I texted him: Are you still in class?
I wouldn’t want him to worry.
Typing indicators danced to life as I raced to the sector where he should be.
I felt like I could fly. Or do a twelve hour shift.
The door flung open, and my Angel was among the first students to stride out, his thumb already pressed to his phone screen.
His custom ringtone blared from my phone, and he stopped, turning to the noise.
“Tori?” He flashed me a bewildered smile. “What are you doing here?”
“I go here,” I said, showing him my new ID.
His raised his brows. “You’re back in school?”
“Yep. A whole new program with a whole lot of transferred credits. So, if you ever need a lunch buddy…”
He laughed and scooped me into a crushing hug.
The world spun by, a blur within his warm embrace.
“We are definitely celebrating with that cake tonight,” he said.
I kicked with excitement and peppered his face in kisses.
A few students did a double-take. Old friends.
“Hey, Tori. How’ve you been?” they asked.
“Good,” I answered, landing on my feet.
It was true, now. I was good. And I could do better than I gave myself credit for, especially with change.
Angel beamed at me, and excitement fluttered through my veins. He believed in me. He always had.
When we got home, he insisted on making dinner and showing me the cake afterward.
“Close your eyes,” he insisted as he set the box on the counter.
“I’m sure the decorations aren’tthatbad,” I told him.
“Tori.”
“Fine.” I covered my eyes with my hand so he knew I wouldn’t peek. “Tell me when it’s ready.”
The aroma of vanilla and sugar frosting teased my lungs, and the click of a lighter made me giggle. This wasn’t a birthday party. Had he still gotten candles?
“Okay. You can look,” he said softly, guiding my hand away from my face.
My eyelashes fluttered open, and there, in the glow of standalone candles on the dinner table, was the most beautiful cake I’d ever seen. Not just because of the intricate frosting flowers and the painstakingly cursive lettering.
Because of what it said, what he read aloud to me: “I love you, Tori.”
Tears lined my lashes, blurring every beautiful detail. I covered my mouth to muffle my wet laugh of relief.
