Page 76 of Lightning Angel

“What do you mean bystill?” Cassie tilted her headand narrowed her eyes slightly. “Because Brandon and I fell apart rather horrendously? Yes, I still believe in true love. Just because I have been with the wrong guy all these years and thought he was the one for me until yesterday, doesn’t mean the right guy is not out there for me.”

Alexa withheld herself from blinking, slightly impressed at how defensive her sister sounded about true love. It wasn’t that Alexadidn’twant what all those protagonists had in her books. She wanted all of that, but her parents—and now Brandon—had tarnished her hope of ever finding it with an oh-so-specialone true love.

She looked away. “That’s what he said too.”

“Tristan?”

Alexa nodded. “Yesterday on the porch, after the Brandon disaster.”

“Goodness, Alexa, that boy isreallyin love with you.”

“Stop saying that.” Alexa narrowed her eyes at her and rose to her feet. “I crave distraction. I’m gonna make dinner.”

Cassie shrugged and stood as well. “Sure, I’ll join you after a quick shower.”

Alexa turned to walk to the kitchen when Cassie called out, “Hey, you bought this?”

She turned and saw Cassie taking the paper bag from the coffee table and peeking inside. Her stomach dropped for no reason and she marched back to her sister.

“No, Tristan bought it. I forgot to throw it away.”

Cassie yanked the bag behind her and stared at Alexa as though she had lost her mind. “Excuse me?”

“Give it to me, Cass.” Alexa tried to reach behind her.

“No.” Cassie stepped back, squinting her eyes. “Is there more to the story than you’re letting on?”

Alexa waved her hand dismissively in the air, impatiently. “He simply came to the café and ordered a cappuccino and a sandwich, and waited for me, and bought these for you and me when my shift was over. Now, give me that.”

“Alexa! What have you done to my sister?”

“A so-calledfriendtold her that he loved her, so don’t you think she’s at least allowed to trash something he bought for her?” Ifonlythat was the truth. How could she eat what he bought for her after having argued with him and told him to leave her alone?Thatwas the case.

“We don’t waste food in this household,andhe bought this for me too, so I’m eating whether you like it or not.” Cassie turned her back to Alexa and fished out a hotdog. Pivoting back to her, she peeled off its wrapping and took a big bite, moaning loud on purpose.

“You’re so unfair!” Alexa crossed her arms and glared, her defenses wavering. Junk foods were one of her weaknesses and Cassie knew it better than anyone did.

“And you’re so childish,” Cassie managed to choke out between her chews. “Goodness, Alexa, you even look like a little kid—about to throw a big tantrum. Do you want the other one or should I have it too? I’m hungry enough.”

Alexa glared at the wrapped hotdog Cassie was holding out. Shecouldseize the chance to trash her precious cappuccinos that still sat on the table and let Cassie have the hotdogs. Her clever sister was challenging her.

But her temptation won in the end as Cassie peeled off its wrapping and pretended to take a bite. Alexa snatched the hotdog from her. Cassie chuckled, andAlexa’s scowl broke. She bit into the hotdog, flashing her sister a wicked grin.

Tristan’s treat or not, food was food.

14

Facing Truth

Alexa stared at the text she received from Tristan last night. She had taken out her phone and opened his chat to reread the message in every spare time since that morning. Why? Oh, because her heart fluttered each time she read his words.

Tristan: I’m sorry about what happened earlier, Alexa. Can we talk, please? I need to explain. I’m not saying I regret a single word, but you deserve my explanation. Talk to me?

That ‘I’m not saying I regret a single word’was doing strange things to her heart.

Why did he have to sound like a freaking male lead froma romance book?

Alexa slipped the phone into her pocket before walking into the café for her shift. He was still on read, as she didn’t know how to respond. She didn’t want to reject him either, because shedidwant a full explanation, but she didn’t have the courage to face him again.