*CUPID'S MATCH BOOK 3* FIRST DRAFT
For the third time, follow Lila into a world of cupids, arrows, betrayal, and love, in the Watty award winning series with over 50 million reads online.
CUPID'S MATCH is published and in stores now!
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Author note: FYI - Accidentally spelt Ameena differently last chapter to how I'd spelt it earlier in the series. Changed now to Amena for consistency! Also - hi! Hope you're enjoying the book so far! I'm going to try and update every day this week :) Yay! lots of love, Lauren! xxx
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Amena
The only girl Cal has ever admitted to having feelings for. The girl who gave him the chipped mug that sits in his office. The girl he turned into a cupid. The girl he was trying to find.
The air in the alley is silent. Cupid watches Cal – his jaw clenched and his ocean eyes wary. Charlie and I share a look. Crystal stands stiffly in front of us. Even the three Arrows, crumpled and cuffed by the wall, seem to pick up on the tension and remain quiet.
"Where have you been?" Cal's mouth sounds dry as the words come out.
Amena holds his gaze. "It's a long story."
It feels like we're witnessing something private; like we are not welcome here in this moment. Time slows down. Someone has to interrupt; someone has to cut through this thick, neverending moment before we're trapped in it forever.
But no-one does.
Cupid puts a hand through his ruffled hair. "Well...this is awkward..."
The sound of shattering glass resounds behind us. We all jerk our heads to the entrance to the Love Shack and Cal hurriedly gets to his feet, brushing himself off.
And time restarts.
"There's a situation inside." Cal's gaze moves to Crystal – color flooding back to his face.
"Ardor arrows?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
"A lot."
Crystal pinches the bridge of her nose.
"OK. Get back in there, split people up, calm people down, try limit the damage as much as possible," says Crystal. "I'll call for backup – we're going to need to keep these students separated while the effects of the arrows wear off. I'll have Mino put them in holding cells at the police station." She looks down at the cuffed cupids, "I want these three back at the Matchmaking Service for questioning. Amena, help me out with that. I want to continue our conversation."
Amena drags her gaze from Cal and grabs Jonathon and Ricardo by the arm, wrenching them to their feet. Jessica – the red-haired girl - gets up on her own, and I think I see her smile at Amena. An alarm goes off somewhere in my mind, but it's stifled by a muffled scream coming from the Love Shack.
"Let's go, people," says Crystal – plucking a cell phone out of her jeans pocket. "Meet us in the office when back-up arrives."
Cal and Amena share one more look, before he turns on his heels and strides toward the entrance to the bar – shoulders still tense. Cupid follows. I try to catch his eye but he seems resolute to ignore me; jaw clenched and ocean eyes hard as he walks past me. Charlie frowns and gives me a what was that all about? look.
