To read previous editions about why a guardian angel  fell in love with his human, go here!

Instead, strong arms wrapped around me, whisking me up just as icy water brushed my fingertips.  Pressed against a warm white shirt, I glanced up into eyes the color of the tip of a flame, a cool blue that singed through me.

“I knew you were an angel.”

He sighed, his incandescant wings shimmering around him as they pumped across the falling sunset.  ”You’re not supposed to see me.”

“He talks!”  I flung my arms out, nearly throwing us both off balance.  ”He speaks!  The angel dares to grace me with his voice!”

“Shut up.”  Flipping me over, the angel dumped me unceremoniously onto the bridge.  ”Do you have any idea what trouble you’re in?”

“The only trouble I know is that you ran away from me.”  I folded my arms.  ”I mean, I know I’m not Heidi Klum, but come on.”

“You think I ran away from you?”  His wings fell back, feathers fluttering to the ground.  ”I didn’t….I would never…”  His face darkened.  ”I was trying to save you!  That’s all I do, you know!”

“So you’re my guardian angel?”  I stayed on the ground, the cold cement digging into my tailbone.

He rolled his eyes.  ”You know I am.”

“What’s your name?  Gabriel or something?”  When he didn’t reply, I burst out laughing.  ”Is that what all guardian angels are named?”

“No, just me.”  He folded his arms, his voice slicing out between tense lips.

“Why do I get an angel?  Does everybody have one?”

“Everyone has one, but not everyone has a full-time one.  Most angels have two or three humans.”

I picked up a feather, twirling it between my fingers.  ”There must be a lot of angels.”

“Thousands.”  He glanced around, then extended his hand.  ”Come on.  We need to get you home.”

“So why do I have a full-time angel?”  Ignoring the throbbing in my rear, I crossed one leg over the other.  ”Why have you saved me twice today?”

“Because you can’t stay out of trouble!” Warm fingers laced against mine as he jerked me up, pulling me to his chest.  ”Don’t you ever stop asking questions?”

“Why did you run away from me?”  I stepped back, peering up at him.

“I guess not.”  Lowering his head, he sighed.  ”I give up. You’re in grave danger and all you can do is ask questions like a demented cherub.”

“Cherubs are real?” I clapped my hands.  ”Do they have feathers too?”  Plucking a feather off of his curls, I slipped it into my back pocket with the other one.

“Excuse me, those are mine.”  Gabriel fluffed his hair, feathers raining down around us.  I held out my hands, catching them like snowflakes as he scowled.

“But they’re pretty.”  I shoved the feathers in my pocket before he could take one.  ”That girl wanted them to.”

He froze.  ”The girl that was talking to you wanted my feathers?”

I nodded.  ”She can see you too.  Is she an angel?”

“No.”  His voice grew terse, his eyes hard as he grabbed my wrist.  ”We’ve got to get you home.”

“Wait, what’s wrong?” Stumbling after him, I slid across the slick bridge.  ”Who was she?”

“No one you need to know.”  He barely glanced over his shoulder, dragging me down the sidewalk.  ”Come on.  We’ve got to hurry.”

“She was just a girl.  I don’t understand”–  He whirled around, grabbing me by the shoulders.  His ice-white eyes bored into mine.

“Arella, she’s not just a girl, just like you’re not just a girl.  Don’t you understand?”

I shook my head.

“There’s a reason I’ve been assigned to you my whole life.  There’s a reason that I’ve been watching you since you were born.  There’s a reason that I”– He stopped, his breath ragged.  His fingers gripping my shoulder blades, he pulled me closer.  I closed my eyes as he leaned close, his lips inches from mine.

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  We have a Christmas recipe recap tomorrow!  Stay tuned! 

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