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Scooting myself closer to her I place my hand on her shoulder and when she looks at me with a pained expression, I know her feelings are torn.
"I don’t want to overstep, but may I give you some advice?" I ask.
"Yes. I think I could use all the advice I can get."
Not sugar coating my words, I tell it to her straight, "I say go for it with this Lex guy. Life is too short to worry about what other people think, Leyna. The most important thing I have learned over the past eight months is if you spend all your time worried about what others think and trying to please everyone around you, then you are wastin
g the precious life YOU have been given. Will Gabriel be upset? Probably. And you know I love your brother more than anything, but who cares what he thinks. As long as you are happy, and Lex is good to you then Gabriel will eventually have to come to terms and except that. Please, Leyna, never be afraid to go after what is going to make you happy. I will stand behind you when it comes to your brother." Leyna’s shoulders slump forward. I hope she lets my words sink in. Everyone deserves happiness, and she is no exception. I have faith Gabriel will one day understand.
After a few moments, Leyna finally speaks, "I know you’re right, Alba, but I also know it’s going to be easier said than done."
"No," I say, "Giving up is easier. Standing up for what you want is going to be hard, but worth it in the end."
Leyna lets out an unsure laugh and gives me a bright smile, "You’re very smart in the ways of the world for someone so young."
"Trust me, I’m not that smart." I chuckle, "I just had to live and learn the hard way and suffer some consequences along the way. I don’t want to see you do the same."
Leyna is about to open her mouth to respond when her phone chimes with an incoming text causing me to smile and Leyna to roll her eyes, "He’s relentless," She smirks.
"I like him already," I tell her. Staring down at the phone in her hand, Leyna blurts out, "He wants me to come to Seattle."
"Are you going to go?"
"I don’t know yet," She shrugs, "We text constantly and sometimes talk on the phone for hours. I remember the first time he contacted me. It was a couple of months after the rescue. He said he had been thinking about me and wanted to see how I was doing. And then, I don’t know. One phone call turned into another, and now it’s just so intense. I feel like I’ve known Lex my entire life. He’s become my best friend."
"Only a friend?" I hedge.
"Honestly, I don’t know. I want there to be more, but I’m not sure about him. Lex hasn’t given me any signs that he sees me as anything more."
I raise my eyebrow, "You sure about that? Because the way he makes you blush says different."
"Lex can be a flirt sometimes, but honestly I think that’s just how he is. I’m not going to read anything into it. A man like him can have any woman he wants. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’m unattractive or anything. I’m not one of those kind of women, but I do know there is no way I can hold a man like Lex’s attention. I’ve always been the kind of girl that guys see as ‘the friend’. I’ve been friend zoned more times than I can count. And I’m okay with that. I’m used to it. That is why, I will not get my hopes up when it comes to Alexander."
I can tell Leyna is trying to play the situation off as if it’s no big deal. Her words don’t match her body language or the catch in her voice. I have a sneaky suspicion her radar is way off. I have no doubt things will play out in her favor in the end. Not wanting to push the issue, I decide to change the subject, "I’m starving, how about I order some pizza? Or do you want something else?"
"No, pizza sounds great, I’m surprised they still deliver in this weather, the snow is really coming down out there." Standing up from couch, I make my way into the kitchen, "Well, fingers crossed they will, and I’ll order two since Reid should be here any minute." Glancing at my watch I see it’s getting a little late. I figured he would have been here by now.
Making my way back into the living room, I grab the remote control for the TV off the end table, "Want to watch a movie?" I ask Leyna.
"Yeah, something funny though," She adds.
I’m scrolling through movie choices when the doorbell rings. "No way is that our pizza. I just ordered five minutes ago," I say out loud.
"Maybe it’s Reid. Wasn’t he supposed to be here?" Leyna asks.
"Yeah, but he has a key. Maybe he forgot it," I mumble to myself as I walk over to the front door to let him in. Punching in the code disarming the alarm, I flip the locks and open the door, "Did you forget your key?" I ask expecting to see Reid. Only that’s not who greets me.
"Hello, Alba."
I’m stunned, and it takes me a moment to respond, "Professor Green? What in the world are you doing here?" I ask, still confused by his presence. "And how did you know where I live? This is a little inappropriate, don’t you think?"
I begin to feel very uneasy when he just stands there looking at me with a scowl not answering any of my questions. Something is telling me I need to get away from him. He looks almost wild with his clothes looking a bit disheveled and unshaven face. Nothing like his usual polished self.
When I go to slam the door in his face, he quickly counters my move by forcibly shoving his way into my house. This move causes the door to slam into my face and knocking me to the floor.
Thankfully, I land on my butt. Feeling a sharp radiating pain in my nose and wetness seeping down my face, I bring my hand up to cup my face and I use the sleeve of my sweater trying to control the bleeding.
"Alba, what’s going on?" I hear Leyna asked as she walks in the room. "Oh my god," she gasps running over to help me off the floor.
