Page 57 of Lightning Angel
“Not even a hint.” Tristan shook his head, eyes fixed on the road. “But our housekeeper, Mercy, knows about my curse. She’s been working for my family since I was born, so yeah, she knows. Though, not about my powers. Only my dad, his favorite sister and family, and my godfather know about it.”
“And now me.” Alexa watched Tristan’s face for his reaction.
True to her expectation, he smiled and spared her a glance. “And now you.” Then, he added, “Soon, your sister too.”
Alexa turned away with her own smile and leaned back in her seat. “Why haven’t you told the rest of your family about it?”
“No reason in particular.” Tristan shrugged. “I simply asked my dad to convey it only to the people I was comfortable with. My aunt is the family I’m closest to, so he told them and spared my supernaturalism from the rest.”
Alexa hummed in understanding.
“Do you have cousins?”
“Oh, yes. A lot.” She smiled fondly. “But since we’re far away from them, we’re notthatclose. Though, I love them.”
“I love mine, too,” Tristan said with an equally fond smile. “My younger sisters—my aunt’s daughters—especially. They’re my favorite.”
“Aw,” Alexa cooed. “I love brother-sister dynamics.”
“They remind me of my own sister, how it would’ve been if she were here.”
Alexa’s heart wrenched at his words. “I’m so sorry about that. How old she would’ve been if she were here?”
Despite the agony, an affectionate smile tugged at Tristan’s lips. “Eighteen.”
Alexa sighed heavily. She couldn’t imagine the pain and desperation she’d feel if she had lost a sibling before birth. All thewhat ifswould’ve driven her mad. She had to give it to him; amidst the tragedies in his life, Tristan had come out as a stronger person than he knew it.
“A year older than me,” she murmured, staring out the windshield.
Tristan hummed in response.
“How old are you?” She turned to him with her question.
Tristan spared her a glance and opened his mouth, to answer probably, but shut it. Then, a mischievous glint lit his eyes. “What do you think?”
Alexa shot him areallylook. “Early twenties?”
“Do I look like I’m in mylatetwenties?” He rolled his eyes with a smile.
Alexa rolled her eyes as well. “That’s why I said early twenties, silly.”
“Early twenties is not a certain number.”
“No, it’s not.” She shrugged casually.
“And you’re satisfied knowing I’m in my early twenties? Don’t wanna know the exact age?”
Alexa shrugged again, feigning casualty, suppressing a smile. If he was trying to get past the solemnity the topic of his unborn sister brought him—she felt he was—she might as well play this enjoyably for him. And driving him insane was the best way.
“Oh, really?” He chuckled, incredulous. “What if I’mtwenty-three?”
“Sowhat ifyou are twenty-three?” she asked back, meeting the occasional glances he cast her.
“What if I’m too old for you? You’re only seventeen.”
“So, what if youare?I can’t hang out with you?”
Tristan shrugged. “Well… six years is a pretty long age gap.”