Page 84 of Lightning Angel
Alexa was suddenly and uncharacteristically shy. “Hey.”
“And that’s my cue to leave,” Albert announced cheerfully. Alexa turned to find his eyes bouncing between the two of them with a twinkle. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me—though I doubt you will.” He winked at his son and nodded at Alexa before turning and walking toward the living room, hands in his pockets and whistling.
Tristan shook his head at his dad’s retreating back with a small smile before his eyes turned to her. Alexa didn’t think twice before closing the distance between them and throwing her arms around his neck. He returned the hug, pressing his face into her hair and inhaling.
“Missed me?”
Alexa smiled against the collar of his shirt. “Sort of.”
“You’re a terrible liar, Alexandra.” He chuckled into her hair, making her toes curl in pleasure. She loved her name on his lips, a name she had despised being called byevenCassie. “You’re clinging onto me for dear life.”
“I’ve been worried.” She pulled away to look at him. “And before you even try to soothe my worries—I can’t help it.”
Tristan’s eyes softened in an adoring way. “I know. One day you will.”
“Will I?” She furrowed her eyebrows. “I don’t think Iwill.Youin agony when there’s lightning? No, definitely not.”
Tristan only grinned, and Alexa arched an eyebrow at him.
“You do care for me.”
He sounded exactly like she had the night before yesterday, in marvel. She smiled at him softly and replied to him as he had her.
“Yes, I do,” she said with a nod. “I care for you.”
Tristan’s smile broadened as if he remembered his own words from that night. “You truly are an angel,” he said with a shake of his head. “Would you like to come upstairs?”
“Sure.”
Tristan led her upstairs and paused at the open doorway of his bedroom reluctantly. He turned to her, his eyes uncertain. “Would you like a tour of my room or should we go somewhere else?”
Alexa sensed his nervousness and offered him an assuring smile. “I won’t be here long, my shift starts in an hour unfortunately. So, I really don’t mind where we linger. I just came to see you.”
She flushed at the last words and scolded herself for always going red in the face around him. Whatwashappening to her?
Tristan’s uncertainty shifted and a crooked grin that fluttered her heart claimed his lips. “Welcome to my cave.” He gestured her into his room.
“Why, thank you,caveman,” she teased and walked into his room, taking tentative steps inside.
A mixture of excitement and nervousness brimmed in her. She had never been in a boy’s room before, not evenJude’s when they were together. She had never even been to his house. He never brought her there. She had always wondered why, even though she never asked him; but now, she knew.
A distinct scent greeted her, a combination of Tristan’s cologne and a hint of something she couldn’t quite place. Unlike what she had expected to see in a boy’s room, Tristan’s walls were adorned with paintings rather than posters of bands and artists. One section of the wall was a mural, capturing a cityscape bathed in twilight.
Alexa approached the wall in awe. “This is so beautiful,” she whispered. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
“Thank you. I’m so glad you like it.”
Alexa whirled toward him, her eyes wide as she tried to make out the meaning of his words. “Did you—didyoupaint it?”
Tristan smiled her favorite crooked grin. “You might be surprised to know I’m an artist.”
“Oh, my goodness, really?” she nearly exclaimed.
His smile turned humble as he gestured to all the paintings around his room. “These are what I call my masterpieces, my favorites among my collection.” He explained. “As for the mural, I change it once every year.”
“You’re full of surprises aren’t you?”
Alexa glanced over the wall with a small smile. Her eyes traced every detail before they lingered on the two silhouettes standing atop a tall building and watching the city panorama.