Page 114 of Lightning Angel
“Well then, tell him he’s wrong about that.” Alexa scowled at the air, once again imagining him standing there invisible.
Albert sighed heavily. “Alexa, you know it’s not safe for you to be around him—at all.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “What are you proposing?”
Albert hesitated. “As much as I adore you two being together and am glad to see my son happy like never before, being with him is not safe for you. Likethisincident, because of who my son is, there’s a chance it might happen again.”
Alexa couldn’t take another one of his reasoning. “I love him, Albert!”
Cassie and Daphne gasped from where they sat next to her bed. Alexa fixed her eyes defiantly on the father of the boy she loved, watching his reaction.
His eyes bulged, just before his face crumpled in pain. “Alexa…”
“You can’t stop me,” she interjected. “Youwon’tstop me.”
If possible, the pain in his eyes intensified.
“He’s my whole world,” she continued, her voice breaking as her emotions spiraled. “There’s no life without him for me, not anymore. So, don’t eventhinkof trying to keep us apart, especially with some stupid excuses of danger and safety.”
The room fell into a pin-drop silence. No one spoke a word, not even breathed. Her confession shocked them all to the core. Whilesheshould’ve been shocked all the same, saying out loud that she loved Tristan only felt as natural as breathing. As though she had always known she loved him.
Yes, she loved him.
“Just don’t tell him I said any of this,” she added, looking at the three of them in turn. “I want to tell him myself.”
Albert forced a smile, one that didn’t touch his eyes. The pain lingered in them. Wasn’t he happy for his son? Why did he look like he received a news of demise?
The train of her thoughts stopped as Albert took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, his smile becoming more fatherly.
Her heart lifted slightly.
“I promise,” he said. “Now, I’ll leave you to rest.”
Alexa turned to Cassie and Daphne after he left. “I haven’t lost my mind, you know, I do love him.”
Another thunder clapped in the skies and she flinched, her heart lurching. Cassie sighed and rose from her chair to sit on the bed. “I think I can see that.”
“Then why did you ask him to stay away?” Despite her efforts, Alexa’s voice shook. Such an action from her sister felt like a betrayal, yet she couldn’t bring herself to hold a grudge against her. She knew her sister meant well,even though it was anythingbutwell in her case.
“Tristan looked like he wanted to stay away too, because when I asked him, he agreed without resistance.”
Realization struck her. “He blames himself for my ending up in the hospital, doesn’t he?”
“Not gonna lie, Lex. He was freaking scared for you,” Daphne said solemnly.
“But it wasn’t his fault!”
“He thinks it is,” Cassie said.
“Didyoublame him?” Alexa narrowed her eyes on her sister.
“Not like that.” Cassie looked guilty. “I was scared for you, and Imayhave said something nasty to him then, but after I had some time to think, I realized it wasn’t his fault. I apologized to him and we talked things over. He told me how this happened, still, I asked him to stay away until you’re out of here. He said that’s his decision too. I wouldn’t have believed that, given his special abilities to sneak in unseen, but I saw his genuine care for you. And I believed him.”
“He loves you, Lex,” Daphne added with a soft smile. “He told me.”
Alexa’s heart fluttered. “I know.” She turned to Cassie. “Did you tell him I’m awake?”
“Yes, I did. His old phone broke—or rather, turned to ashes at the strike. Dr. Knight got him a new one, so yeah, he’ll probably see it once the thunderstorm passes.” Cassie explained.