Page 15 of Lightning Angel
“Oh, but Iwantto.” Alexa couldn’t help her smirk. “How about… I’ll tell you my nameifyou face me?”
“Here we go again,” he muttered. “I knew this wascoming.”
Her smirk turned smug. When he didn’t say anything more but shook his head, she prodded, “So… what do you think?”
“IthinkI’m not about to play that game.”
“But that’s unfair.” Her eyes widened. “I played yours!”
“Doesn’t meanIshould playyours, clever girl.” He smirked, she was sure of it. “It was nice meeting you, by the way. But I should really go.”
“What? Wait!”
He placed the book he held back on the shelf in front of him and turned to go, not sparing a look at her, not even saying another word.
“Wait, Tristan!” But he was already out of her sight. She moved along the shelf with him, listening to his hurried footsteps. “Will I see you again, at least?”
His footsteps paused, and she did too. “You want to see me again?” he asked in a low voice, surprised.
“Yes, of course.” The note of her voice matched his. “As infuriating as you are, I enjoyed your company.” She hesitated for a moment and continued. “I came here looking for a book to distract me from the drama that recently unfolded in my life. Not only I didn’t find a good book, I knew it wouldn’t have given me a lasting distraction; but you did. And you made me laugh, so yeah. I want to see you again.”
Alexa hoped she didn’t sound as desperate as she felt. She rocked back and forth on her heels, suddenly nervous.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” His answer disappointed her. It wasn’t straightforward, promising, or assuring. She couldn’t make out his tone either; whether he was smilingor not.
“You better, because you’ve still gotta come for my name.” Alexa knew she could walk forward out of the pathway and catch up to him, but something held her back. Strangely, she didn’t want to break the rule of his game even though she hadn’t quite agreed to play along.
“Trust me. I won’t be able to sleep a wink without knowing the name of the girl who makes me feel alive by simply existing in this world.” This time he smiled. Sheheardhis smile, but his words refused to make sense.
“What is that supposed to mean?” she asked with a forced, cool laugh as her heart began to accelerate.
No answer came.
“Tristan?”
No answer.
“Tristan, are you there?” She pulled out a book from the shelf and spied through the narrow gap. He wasn’t there. Where could he have gone? Her heart raced faster as she walked out of the pathway and turned to the one where he had been.
It was empty.
“Do you have a diploma in disappearing or something?” she murmured as disappointment and annoyance weighed down on her. “Because I hate this more than you refusing to face me.”
She turned on her heels to go after him; but just like at the church, there was no glimpse of him in the entry hall or outside the shop. She spied the manager at the counter, Mrs. Hanson, and slipped back to the bookshelves before anyone noticed her. She still had the book in her hand that he’d pushed out.
Sighing, Alexa walked to the pathway he hadbeen.
A white page sticking out from the line of the books caught her attention. She picked up her pace. It was right where they had stood and bantered. Alexa placed the book in its place and took the small piece of paper tucked between two books next to it, with trembling fingers.
You have a beautiful voice, one that can put even a siren to shame. It was nice meeting you, Alexa.
Her eyes bulged. How did he know her name? Had he asked around the church for her or something?
Alexa looked down at the cursive handwriting, reading the black-inked words again. Her disappointment and annoyance soothed slightly, and a small smile tugged at her lips.
Everyone who ever heard her sing said she had the voice of an angel. He called her a siren—well, that her voice could put a siren to shame.
Her smile widened.