess what’s in the Drawer. Abby won every time, and I realized that she was here much too often. That knowledge soured my stomach.
The nurse appeared with a one-size fits all gown that would never fit on her small frame. Giving her privacy, I waited in the hall until she called me. Stepping back in, I grinned. “The circus tent is your best look, Abby.”
“Ha. Ha.”
Joseph knocked and greeted me, pretending to have met me for the first time for Abby’s benefit. I pointed to the classic car calendar and we discussed the Mustang on display.
“You do know I’m here, right?” Abby asked, looking to us from the exam table. “The one that brought this little bromance about?” She gestured to us.
Joseph’s tone held no apology. “Sorry, Abby, cars come first.”
Abby rolled her eyes.
“Okay, okay. If you’re gonna get testy about it, I’ll focus on you,” he teased.
Her arms flung up. “Finally!”
I stayed while Joseph examined Abby, and he read over whatever test results he had back, still waiting on some from the lab. Looking to me, he said, “Alexander, I would like to speak with Abby privately.”
My stomach dropped. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” he stated. “We’ll be a minute if you would like to get a soda from the cafeteria.” He was asking me not to listen outside and my chest constricted.
Flicking my eyes back to Abby, I swallowed. “I won’t be long.”
She nodded, too innocent to understand what was going on. “Okay.”
67
Abby
“Abby, you have quite the boyfriend there. A nice young man,” Dr. Joe said as the door clicked shut.
A wide smile broke out. “He’s pretty great.”
Dr. Joe sat down and typed on the laptop. Not long after, a nurse poked in with two papers that she set on the desk and the door shut again, leaving just us. The laptop was abandoned on the little desk and he wheeled closer to me. “Your tests show your heart is stable, but the numbers have changed from the results last year. I’m altering your dosages, nothing too drastic. Here are the new instructions.” He handed me the first paper. “There’s one more thing.” He paused.
“Spit it out, Dr. Joe, I’m not getting any younger.”
He didn’t smile this time, which made my smile fall. “Abby, I know this won’t be easy to hear, but I would be irresponsible if I didn’t broach the subject.”
“Okay.” My pulse jumped in my throat.
&
nbsp; He stared at the paper as though it were making him speak. “I know you and Alexander are great kids, but young people sometimes get into situations. I would like you to start taking birth control.” Cue the second paper.
I refused to take it as though it would explode in my hand like a spy movie. “I don’t need this, Dr. Joe. We’re going to wait.”
“Sometimes our intentions are good, but we’re only…human. Things happen. You can get pregnant. There is nothing wrong with your reproductive system. Abby…you shouldn’t have children. You can’t carry a baby and survive. The workload on your heart would be too much. A pregnancy would kill you.”
I recoiled and almost fell off the exam table. This thought never crossed my mind. I assumed one day Xander and I would marry and have a baby. But that would mean I had expected for my heart to get fixed, or spontaneously get healthy. How could I have been so blind to my own reality? How could I let myself think I could give Xander a child? How could I have been so cruel to let Xander believe we had a future?
With a pat on the shoulder, Dr. Joe left the prescription in my lap. The paper stared at me and mocked my ignorance. Deep voices muttered outside the door, too muffled to distinguish words, and I was in too much shock to care. The longer I held the prescription, the angrier I became with myself, sitting there, repeating those words. A pregnancy would kill you.
If it were possible for Xander to stay with me as a human, wouldn’t he want a baby? Of course, he did. He said he wanted three. What if we had two like me and one like you. He would fall from Heaven; give up everything to be with the one human who couldn’t give him his own child. I mourned a life I would never have, a life I could never give him.
The voices snapped me out of my thoughts. Xander was waiting and he would check on me soon. Shuffling back into my clothes, I stuffed the papers in my pocket, planning to throw one of them away later. Xander was clear that he wanted to wait, and we weren’t the normal kids Dr. Joe thought we were. One of us wasn’t even human.
To Fall (The To Fall Trilogy Book 1) Page 41