Page 25 of Lightning Angel
“So, you’re saying Tristan is a vampire?”
“No, I’m saying that he is the one behind this, whatever he is.”
“I thought you might say he is a stalker and then call the police.”
“Well, I’m still inclined; only this time, he’s anobsessedstalker.”
“If you’re trying to scare me, it’s not working,” Alexa quipped with a sly smile.
Cassie matched her grin. “I didn’t expect you to. I’ve trained you over a lot of bookish adventures to be intimidated by any of this. But.” She paused to take a deep breath and continued. “I won’t hesitate to admit I’m also worried. Does anyone other than me know about Melissa’s insults?”
“You, Daph, every student present in the hallway,andeveryone they had passed on the gossip to.”
“There was Jude, too. And he came to your defense.”
Alexa scowled, matching the one on her sister’s face. “He can get lost. It’s most definitely not him. I’d rather stick with Tristan being a vampire.”
Cassie’s scowl melted as she chuckled. “Not to mention, you told him you didn’t want him to play yourknightin shining armor. The note is signed by a LightningKnight.” Her eyebrows rose suggestively.
Alexa huffed and looked away; she hated that it made sense. “Then no thanks to him.”
“Of course, there’s no thanks to him.” Cassie rose from the chair. She took the plate of stacked pancakes from the counter and placed it on the dining table before grabbing two plates, knives and forks, and maple syrup.
They said grace. And like every other time, Alexa wondered why they hadn’t stopped it yet. Perhaps it was to cherish the memory of their dad.
“I’ll tell Gracie I can’t fly with her to Orlando, then.”
Alexa paused chewing on her food. She almost askedwhat forbefore remembering that Cassie had promised to go with her best friend Gracie to Orlando for the three-day work trip she was assigned by the magazine she wrote for. It was her first one, and she was given an extra flight ticket and accommodation for one person she could bring with her. Gracie, of course, asked Cassie, and Cassie accepted it after making sure Alexa would be fine without her. Not that Cassie was actually going to leave her alone; she had already asked Brandon to stay in the house at night.
Then why change the plans now?
As though reading her mind, Cassie said, without looking up from her pancakes, “My sister has an obsessed stalker, and there’s no way I’m leaving her behind even if my boyfriend guards the house.”
“Could you kindly saysecret admirerinstead ofobsessed stalker? Seriously it’s starting to grate on mynerves,” Alexa retorted, but with a smile.
“You’re scared.”
“I’mannoyed.”
“Thenobsessivelystalking secret admirer, it is.”
“You’re worse than annoying older brothers.”
“And you’re worse than annoying younger brothers.” Cassie grinned back, just before they both burst into laughter.
“I almost forgot about your trip with Gracie. When is it, again?”
“In two days.”
Alexa’s eyes widened. “Seriously, Cass? And you’re going to cancel on your best friend on such short notice?”
“For my sister? Yes,” Cassie said.
“I’m not gonna let you do that, not to Gracie.” When Cassie opened her mouth to protest, Alexa held up her hand. “It’s all the same whether it’s you or Brandon staying with me. This ghost, vampire, or whatever it is, wasdefendingme, bringing me justice. So, to think that I might be in danger at its hands iswhatsounds senseless. And if thisthingwants to attack me for some senseless reason, it doesn’t make any differencewhois staying with me. Do you get me? Besides, Brandon is a man. He’s probably got more skills at defense than both of us, so better trust him with my safety rather than canceling on your best friend two days before the trip.”
“Don’t underestimate me, sissy,” Cassie mused, with a smirk at the mention of her boyfriend’s strength. “You have no idea how far I’d go for you.”
Alexa’s heart melted at those words. She reached for her hand over the table with a soft smile. “I know, Cass, because I would too, in a heartbeat. But you won’t have todo that, it won’t come to that, I promise.”