Page 65 of Lightning Angel
Alexa:*two shocked emojis*You don’t have Instagram?
Tristan: I’ve never found myself interested in social media
Alexa: I’m shocked! Do you live in the same century?
Tristan: At least you didn’t call me an ‘old man’. It’s what my sisters call me every time this topic is brought up
Alexa: Well, good for you, you’re friends with a social media content creator. And I’m gonna transform you into a ‘young’ man
Tristan: I had no idea you’re one. That’s awesome. What do you make?
Alexa: I do book reviews, song covers, book recs, and film some silly lifestyle things with my sister or Daphne. Though, I haven’t done THAT one in months
Tristan: You’re tempting me to jump into this Instagram thing
Alexa: Be my guest. Why don’t you come over?
Tristan: Are you sure?
Alexa: I’m sure that’s exactly what you meant when you mentioned helping me with my notes*smirking emoji*
Tristan: Yes, but are you sure it’s alright?
Alexa: Do you have something else you need to do?
Tristan: No, but that’s not what I meant
Alexa: Cassie’s still in her room and I’m bored out of my mind, all while dodging the temptation for distractions and copy down my notes
Tristan: Open your balcony door
Alexa: What?
No response.
Alexa stared at the screen until there was a knock on her balcony door. Her head snapped to the curtained door and she climbed out of her bed. Opening it, she met with his electric blue eyes and lopsided smile.
Her heart fluttered. She stepped back, allowing him to enter. “Why couldn’t you just pop up inside my room?”
“And invade your privacy?” He threw her an incredulous look, closing the doors behind him. “What gentleman does that?”
“Oh, so you’re a gentleman.” She grinned and tied her hands behind, looking up at him as she rocked back and forth on her heels without even registering it.
“Am I not?” He spread his hands, the gesture drawing her eyes to his black-sweater-sleeved arms.
“Do you always wear black and no other color?” she blurted out.
Tristan blinked at her unexpected question before he smiled that crooked grin again. “It’s my favorite color to wear, known as my signature shade in my family.”
“I thought so.” She stopped her rocking and steppedback further, letting him move about the room. “I’ve been wearing black since Dad’s funeral too…” Her smile dropped at once. “But after I broke up with my boyfriend, I stopped. I wanted to be a different person.”
Tristan cocked his head with a warm glint in his smiling eyes. “How different?”
Alexa shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I want to be strong, like my dad wanted me to, but I’ve been anything but that in the last few days.” A nervous, self-mocking laugh escaped her.
“Who said you haven’t been strong?” he asked in a cajoling tone that turned her insides into marshmallows. The effect surprised her. “Alexa, I’ve been with you all this time and all I’ve seen is a strong young woman, nothing less, whether you believe it or not. And I admire you for it.”
A shy smile twitched the corner of her lips upward. She couldn’t deny his honesty when he looked at her like that.