Page 69 of Lightning Angel
Alexa smiled. “Will I see you tomorrow?”
“If you want to.” He smirked a little.
“I do, if you want to, as well.” She smirked back.
Tristan chuckled. “I can drop you off at school tomorrow if you want me to.”
The expectancy in his eyes almost made her sayyes, but the sensible part of her reminded her that his dropping her at school would start a new rumor;Alexa has a new boyfriend.Though Tristan was just a friend, no one would believe her if she told them.
He looked every part the boy who stepped right out of a girl’s romance novel.
“How about you pick me from the café after my shift, like today?” she asked him reluctantly. “Because, if you’re seen with me at school, people would take it the wrong way.” She turned to him, biting her bottom lip.
His eyes dropped to her lips. She realized her mistake immediately and released it; the boys from books were always tempted to kiss a girl when she bit her lip.Oops.
Tristan brought his eyes back up and met her gaze, now unreadable.Well done, Alexa.“You’re right. I’ll pick you up after your shift, then.”
Alexa nodded dumbly, breathless.
Tristan glanced at his watch and cleared his throat. “We should probably head back now. You’ll be late for bed.”
“Sure.” She nodded again. “Let’s go.”
* * *
“Good morning.”
Alexa turned from the counter and saw Cassie enter the kitchen, dressed up to leave for work. “Good morning,” she greeted back with a soft smile. “Are you hungry?”
“Very.” Cassie dropped her bag in one of the chairs before approaching her, her green eyes void of their usual glow. “What’s for breakfast?”
“I made your favorite.” Alexa beamed and took their plates to the table.
Cassie inhaled the aroma and her stomach growled in approval. “You’re the best little sister in the world.”
Alexaneededto hear that especially today despite it being a usual dialogue. “Let’s dig in, then.”
They sat down and said grace before delving into French toast, scrambled eggs, fried bacon—and milkshakes, which wasn’t an item for breakfast on their table before. Alexa prepared it especially to cheer up her sister.
“How are you feeling?”
Cassie sighed heavily, toying with a piece of egg on her plate. “Numb, I guess.” She shrugged. “I particularly don’t feel anything.”
Alexa sighed and sipped from her milkshake, preparing to tell her about Brandon’s case. “He doesn’t deserve your tears, so you not feeling anything will serve him right.”
“It’s not like he’s gonna know whether or not I feel anything. He never really cared.” Cassie snorted, her expression sour. “I don’t want to talk about him, Lex.”
“I know, but there’s something I’ve got—” Alexa began and stopped short as Cassie’s phone rang over the table. She read the caller ID upside down—Sammy.Brandon’s younger sister.
Cassie snatched the phone and silenced it. “I wonder what she wants.”
Alexa knew exactly why she was calling. “Brandon’sbeen arrested.”
Cassie’s eyes snapped to hers in shock. “What?”
Whether that was a good shock or a bad one, she proceeded with the information. “I filed a case against him yesterday with Tristan’s help.”
Cassie gaped at her, blinking once, twice, and thrice before she composed herself and leaned back in her seat. She ran a hand over her face and through her blonde hair. “Well done, Lex.”