Page 63 of Lightning Angel
Cassie sighed in defeat and nodded. Alexa linked their arms and walked her upstairs. Cassie entered her room and turned to her holding the door. “Sorry about that,” she said, pointing to Alexa’s t-shirt wet with her tears.
“Oh, don’t bother.” Alexa gave her a small smile. “I’ll just go and change.”
“Can you apologize to Tristan on my behalf for not—”
“I will,” Alexa interjected. “He will understand.” He was probably listening to this right now.
Cassie nodded and closed the door. Alexa inhaled deeply. She went to her room to change her t-shirt and wash her face before going downstairs. When she opened the front door and stepped out, she found Tristan on the swing.
He stood when he saw her, planting his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Hey.”
“Hey.” She gave him a small smile, walking to the swing and sitting down.
Tristan sat back next to her. “How is your sister?”
“Broken. It will take time for her to heal.” Alexa sighed, facing forward. “She really loved him, you know?”
“I’m so sorry,” he said ruefully.
“Me, too. I wonder if she’ll ever be the same again. He crushed her.”
“Any broken thing can be mended back, Alexa,” hesaid, glancing at her. “If it has the right thing to glue back the pieces together. And once it is mended and whole, it can never be broken again.”
Alexa stared at him, the meaning of his words not lost on her. “I’m certain neither I nor my sister are enthusiastic about romantic love anymore—in real life though. In fiction, it has always served as an escape.”
He searched her gaze. “Just because the two of you had the wrong guys in your lives doesn’t mean there’s no right guy out there. In your sister’s case, I believe it’s her best friend John.”
“You know John?” Her eyes widened slightly.
“I may have met one or two people who are really close to you,” he admitted sheepishly.
Alexa arched a teasing eyebrow at him. “When you used tostalkme, you mean?”
“I’d rather go withsecret admirer.”
Alexa rolled her eyes sarcastically to hide the effect his words had on her.
“John loves her, I’m almost certain of it,” Tristan continued. “If there’s anything or anyone that can heal her from this particular brokenness, it’s true love.”
Alexa recalled all the times John had been protective over Cassie even when Brandon was around, how he never liked or approved of Brandon. How he would never stay in the same room if Cassie and Brandon were together.
Why hadn’t she realized this before? JohnlovedCassie, more than just as a best friend.
She had believed that John friend-zoned Cassie. That’s how Cassie let go of her crush on him and ended up with Brandon. If they had worked out then, Brandon would never have been a part of Cassie’s life, and none ofthis would’ve happened. Cassie wouldn’t have been heartbroken now and Alexa wouldn’t have been blackmailed or driven by despair to try taking her life.
But then, she wouldn’t have met Tristan…
God has everything planned out for you.
The pastor’s words from yesterday’s sermon surged to her mind. Alexa closed her heart against it immediately.God has nothing to do with me so why would He botherplanningmy life?
She would’ve met Tristan anyway, right? Even if it was not like this, he would’ve still been themystery guyto her.
But, would he haverevealedhimself to her if she hadn’t leaped from the bridge and he had to rescue her?
She didn’t know. She wouldn’t know until she’d asked him. And she would, one day.
Because she realized, meeting him had been the outcome of this tragedy.