Page 79 of Lightning Angel
Not a minute passed before Tristan saw it. A few seconds later, he replied.
Tristan: Sure. Do you prefer chatting or talking in person?
Alexa: In person. If the weather is safe for you.
It hadn’t rained yet, but the rain clouds were still in the skies, hiding the moon and the stars.
Tristan: Be there in a moment.
Alexa’s hands grew clammy. She dropped the phone to the bed and crossed the room to open the balcony door for him. Just as she turned to walk back, a gust of wind bustled past her inside. She paused in her tracks, her shoulders stiffening as she felt his presence behind.
“Alexa.” His voice floated into her room like a gentle whisper, a melody of the wind.
Heart hammering with the same strange thrill, she turned to face him, her breath hitching as her eyes fell onhim. He wore a simple black t-shirt unlike the sweater or the hoodie jacket or the button-down she had seen him wear before. Disarmingly handsome as always. And no, the sight of himdidn’tdo strange things to her heart. Itdidn’t.
“Tristan,” she greeted him back, schooling her features to keep them from mirroring her heart’s tangled mess of emotions. She reached a hand for the door, gripping it for solace. “Come in.”
Tristan walked in, his eyes not leaving her even as she looked away. He was looking at her that way again: the honey-sweet, feather-soft way, yet intense enough to send fatal blows to her guarded heart.
Alexa closed the door behind him as he moved further into the room. She turned to face him, just as he pivoted to her.
“How… how have you been?” he asked tentatively, his gaze studying her face.
Alexa lifted a shoulder and looked anywhere but him. “I’m not sure.”
Tristan’s shoulders slumped slightly and he planted his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “About the other day—”
“You’re obsessed with me,” she blurted out, bringing her gaze to him. “It’s not love, itcan’tbe. You said it yourself, that you were obsessed with me.”
“I did,” Tristan said with a nod, his eyes shining with what seemed like sincerity. “And that was before I realized I loved you.”
Alexa shook her head, heart galloping like a wild horse. “No, you’re obsessed with me.” She was determined to make him realize it and then admit it toher.
Tristan’s eyes gentled even more, if it was possible, from the way he was already looking at her. “Iloveyou.”
Alexa felt her frustration flare up. Her body heated and she pushed away from the door, walking past him to her bed’s side, clenching her fists.
“Alexa—”
She whirled toward him. “You’re in love with myface.”
Tristan swayed back a little in surprise, before he composed himself. “I loveyou, Alexa.”
She shook her head. “You’re in love with myvoice—you said I sing like a siren and it was what lured you to me.”
“I loveyou,” he repeated. Patient. Always patient.
Alexa’s defenses began to crack. No, shemustmake him admit it!
“Admit it, Tristan, you’reobsessedwith me!”
“No, Alexa.” His eyes were determined. “Iloveyou.”
Something in her thawed and cracked open. Realization dawned on her.
He wasn’t sayingI’min lovewith you.
He was sayingIloveyou.