After such a long day at work, Leo couldn't help but feel relieved as he walked through the door to his room, closing it behind him. He sighed as he leaned on it, unbuttoning the top of his shirt to let the air in. As he approached his bed, he took off his jacket and threw it onto the bed, knowing that he had plenty of time to take it back onto the hanger of his closest.293Please respect copyright.PENANAjMTSPcdXxp
293Please respect copyright.PENANAwjcellZCFJ
293Please respect copyright.PENANA3iCEPOpjpM
He sat at the foot of his bed and removed his shoes. Sighing in relief, he leaned back onto his bed, and for a second, he felt like dozing off. However, his eyes flew open as he remembered what happened in the afternoon.293Please respect copyright.PENANAt55Fyybon0
293Please respect copyright.PENANAmWn7v1Hetq
293Please respect copyright.PENANA3gpGx7Yajq
Since his father had ordered for him and Eric to work alongside Mrs. Lance and Angel, they had gone to the hotel where they had planned to host the meeting. He remembered how he didn't like the idea of the two women helping out, and he still didn't. They had gone to the hotel and Mrs. Lance seemed to be spearheading everything, like she had thought of coming to the hotel in the first place, asking the person in charge of organizing the conference meetings in the hotel how she wanted everything done. The man in charge assured her that everything would be done accordingly.293Please respect copyright.PENANAcRY3iy7xIL
293Please respect copyright.PENANAMoUA51FbCV
293Please respect copyright.PENANApttY98e8tF
While she and the man in charge were talking down the hall, Eric, Leo, and Angel watched from a distance. Leo didn't hide how he felt about how Mrs. Lance was handling things. It was like she was trying to fix up a mess that Eric and he had made when there wasn't any. He also made sure to point out that it wasn't his first rodeo organizing such an event.293Please respect copyright.PENANAUKql0KVn23
293Please respect copyright.PENANApLMWMU0Chr
293Please respect copyright.PENANAW4htQnx9rC
Angel went on to defend Mrs. Lance, saying she was only trying her best to help. Leo wasn't taking her story, and they almost got into a heated argument like they usually do. It took Eric to stand in between them and Mrs. Lance to assign them some mini-tasks around the conference room to separate the two. After they were done, Mrs. Lance was satisfied with everything and praised Eric and Leo for choosing such a place for the meeting. Eric appreciated the compliment, while Leo never took it in wholeheartedly. When they went back to the workplace, Leo and Angel didn't say a word to each other. Not even on the drive back home.293Please respect copyright.PENANA4sjfVyirbc
293Please respect copyright.PENANATE9u5ukQYr
293Please respect copyright.PENANAPlr3HrFCT4
"She can be so annoying at times," said Leo as he looked up at the ceiling.293Please respect copyright.PENANAiikp3GvH0c
293Please respect copyright.PENANAn6nqUBILzY
293Please respect copyright.PENANAyHRGbsy30X
He quickly sat up, trying not to think too much about it. It's pointless, he told himself. Eventually, Angel was going to annoy him over something else.293Please respect copyright.PENANAr2uPmNqJ7p
293Please respect copyright.PENANA0RRJOV52Z8
293Please respect copyright.PENANANCGtS2Zvbi
He started to unbutton his shirt. With the summer heat in New York, the evenings were now turning out to be gruesomely hot. A cold shower would do him good as he stood up from his bed, throwing the shirt on the floor as he started to make his way to the bathroom.293Please respect copyright.PENANAT1QRvVPFWi
293Please respect copyright.PENANAl0P1hODgAF
293Please respect copyright.PENANAPeCPvOm9uK
A knock quickly came at the door, and Leo paused before entering the bathroom. The knock sounded small and urgent. It came once again, and Leo had a feeling that he knew who it was.293Please respect copyright.PENANArq0nZNlEcl
293Please respect copyright.PENANANfd5jGPYhA
293Please respect copyright.PENANAOzq9vDvCNX
He quickly went for the door, and when he opened it, Carly quickly pushed herself in, closing the door behind her.293Please respect copyright.PENANAVC6s1VqFj0
293Please respect copyright.PENANANcLwQa70rD
293Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1FfPDV09Y
"Whoa, Carly, that was quick." Leo chuckled at how fast she was getting into his room.293Please respect copyright.PENANAMUot2noJzw
293Please respect copyright.PENANACQTUEyW1rF
293Please respect copyright.PENANAN2ynmubYXA
"There was no one in the hall, so I had to be quick before anyone saw me," Carly answered as she looked at him.293Please respect copyright.PENANANZuy781qpZ
293Please respect copyright.PENANAfBp6xURivr
293Please respect copyright.PENANAEZMmORhYGI
"Your sister is going to kill me if she ever knew you were in here."293Please respect copyright.PENANAE93XW49sjQ
293Please respect copyright.PENANAIMccYtKmKV
293Please respect copyright.PENANAkRzgFMSrfC
Carly looked Leo up and down, admiring his great physique. Her heart beat so fast at the thought of having her body so close to his.293Please respect copyright.PENANANiJvRcimHU
293Please respect copyright.PENANA8XNSi1PEER
293Please respect copyright.PENANAodqx2tGre1
"She wouldn't mind since I hadn’t seen you since last night." She smiled. "I really missed you, Leo."293Please respect copyright.PENANANYovWJdJ75
293Please respect copyright.PENANA03HDU5sT7w
293Please respect copyright.PENANAoAugZsRVJ2
Leo smiled as he wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her even closer. She placed her hands on his strong, bare shoulders. The two looked at each other with smiles on their faces. Leo placed his forehead on Carly’s, taking in her scent. He didn’t realize how much he had missed her until now.293Please respect copyright.PENANAYiP0NXmpwR
293Please respect copyright.PENANA1HcoTCAZI7
293Please respect copyright.PENANAbuEJP0QvAL
"I missed you too," he said. "How did the party go last night?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAVSIqNPdAB4
293Please respect copyright.PENANAC7BV1mx6LD
293Please respect copyright.PENANAkq8hNZ61S4
Carly grew tense at the mention of the party, and she quickly relaxed a little as she answered, "It was okay. But I bet if you were there, it would’ve been awesome."293Please respect copyright.PENANAtohCbuNLNv
293Please respect copyright.PENANAXce5IABASe
293Please respect copyright.PENANAmMwpc5fKId
"Liar," Leo said as he smiled, ignoring the fact that Carly’s body felt stiff a second ago. He leaned in closer, placing his lips on Carly’s. She moaned as she responded to his kiss, her hands reaching for his hair and pressing her body onto his.293Please respect copyright.PENANAgp8RhQz06b
293Please respect copyright.PENANA11a41HbXnk
293Please respect copyright.PENANAu7rSC2IwZG
Leo bent his knees a little to take hold of Carly’s thighs and lifted her off the floor as they continued to kiss. He took her to his bed, and they both landed there with Carly’s back on the bed and him on top of her.293Please respect copyright.PENANAyEJJoy4XG4
293Please respect copyright.PENANAPlE3Afk3wL
293Please respect copyright.PENANAijROFfNclr
"Wait, should we really do this?" Carly asked as she stopped kissing him.293Please respect copyright.PENANAb7nPd3ZCE3
293Please respect copyright.PENANAzcH9QjV7ui
293Please respect copyright.PENANAPLoBr6TyIo
"What? Are you scared that Angel might walk in through that door?" Leo asked as he teasingly looked at her.293Please respect copyright.PENANAuCzuylwDk5
293Please respect copyright.PENANA2Sp1jA2TjT
293Please respect copyright.PENANAlokXebLvn4
"No." Before Leo could continue kissing her, she stopped him again by placing a finger on his lips. "It’s almost supper, and won’t they wonder where we are?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAZUZWw1xfP5
293Please respect copyright.PENANAM6TouUv8KT
293Please respect copyright.PENANA76j1CiWL6d
Leo scoffed. "Forget them," he said. "Right now, it’s about you and me."293Please respect copyright.PENANA53ZAwVBblI
293Please respect copyright.PENANAYE43ZyODKL
293Please respect copyright.PENANAiFoTGaq67Q
Before Leo could bring himself to kiss Carly’s neck, a knock came at the door. This time, it was a loud one.293Please respect copyright.PENANAH4qRu6o38K
293Please respect copyright.PENANAsx60X9BlXl
293Please respect copyright.PENANAIotJZh4q5r
For a moment, the two lovebirds froze as their eyes flew to the door. Who could it be? What an awkward time for all of this to happen.293Please respect copyright.PENANAkORW3cusyg
293Please respect copyright.PENANAXDWzj9WQ1z
293Please respect copyright.PENANAQw2A967wAp
"Leo? Are you in there?" came Mrs. McDonell’s voice.293Please respect copyright.PENANAsXQe4iZy8j
293Please respect copyright.PENANAAW19up2EXo
293Please respect copyright.PENANAa6KndTgaRh
Both Leo and Carly cursed under their breaths. They quickly got up from the bed, careful not to make a sound. Mrs. McDonell called out to her son again, and it was then that Leo realized that he hadn't locked the door.293Please respect copyright.PENANAa07VhXVGoT
293Please respect copyright.PENANAJg835zIAUs
293Please respect copyright.PENANAEo7GmENaP0
"Quick, you have to hide," Leo whispered to Carly.293Please respect copyright.PENANAEfIwTNEodt
293Please respect copyright.PENANAID9aw0AziJ
293Please respect copyright.PENANAUhr6AX9wZ1
"Okay, but where?" Carly asked.293Please respect copyright.PENANA6oJz3MOejo
293Please respect copyright.PENANAyJrgXhNtz5
293Please respect copyright.PENANAGvEcTHCMdI
Leo’s eyes looked around the room, and his eyes landed on the bathroom door. "You can hide in there. I’ll make sure she doesn’t get too close. Come on!"293Please respect copyright.PENANA4IQz9cZSOo
293Please respect copyright.PENANA2BtpUB9pB7
293Please respect copyright.PENANAXuCJFQWPEp
Carly quickly tiptoed to the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind her. Leo made his way to the door and quickly opened it.293Please respect copyright.PENANAQF08cxg7OV
293Please respect copyright.PENANAayhsXV13eq
293Please respect copyright.PENANAWVRkMQTmoc
"Hey, mum," said Leo upon seeing his mother’s face. "I was just about to go and take a shower."293Please respect copyright.PENANAoFeydw6WFT
293Please respect copyright.PENANAj7uo7EsKyO
293Please respect copyright.PENANAITR72p1wRg
"I see," she said as she looked at Leo up and down with a frown on her face. Leo thought he should have put his shirt back on or, better yet, worn a bathrobe. "May I come in?" she asked.293Please respect copyright.PENANACRPN7EfVCA
293Please respect copyright.PENANASCS5qstOVc
293Please respect copyright.PENANAuusPFpulGt
Leo stood aside as his mother started to make his way into his room. He couldn’t say anything since it was her house, after all. He closed the door.293Please respect copyright.PENANAAzIPP4hdUC
293Please respect copyright.PENANAdJrUXFJzWF
293Please respect copyright.PENANAzEdqXFjkM2
"What is it, mum?" Leo asked when he noticed his mother looking around. Her eyes landed on his shirt on the floor before turning to look at him.293Please respect copyright.PENANANA4AFKdVod
293Please respect copyright.PENANAyWbDDJgLoF
293Please respect copyright.PENANAfj4Q5h07vH
"I hear Mrs. Lance and Angel are helping out with the preparations for the meeting," said Mrs. McDonell.293Please respect copyright.PENANAnjeLs3fYsh
293Please respect copyright.PENANAl73TRGi0wd
293Please respect copyright.PENANAaqs5ekW2x6
"So?" Leo shrugged his shoulders.293Please respect copyright.PENANAAmTDvjM7Ap
293Please respect copyright.PENANAW8i8OB9gF4
293Please respect copyright.PENANA1veSUeMaay
"I just find it strange. Haven’t you and Eric always been in charge of these things?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAQyyoUjtdTk
293Please respect copyright.PENANA0GRvuWXGCw
293Please respect copyright.PENANActGvWSKqNT
Leo folded his arms. "Yes, we have. They are just helping out, mum. Nothing else. We already chose the venue, and Mrs. Lance didn’t have any problem with it."293Please respect copyright.PENANA9fnFbFuu7R
293Please respect copyright.PENANAtecHVTSO4R
293Please respect copyright.PENANAcbTjec9FZm
"It’s not Mrs. Lance I’m worried about. I know we don’t get along so well, but she’s not my problem. Angel is."293Please respect copyright.PENANA67g2WMDfy1
293Please respect copyright.PENANAjO1jHfmSVp
293Please respect copyright.PENANAJHSc40qa1y
Leo would’ve happily agreed with his mother, but he had to be aware that Carly was hiding in the bathroom, obviously listening in on their conversation. She wouldn’t like it if he badmouthed Angel right here. There was something else too. Even if his mother was saying all this, he didn’t like how she brought it out, even if she wouldn’t have said it any other way. To call Angel a problem was his thing. Not hers.293Please respect copyright.PENANAfnd12FTciy
293Please respect copyright.PENANALlA773uYSu
293Please respect copyright.PENANA4UzBbb5j2q
"And what's wrong with that?" Leo asked, still with his arms folded.293Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0jp5m3p9e
293Please respect copyright.PENANArGpy6PGVn6
293Please respect copyright.PENANAYLEbUMG8jG
"Your father is quickly engaging her in so many plans involving the company already," his mother answered.293Please respect copyright.PENANAEyMIzSeGwG
293Please respect copyright.PENANAOPSrppsO6G
293Please respect copyright.PENANAGc84YFLqdv
"You’re overreacting," Leo said with a chuckle. "This is nothing. Besides, she might be helping us out with such things in the future."293Please respect copyright.PENANAQgWYyqersS
293Please respect copyright.PENANA4fEfkLlLWo
293Please respect copyright.PENANATnC1Qh56nE
Leo felt like he had gone too far there and that he needed to kick himself for doing so. Did he actually defend Angel? This is not right, he told himself. And the funny thing is, he meant every word of it.293Please respect copyright.PENANAEs0to5Roh3
293Please respect copyright.PENANAjjwwm7rxyz
293Please respect copyright.PENANAWhh0BBtMOM
"You’re slowly becoming like your grandmother and father, you know?" Mrs. McDonell rolled her eyes.293Please respect copyright.PENANA2yDfTEFPA1
293Please respect copyright.PENANAQX6XJBYwqr
293Please respect copyright.PENANA7q3o1jZsrQ
"I’m just being reasonable. Besides, if this bothers you so much, why haven’t you told dad about it?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAsJZ9emOnmK
293Please respect copyright.PENANAPK3kczRujp
293Please respect copyright.PENANAD1o1OQeT7G
"Because he will respond in the same way you did. From him, I’m guessing it's going to be worse."293Please respect copyright.PENANARoUViYDtoN
293Please respect copyright.PENANAwOAYlrjZfP
293Please respect copyright.PENANAMEECHXH1zg
"No, grandma would’ve been worse. Just drop it, mum. We need all the help we can get since it’s only a day away."293Please respect copyright.PENANAfiRgnA8QYO
293Please respect copyright.PENANAma2O9hreBy
293Please respect copyright.PENANAGMegaLkGN4
"Fine."293Please respect copyright.PENANAYjciTsXowE
293Please respect copyright.PENANA0MzKlGwxi6
293Please respect copyright.PENANA0QoXod82t5
"Next time, if you don’t want Angel involved, you should be getting more involved with these things instead of only turning up for meetings just because you’re part of the board."293Please respect copyright.PENANADKgtfDVjbZ
293Please respect copyright.PENANAfDfZn7Rl8Z
293Please respect copyright.PENANAW3cxWv1CNo
Mrs. McDonell scoffed. "Why do I have a feeling that you’re mocking me?"293Please respect copyright.PENANA0SPQjJCgRq
293Please respect copyright.PENANAiC33XlQl3t
293Please respect copyright.PENANA7EUBVUHp57
"I’m not. I’m being serious about this, mum."293Please respect copyright.PENANAmGuYGrQoH1
293Please respect copyright.PENANAg9nveR70iw
293Please respect copyright.PENANAGMJ8Edwc5N
"You go take a shower, Leo. This heat must be messing with your head."293Please respect copyright.PENANA0I0Xc25x0I
293Please respect copyright.PENANA634WPxWPzR
293Please respect copyright.PENANAjWnsKQxpgF
Mrs. McDonell made her way to the door and walked out, closing it with a bang behind her. Leo didn't mind her banging the door closed as he sighed in relief. He went to the bathroom, opened the door, and walked in. He found Carly sitting on the closed toilet seat. The look on her face confirmed that she had heard the entire conversation.293Please respect copyright.PENANAZfvzx2ftvq
293Please respect copyright.PENANACCg2N9xNQP
293Please respect copyright.PENANACfahFhDyMH
"She’s gone," said Leo.293Please respect copyright.PENANADO7GVB88WQ
293Please respect copyright.PENANA0DDSpnYF8e
293Please respect copyright.PENANAcstKXzqQX0
She stood up from the toilet seat. "That was a close one," she said.293Please respect copyright.PENANAoHaRiibOdf
293Please respect copyright.PENANAHeyjuSNu1B
293Please respect copyright.PENANAnwDTbYoeQA
"Yeah."293Please respect copyright.PENANAPrAzKdsfQB
293Please respect copyright.PENANAjCy0aI8Gm3
293Please respect copyright.PENANAZyI3ZZNNml
The two stood in silence until Leo said, "I’m sorry for my mum. She can be annoying sometimes."293Please respect copyright.PENANA55uR7WEvm0
293Please respect copyright.PENANAd1Ezzll4pP
293Please respect copyright.PENANAem4xz9ejwx
"I already know that. Thanks for doing what you did just now. I mean, defending Angel."293Please respect copyright.PENANA9p6LsXmItx
293Please respect copyright.PENANAeakziZi0Oa
293Please respect copyright.PENANATptnOFZiku
"I wasn’t defending her; I was just telling the truth."293Please respect copyright.PENANAot9ORKdQx7
293Please respect copyright.PENANA7wx5KJGaEU
293Please respect copyright.PENANAFIaga2ptl9
Carly smiled as she approached Leo. "Anyway, thank you. You’re a knight in shining armor."293Please respect copyright.PENANAgkakyfLmKj
293Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZL3eJ3ASA
293Please respect copyright.PENANAAbh2CjOIde
"I’m your knight, not hers."293Please respect copyright.PENANAWUC9lL84gD
293Please respect copyright.PENANApkvtjgBtnq
293Please respect copyright.PENANAT7erqkF0YE
Carly came closer and kissed Leo on the cheek. "Yes, you are. I’ll leave you to take your shower. I’m afraid someone else might want to come into this room."293Please respect copyright.PENANAMH8Xc3mzbo
293Please respect copyright.PENANAfePboWPvM8
293Please respect copyright.PENANAc6cwMdlAIQ
"Good idea. Should we continue this later?" Leo raised an eyebrow as he asked.293Please respect copyright.PENANAPWFTkEVaCG
293Please respect copyright.PENANA1rTyJviyKv
293Please respect copyright.PENANADtYajaYrmK
"When everyone’s asleep?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAZyev4Vq59s
293Please respect copyright.PENANA1iRfKt4P0g
293Please respect copyright.PENANA5hIF9LhIBu
"Deal."293Please respect copyright.PENANAj19rfNJ6TF
293Please respect copyright.PENANAKPzg9Ymzw5
293Please respect copyright.PENANABRz2rM8KMF
Carly leaned in a bit closer and kissed Leo fully on the lips before walking past him out of the bathroom. Leo followed her, and as Carly got to the door, she turned around and blew a kiss to Leo. In return, he lifted his hand to capture her invisible kiss and placed it on his bare chest with a smile on his face.293Please respect copyright.PENANAB2VqypDWBn
293Please respect copyright.PENANAGRyX05xF4X
293Please respect copyright.PENANAr0d0h45hTU
She turned back to face the door to open it when, lo and behold, Angel stood right behind it with her right hand, ready to knock at the door. The two sisters paused upon seeing each other, and Leo, who stood further back, froze. Carly didn’t know what to say when the expression on Angel’s face changed into a sour one.293Please respect copyright.PENANAkog3OXcko7
293Please respect copyright.PENANAe9f4r9r3ta
293Please respect copyright.PENANA2i2cXoKZgJ
"Angel, what are you doing here?" Carly nervously asked.293Please respect copyright.PENANAeNCqm8PhXx
293Please respect copyright.PENANA3U89fub2tm
293Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ov00KRc7R
Angel held up a phone in her left hand. "I was returning Leo’s phone. He left in the car," she said. Her eyes looked past Carly, and she saw Leo standing there shirtless. She didn’t want to think of anything, so she quickly turned back to her sister. "Can you give it to him, please?"293Please respect copyright.PENANANX6gi4cGTh
293Please respect copyright.PENANAJj9QenZz3R
293Please respect copyright.PENANAID8KjSObcW
She handed the phone over to Carly, who nervously took it. Carly gulped as she looked at Angel, whose facial expression had changed all of a sudden. She looked like she didn’t even want to argue.293Please respect copyright.PENANA3y4JYFNAoW
293Please respect copyright.PENANAr7f2XPdnvv
293Please respect copyright.PENANAnb4EAk1dRn
"You better come down," said Angel. "Food will be ready at any moment."293Please respect copyright.PENANAtRaLuwBR8h
293Please respect copyright.PENANAD5efj7F5WC
293Please respect copyright.PENANAKW4n9GpJWJ
Carly gave a nod of her head, and Angel backed away from the door, turning to walk down the hall and out of sight. Carly closed the door and turned to look at Leo, who now looked uncomfortable after what happened. She handed over his phone to him.293Please respect copyright.PENANAUbjXnF3lwC
293Please respect copyright.PENANAxaH6GNCUTL
293Please respect copyright.PENANApRRBeX1ukE
"I’ll meet you downstairs, Carly," said Leo as he looked at her. He had to stop her before she said anything concerning Angel.293Please respect copyright.PENANATUus8WJGvk
293Please respect copyright.PENANAmXqON7M1yi
293Please respect copyright.PENANAlCfDC4UUdD
"Yeah, right," said Carly as she turned back to the door and slowly opened it.293Please respect copyright.PENANAL2g6pvQNLQ
293Please respect copyright.PENANAtVA8PztA5j
293Please respect copyright.PENANA09hRyljzta
Before stepping out into the hall, Carly stuck her head out to see if there was anyone there. The hall was empty, and she could hear Angel reach the foot of the stairs. Carly stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her and heading for the stairs.293Please respect copyright.PENANAjXfmWiSSIu
293Please respect copyright.PENANA01OhVAMyDc
293Please respect copyright.PENANAp8eyS1LDlP
Carly was oblivious to the fact that the hall wasn’t entirely empty. On the opposite end of the hall from Leo’s room and the stairs, there stood someone by the door of their room, hiding in plain sight when Angel had first appeared, going to Leo’s room, and now having watched Carly come out of his room and head downstairs.293Please respect copyright.PENANANVmXFUmAFp
293Please respect copyright.PENANAony9Izn2FL
293Please respect copyright.PENANAc3qjpSAsRl
***293Please respect copyright.PENANAPl26tic9r1
293Please respect copyright.PENANAQEYSJLSc6P
293Please respect copyright.PENANANt8g3LoQoM
The preparations for the meeting went on smoothly as expected from the small team: Leo, Eric, Angel, and Mrs. Lance. On Thursday, the four didn’t spend so much time in the office as they went about their preparations. It wasn’t like they were throwing some big party or anything, but the meeting had to run perfectly. They had planned that after the meeting, they would treat their guests to dinner in the evening at a fancy restaurant. The whole McDonell family was also going to attend. That meant Angel and Carly, too.293Please respect copyright.PENANAtTrGxC5MVB
293Please respect copyright.PENANAMJVLIwk8qQ
293Please respect copyright.PENANA24PY2ejhB3
After a hard day’s work, everything was set for tomorrow. Their visitors were going to arrive at the airport in the early hours of the morning. Leo and Eric were in charge of meeting them and then having breakfast with them in the café just within the airport grounds. Later on, they will escort them to the hotel they were going to stay at. In the early hours of the afternoon, they were to have their meeting, then dinner later on in the evening.293Please respect copyright.PENANAfpTo2EQsRR
293Please respect copyright.PENANAoJzc6KoJDZ
293Please respect copyright.PENANAjSWQVDOtlP
"I do hope everything goes well tomorrow," said Angel.293Please respect copyright.PENANA3HMTjJj74k
293Please respect copyright.PENANAPNr0rqJqBe
293Please respect copyright.PENANAakZVhCq3nx
She sat in the backseat of Leo’s car, with Leo on the wheel and Eric on the front passenger side. It was now 5 PM in the evening, and they were heading back home. As usual, they found themselves stuck in heavy traffic.293Please respect copyright.PENANAsNSEOAtNQv
293Please respect copyright.PENANADmbil6sdwE
293Please respect copyright.PENANAaFwdXrzHI5
"Of course it will," said Eric. "If I were you, I wouldn’t think about it too much."293Please respect copyright.PENANACqQWGtz2aX
293Please respect copyright.PENANAukiFyISxTl
293Please respect copyright.PENANAnC9uQFQ8Yc
"Yeah, you’re probably right. It’s just a meeting and dinner at the end of it. How hard could it be?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAt1b5ZfKobe
293Please respect copyright.PENANAVsxXMrE9TL
293Please respect copyright.PENANAittILOA315
"Harder than you think," said Leo as he looked at her in the rearview mirror.293Please respect copyright.PENANAp7rgwvBlv4
293Please respect copyright.PENANAuDSP881WxN
293Please respect copyright.PENANAs5Lywm4V5B
"Stop scaring her, Leo," said Eric, throwing him a look. "You’re always picking fights with her. I’m not going to tolerate it today. When I’m this tired, I get really cranky."293Please respect copyright.PENANA87otsVh39S
293Please respect copyright.PENANA9dlKV5L2PA
293Please respect copyright.PENANAtTLfEfRdPp
Angel smiled. "Well, we’ve all been working so hard," she said. "Don’t worry; I can handle my end with Leo."293Please respect copyright.PENANAMz5VWVulRX
293Please respect copyright.PENANAEK80xeMVJB
293Please respect copyright.PENANAJzqHOP3WVF
Eric raised an eyebrow in surprise as he turned to look at Angel and then at Leo, who had begun furrowing his eyebrows. Leo turned to look at Eric and said through gritted teeth, "Not a word coming from you."293Please respect copyright.PENANARiDsuiN7k0
293Please respect copyright.PENANAGjgD1IkUdJ
293Please respect copyright.PENANARaWd1FyR13
Eric raised his hands in surrender. "I wasn't even thinking about it," he said. He suddenly looked out of the window. "Hey, can we stop by this shop real quick? There’s something I want to get."293Please respect copyright.PENANAe1tSZEiyID
293Please respect copyright.PENANACcX0sY0sSE
293Please respect copyright.PENANAOctT1YTVzK
Leo looked at the shop Eric was pointing at and sighed. "What’s wrong with you? Are you really in the mood for candy?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAYIqRTxsnRE
293Please respect copyright.PENANAuj9hFTojyd
293Please respect copyright.PENANAvDwg2fxLmc
"I am. Aren’t you?" Eric mocked. "Besides, you should buy something sweet for Carly. You know, a bar of chocolate will make her smile."293Please respect copyright.PENANAgo61diVuwZ
293Please respect copyright.PENANAIqCYAh5C4m
293Please respect copyright.PENANAEGAoT9ayif
Leo scoffed. "Fine." Leo dropped down the lever by the steering wheel to show that he was turning and did so seconds later to pack in front of the pink and white-colored candy shop.293Please respect copyright.PENANAUxjh3UvJZq
293Please respect copyright.PENANAo9aIRicsM1
293Please respect copyright.PENANAbFdjVIINZn
"Should I get you anything?" Eric asked as he turned to Angel.293Please respect copyright.PENANAcEb9BSk5Sm
293Please respect copyright.PENANA8u5hOFwmIh
293Please respect copyright.PENANAtCdrZpMbiX
"How about I enter the shop with you?" Angel suggested.293Please respect copyright.PENANADZNodSOs8m
293Please respect copyright.PENANAk4ahxh6b8F
293Please respect copyright.PENANAg9ghBImL39
"Okay." Eric looked at Leo. "Want to come along?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAjKHsYYxR7J
293Please respect copyright.PENANAKoGyJcbGEK
293Please respect copyright.PENANA2WrAAAAm5I
Leo looked back at his cousin and opened his mouth to say no, but he quickly closed his mouth and gave a nod of his head instead. He had a feeling that if he didn't, Eric was somehow going to find a way to make him.293Please respect copyright.PENANA4eJKVcP95Q
293Please respect copyright.PENANAbJ88wki6vX
293Please respect copyright.PENANAE3S4U433iU
The three of them all came out of the car, and Leo made sure to lock it. Eric led the way to the candy shop with Angel right behind him. The two had entered the shop first, while Leo lingered on the sidewalk for a minute before finally heading to the door of the shop.293Please respect copyright.PENANA8HM1mNBDem
293Please respect copyright.PENANA1dL36VCMgI
293Please respect copyright.PENANAVlXZaLM6id
She held her breath for a minute, as she couldn't believe who she saw standing right in front of her on the sidewalk. The sudden rush of hormones filled her body like a heat wave, and she felt like she was going to blow up. She felt like she was seeing things, like she had just come into contact with a creature so rare and precious that she felt the need to rub her eyes to see if what she was seeing was really real.293Please respect copyright.PENANAbPudl5DXMx
293Please respect copyright.PENANAQi5ihpPIY4
293Please respect copyright.PENANA4jHz9FYEin
Leo, with all his might and glamour, stood in front of his car, looking at a shop in front of her. Miranda was glued to the spot when she first saw him, and she didn't know what to do next. He started to make his way into the shop, and for a moment, she felt like calling out to him to grab his attention, but nothing happened. She stood there like a statue, too stunned to say anything.293Please respect copyright.PENANAUEr4CdQghU
293Please respect copyright.PENANAFv4ho9yCk4
293Please respect copyright.PENANAKEfgtrwsYi
"Leo is here." Miranda finally got some words out of her mouth. "Oh, my goodness. He's really here."293Please respect copyright.PENANAudnPPd5aBz
293Please respect copyright.PENANAR9dENNeNYC
293Please respect copyright.PENANANMSO1lsb1T
Miranda gleefully jumped in the middle of the sidewalk, where she caught the attention of a few people who happened to be walking by. She looked like a young girl who just happened to have received a message from a boy she had a crush on. For Miranda, it happened to be the sight of Leo.293Please respect copyright.PENANAY1oZTZhYzs
293Please respect copyright.PENANASFWHiEXWbl
293Please respect copyright.PENANAcmGi7U73Aq
After realizing that she was acting like a bimbo, Miranda pulled herself together and took a deep breath. She quickly made her way to the shop and was surprised to find that it was actually a candy shop. For a moment, she wondered what Leo could be doing in such a place. She tried to look through the huge display window of the shop, but the large white letters of the shop's name didn't do her any good. She thought the best would be to go inside, which she did.293Please respect copyright.PENANADSMgvPNbO9
293Please respect copyright.PENANA9O6EF6soUZ
293Please respect copyright.PENANAOn0xiK6Np2
"Hey, Leo, have you found them yet?" Eric called from the other side of the shop as he looked through a shelf down an aisle.293Please respect copyright.PENANAZJTAOqnCiP
293Please respect copyright.PENANALsqHHwMs34
293Please respect copyright.PENANAnO9PcG2Why
Leo sighed. "No," he answered, as he was in the aisle next to the one Eric was in. "It would be best if we asked the person on the counter for help."293Please respect copyright.PENANAZlSdjRmcLH
293Please respect copyright.PENANASCDI06GLe4
293Please respect copyright.PENANAySl3XBEEDC
"Found them," came Angel’s voice. She was in the same aisle as Eric, but ahead of him, looking through the shelf opposite the one Eric was looking at.293Please respect copyright.PENANA0hOVTzf7Di
293Please respect copyright.PENANAVyt9CHy86T
293Please respect copyright.PENANAlPTbdFJ6qE
Eric rushed to join her. "Thanks, Angel," he said as he took the pack of red licorice twists. "You're simply the best. These are actually my favorites."293Please respect copyright.PENANASn1wNJ1TV0
293Please respect copyright.PENANA9u1VVcia7S
293Please respect copyright.PENANAz33QohVSQ9
"No, they are not," Leo mentioned.293Please respect copyright.PENANAJzSYnNt7n0
293Please respect copyright.PENANAk0Lcd27LE8
293Please respect copyright.PENANAaJljQR7e9F
Eric threw Leo a look that he wasn't going to see anyway. "Have you thought of what treats to get yourself, Angel?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAu9Hi0f3WMe
293Please respect copyright.PENANAqiqjgLThDD
293Please respect copyright.PENANAZKZO2ZYoTC
"I was thinking of getting something for Oliver," Angel answered as she looked through the shelves. "Do you know what he likes?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAIoV9tDKy6V
293Please respect copyright.PENANAurnipPPze3
293Please respect copyright.PENANA8LYhjrYCZY
"Look at you, busy thinking of others. Don't get that critter anything. With the way he talks too much, sugar is only going to make it worse."293Please respect copyright.PENANAhmU1xrlPJb
293Please respect copyright.PENANAXt1F6YS5DC
293Please respect copyright.PENANAebfKEs9xGP
Angel laughed while Leo, on the other end, rolled his eyes and shook his head. He found a pack of chocolate mints and decided to get them.293Please respect copyright.PENANA21XmleEhHO
293Please respect copyright.PENANAooaeSiuCq9
293Please respect copyright.PENANARma28CPQX3
Miranda had been looking through a few aisles until she found Leo in one of them. She saw him grab a pack of chocolate mints, and for some reason, that made her smile slightly. Leo was slowly starting to make his way forward, and she quickly entered the other aisle to hide from his sight. She had no idea why she did that. It’s not like he's seen her before. Except that she was there during his bachelor's party, but he paid no attention to her since Carly was also there.293Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3WxDantSi
293Please respect copyright.PENANAbxbEB6mMbc
293Please respect copyright.PENANAgWaJ2R7q03
The thought of Carly almost made her want to grab a pack of marshmallows from the shelf next to her, but she did her best not to.293Please respect copyright.PENANAJhueDwKjzY
293Please respect copyright.PENANAEhz0ZSBzhn
293Please respect copyright.PENANAY0yi3fuZXy
"Have you found something for Carly, Leo?" Eric asked as he came to join Leo.293Please respect copyright.PENANAn3PpfH8bgH
293Please respect copyright.PENANAy2QAHYnowL
293Please respect copyright.PENANA9XV9eHEiAq
The mention of her name made Miranda want to scream, but she quickly put her hand in her mouth. Who is this person asking Leo about Carly, she wondered. Is Leo really seeing her?293Please respect copyright.PENANAFlMQnoowa4
293Please respect copyright.PENANAHGrM5sZuPc
293Please respect copyright.PENANAJGYz5QP9P2
"No," Leo answered. "I was thinking of getting her chocolate."293Please respect copyright.PENANABy8JYS3Nq5
293Please respect copyright.PENANACAvbXoeC9i
293Please respect copyright.PENANAHmrhRP77cU
"That's probably the best choice," said Angel as she appeared behind Eric. "If you want, I can show you the kind she likes. I saw a stack of chocolate bars at the end."293Please respect copyright.PENANAkdmvJXyZPv
293Please respect copyright.PENANA1Fzdrs7247
293Please respect copyright.PENANApiYXTzzKRj
Leo didn't know how to respond to that as Angel started to make her way towards him. He didn't think he needed her help since he guessed right away what Carly would like. However, he didn't know exactly what Carly's favorite flavor was.293Please respect copyright.PENANAko6OOTxrSo
293Please respect copyright.PENANAWYheSTTBpv
293Please respect copyright.PENANAYqJUPdNRHI
Angel walked past him, and Leo had no choice but to follow her. Before he turned around, Eric gave him a funny grin.293Please respect copyright.PENANAZQn0eBux8S
293Please respect copyright.PENANAPVlw8U3Rjb
293Please respect copyright.PENANAuUctL4sQp1
Miranda was surprised to hear the voice of Carly's older sister, Angel. She’s hanging out with Leo, she wondered. Maybe they are friends because of Carly. Miranda remembered that she was the one who called Angel to go over to the club to catch Carly red-handed with Leo. She couldn’t believe that the two could easily get along. What has she missed over the past few weeks? She snapped out of her thoughts when she heard their footsteps as they were moving to the back end of the shop. She silently followed.293Please respect copyright.PENANAoCIRdQYkIh
293Please respect copyright.PENANAq1jssX3Rqd
293Please respect copyright.PENANAuEzoi3vnoc
Leo joined Angel, who reached the chocolate bar section before him. She looked through the bars of chocolate until she finally found what she was looking for, took it, and gave it to Leo.293Please respect copyright.PENANAaO5uCWTVP7
293Please respect copyright.PENANA61clpcEnoM
293Please respect copyright.PENANAOISVx1NSER
"Here, she’s a big fan of Cadbury's caramel flavor," said Angel.293Please respect copyright.PENANAeK4elKgvBj
293Please respect copyright.PENANA5MmegaSW5T
293Please respect copyright.PENANAHlINXL8SUH
"Thanks," said Leo as he slowly took it from her. "What's your favorite chocolate?" Leo couldn’t believe he asked.293Please respect copyright.PENANAmxavjLrRbZ
293Please respect copyright.PENANAFO8fmFAkFa
293Please respect copyright.PENANAGRyK6IOKDv
"What makes you think I like chocolate?" Angel asked, raising an eyebrow.293Please respect copyright.PENANAHIdP76wizx
293Please respect copyright.PENANAe8pLIcb74U
293Please respect copyright.PENANAyWMpxIRkYh
"Don’t all women?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAshhcWYfjKA
293Please respect copyright.PENANAPg8ZsKKWSP
293Please respect copyright.PENANAF8BWOgOuhx
"Yeah, true." Angel looked back at the bars of chocolate. "I’ll make you guess on this one."293Please respect copyright.PENANAgXBDOWqUsc
293Please respect copyright.PENANA1f46ECRYHV
293Please respect copyright.PENANAGhPafCBbUY
"Oh, this just got interesting," said Eric as he came from behind. "I would like to see what you would pick."293Please respect copyright.PENANAF3itlkE1tE
293Please respect copyright.PENANAmiqEPMuFr2
293Please respect copyright.PENANAEdE8aFxr6n
"This is so unfair," said Leo. "There are so many brands here. And then I would’ve had to break it down to flavor."293Please respect copyright.PENANA2eCOrBHfXD
293Please respect copyright.PENANAPSALcNKulj
293Please respect copyright.PENANAwWhKxTN21S
"You’re right," said Angel. "Okay, I’ll break it down so that you can only figure out the flavor."293Please respect copyright.PENANA5NDV2SMvLI
293Please respect copyright.PENANAudVDxEhGON
293Please respect copyright.PENANA4ySuwPkHXo
Angel moved a little to her right, and next to the Cadbury chocolates were the Lindt ones. Leo knew this was going to be tough for him. The chocolate brand is well known for making the best chocolate in the world. He wondered when Angel got such great taste in chocolates.293Please respect copyright.PENANAnIZ3OLNvH2
293Please respect copyright.PENANAAbj2JJaZFc
293Please respect copyright.PENANA1vem9eKogD
"This is going to be a tough one, Leo," said Eric. "I wish you all the best."293Please respect copyright.PENANABVOM1whiZf
293Please respect copyright.PENANAsQTlSh4RDP
293Please respect copyright.PENANAboGycAUqNx
"You make it look like it’s a death sentence," said Leo, shooting Eric a look.293Please respect copyright.PENANAtKeKzrTlzA
293Please respect copyright.PENANA22g802C1po
293Please respect copyright.PENANASAgbUkQZe6
"I say it is," said Angel as she gave Leo a smirk.293Please respect copyright.PENANA997u0u7ua9
293Please respect copyright.PENANA93Rb9Npd43
293Please respect copyright.PENANADOws5NbtVx
Great, Leo thought to himself. She was obviously getting back at him for last night. He was surprised when she didn’t try to bring it up afterwards, and he thought she must have pushed it past her. It seems like she didn’t.293Please respect copyright.PENANAUR6jnMjNyi
293Please respect copyright.PENANA7sM02BxshU
293Please respect copyright.PENANAjA5Yn2hTDk
"If I fail, what would my punishment be?" Leo asked.293Please respect copyright.PENANAxJ8ZJBxx3l
293Please respect copyright.PENANAWmgmm9TI6o
293Please respect copyright.PENANA2BKma7rqQM
"Oh, you'll know when it comes," Angel answered, as the smirk on her face grew ever more sinister.293Please respect copyright.PENANA7JTKV346o8
293Please respect copyright.PENANAghVpu7BnoD
293Please respect copyright.PENANApJgzeg4bPh
Leo didn’t know if her expression scared him or made him feel more courageous to take her on. He wasn’t going to back away, for he is no coward.293Please respect copyright.PENANAASY2K4rU0E
293Please respect copyright.PENANAX8QYcCmrXg
293Please respect copyright.PENANAz85XXqaKBY
He started to look through the chocolate flavors, making sure to land on each one. While he did so, he couldn’t help but wonder what flavor she liked. He could spend the whole day looking and trying to figure it out, but he didn’t have time.293Please respect copyright.PENANAbB8BrRRDgw
293Please respect copyright.PENANA4swbZ1NYBg
293Please respect copyright.PENANAqsV8Z2t0zy
"Time is ticking, Leo," said Eric as he smiled. Leo knew very well that if he were to fail, Eric would laugh at him for all eternity.293Please respect copyright.PENANAHaLlrDWAtT
293Please respect copyright.PENANAIMpga9EehH
293Please respect copyright.PENANAQbH6u0Xa2G
Miranda, who remained hidden behind some shelves a few rolls back, couldn’t believe what was going on. She didn’t imagine that Angel would pull Leo into such a petty game. She looked at Leo and noticed that he was taking it rather seriously. Miranda thought he must have been doing it just to impress her. She wished that Angel wouldn’t play games like this with him. However, the intense look he had on his face as he looked at the chocolate bars captivated her. He looks so gorgeous when he’s serious, she said to herself.293Please respect copyright.PENANA9iPAigLoI1
293Please respect copyright.PENANALck7mT14Ze
293Please respect copyright.PENANAbdwkhdNrxc
Leo’s eyes soon landed on the strawberry flavor, and that made him remember the night he held Angel close in his room as they were hiding from his mother. Her hair smelled of strawberry, and he thought it would be best to pick the flavor. However, something stopped him. Just because her hair smells of strawberry and cream doesn’t mean she would like strawberry-flavored chocolate. He decided to move on when the next flavor was raspberry. A sudden urge pulled at him, telling him to pick it up. He thought he remembered something that made him feel like raspberry was the right one to pick. Sadly, he couldn't picture what it was.293Please respect copyright.PENANAiN1wrEOqvo
293Please respect copyright.PENANAYSRFgthdrM
293Please respect copyright.PENANAWeeAeupCHz
"Have you decided what to pick?" Angel asked.293Please respect copyright.PENANAmwBXVhvutJ
293Please respect copyright.PENANA8OJHbLiVva
293Please respect copyright.PENANAplzU2CkNFx
Leo had no choice. If it meant he should be humiliated for the rest of his life, then so be it. He closed his eyes as he stretched out his hand and reached out for it. He thought that by doing so, he might end up going for something else, and he might just get lucky. As he opened his eyes, he still found himself holding the raspberry-flavored chocolate bar.293Please respect copyright.PENANAgXeQimMGnV
293Please respect copyright.PENANADztpem3A54
293Please respect copyright.PENANAModyuY3d2W
He turned around to face Angel. "Is this the one?" he asked.293Please respect copyright.PENANANreL20JamB
293Please respect copyright.PENANAhnwirk5RrW
293Please respect copyright.PENANAgWLKKrGRCl
"Are you asking me? I should be the one asking if you’re sure it’s the flavor I actually like," said Angel as she folded her arms.293Please respect copyright.PENANAFcVBUGOXNo
293Please respect copyright.PENANA7Fr7EchlAj
293Please respect copyright.PENANAXv1ukzCmkI
"Seriously?" Leo shook his head. "Why are you being so difficult today?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAgMM01TOQn5
293Please respect copyright.PENANATcQplEioUb
293Please respect copyright.PENANAJuQLhDsJC3
"Because you trouble her too much," said Eric.293Please respect copyright.PENANApyzJZdN4ZN
293Please respect copyright.PENANACjPyk3YSt9
293Please respect copyright.PENANARQKd2wmdWz
"She does the same to me, you know." Leo sighed. "Okay, I’m just going to take it. This is your favorite flavor, Angel. If I’m wrong, then I’ll be ready for what’s to come."293Please respect copyright.PENANAQYttNBWqRo
293Please respect copyright.PENANAxQ99YYyAjT
293Please respect copyright.PENANARqWdnWZMEe
The three of them stood in silence, but this moment belonged to Leo and Angel as they looked at each other. Miranda couldn’t help but notice the way Leo looked at Angel with his deep blue eyes. She wished he could look at her like that too. Then a sudden wave of confusion flooded her head. It’s his eyes. He had that serious look on his face, but his eyes looked warm and gentle. Miranda couldn’t tell what she was seeing, and that left her almost delusional. Leo had a way of looking at people that made you feel something else, Miranda concluded.293Please respect copyright.PENANA8VsWOauYT8
293Please respect copyright.PENANAGCVXkRLIcn
293Please respect copyright.PENANAm5v3flm3zP
Angel suddenly smiled, catching Leo off guard. His cheeks soon started to heat up. Was it in embarrassment? He didn’t know if he had guessed right or not, and he was just dying for Angel to say something.293Please respect copyright.PENANAzdUqxSaBSD
293Please respect copyright.PENANAp9bTaZMkqQ
293Please respect copyright.PENANAPg2a2cSGns
"You guessed…" Angel paused for a second as Leo held his breath. Eric was on the verge of laughter if she happened to say the magic word.293Please respect copyright.PENANArtpY5gLDYC
293Please respect copyright.PENANA7LwyYrYmn9
293Please respect copyright.PENANA7jwrnMI057
"…right," she finished her sentence.293Please respect copyright.PENANAfddCsNJt5B
293Please respect copyright.PENANATGHhybL41o
293Please respect copyright.PENANADzEFmmTWzd
"What!" Leo and Eric yelled simultaneously. Even Miranda couldn’t believe it.293Please respect copyright.PENANAjUoaJKPehI
293Please respect copyright.PENANAlVXPtfAYrT
293Please respect copyright.PENANAW7N06CyxAy
"Yep, it’s my favorite. You can ask Carly if you want."293Please respect copyright.PENANAoALvDDqBIZ
293Please respect copyright.PENANAx4F2OEmHMo
293Please respect copyright.PENANAS2N1tMfwLX
Angel took the chocolate bar from Leo’s hand with a smile on her face. Leo stood there, stunned. He didn’t think he would ever get it right.293Please respect copyright.PENANAfAfoxnaHeO
293Please respect copyright.PENANA0yIezHWhGl
293Please respect copyright.PENANA2jNPmfO3ng
"No way," said Eric as he pulled out his phone. "Leo can’t simply have known. Let me call Carly."293Please respect copyright.PENANA9MMOtlgdxj
293Please respect copyright.PENANAF9TGpmLATO
293Please respect copyright.PENANA5J0Rz6qZeT
Miranda felt her heart skip a beat. The other man was going to call Carly. She didn’t know if she was ready to even hear her voice.293Please respect copyright.PENANA8rAyS2u8FI
293Please respect copyright.PENANABMXtCZIj6X
293Please respect copyright.PENANA28qxfTERM2
"Carly must have mentioned it to him while they had their many talks," said Eric, putting the phone to his ear after he dialed Carly’s number.293Please respect copyright.PENANA4eyU6VKW0Y
293Please respect copyright.PENANA1hWvEkpSXY
293Please respect copyright.PENANAUMEf4gWNKd
"They are still getting to know each other," said Angel as she turned to look at Eric. "He didn’t even know Carly’s favorite chocolate, remember?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAe2xS4HVyzk
293Please respect copyright.PENANAgyGAwSS1bL
293Please respect copyright.PENANAL2GzO250K6
Eric held his hand up to stop Angel from talking. "Hey, Carly, how are you?" he greeted. "I’m good, thanks. I wanted to ask, what is Angel’s favorite chocolate and flavor?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAfkgWloCmEf
293Please respect copyright.PENANAInkN1OTXis
293Please respect copyright.PENANAGmLs1cMRcB
Leo and Angel continued to look at Eric. His facial expression soon changed as he cut the call.293Please respect copyright.PENANAFoDoLXVApJ
293Please respect copyright.PENANAZcslz4FSsx
293Please respect copyright.PENANA78XGBCgGjN
"She’s right," he confirmed. "Angel does like the dark Lindt chocolate, raspberry-flavored."293Please respect copyright.PENANAoxQO77at6H
293Please respect copyright.PENANARGkY8LsOs8
293Please respect copyright.PENANAUDrUnVW0wN
"Wow, yes," Leo cheered, looking rather relieved. Angel couldn’t help but laugh at Leo’s reaction.293Please respect copyright.PENANAW3o3XSG4t9
293Please respect copyright.PENANAclbTLG7xbU
293Please respect copyright.PENANAoVNekxQo6g
"You’re let off the hook this time," said Angel. "Next time, you won’t be so lucky."293Please respect copyright.PENANA10WdKOa0rX
293Please respect copyright.PENANAkLixx0TNB0
293Please respect copyright.PENANA3uRAhtAFBI
"Bring it on," Leo challenged, feeling pumped up after his little victory.293Please respect copyright.PENANAcGl6RjD5va
293Please respect copyright.PENANA6vhSaOUe9x
293Please respect copyright.PENANAQfS5xcyjRU
"I don’t want another challenge," said Eric. "We can save that for later."293Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9OiczcF4i
293Please respect copyright.PENANAv1oIEwe3Lu
293Please respect copyright.PENANAoUCZLzOA4O
"Sure," said Leo, still feeling rather pleased with himself. "We better get home before supper."293Please respect copyright.PENANA3sQxwwkKKv
293Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3EXAJS3pi
293Please respect copyright.PENANAwVnS1BNIVm
Miranda couldn’t help but smile at how Leo had emerged victorious. She wished she could walk up to him and hug him. Leo and the others soon started to make their way to the front, entering one of the aisles.293Please respect copyright.PENANApdGHiGE40r
293Please respect copyright.PENANAbkRCHjBVII
293Please respect copyright.PENANAlrQ3aF42e8
"Uh, Eric, you didn’t tell me what to get Oliver," said Angel as she led the way to the counter.293Please respect copyright.PENANAds59q0FH2m
293Please respect copyright.PENANAPBRthdQ6IN
293Please respect copyright.PENANAN8MopSXZD7
"Oh, he likes gummy bears," said Eric as he stopped to look at the shelves. "I saw a pack of them somewhere. Want me to help you look?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAALEkxZGTbz
293Please respect copyright.PENANABYsZzP0ww1
293Please respect copyright.PENANAL9dhm0aiXX
"Sure," said Angel as she also stopped to look around.293Please respect copyright.PENANAYaKczkd7yU
293Please respect copyright.PENANAXNMRQ86rAw
293Please respect copyright.PENANAOMmoBECB6k
"You two will find me at the counter," said Leo as he walked past them.293Please respect copyright.PENANAzQsDnOP7ay
293Please respect copyright.PENANAnTQjIif8hy
293Please respect copyright.PENANAtTqDtMKD3L
Miranda, who walked in the other aisle, also started to make her way there.293Please respect copyright.PENANA6oMznw3mCa
293Please respect copyright.PENANARdlgzEcO9P
293Please respect copyright.PENANAkl6NtxnSPo
As Leo reached the counter, which was empty, he took his phone from the pocket of his trousers to pass time. He was completely oblivious that there was someone coming out from one of the aisles, silently looking at him.293Please respect copyright.PENANA807gdwFdCS
293Please respect copyright.PENANAo35R06IR6b
293Please respect copyright.PENANAAiODKFll3I
Miranda gulped as she felt her heart beat fast. She didn’t know what to say or do if she were ever to get close. Worse, if he were to turn around to look at her.293Please respect copyright.PENANAB1K4Iw76a4
293Please respect copyright.PENANAnXjapbBHeT
293Please respect copyright.PENANAFIjd3bj41t
As she continued her silent approach, she lost all sense of her surroundings and ended up bumping into a spinning display stand. She almost spilled the contents hanging on the hooks. She knew she had made a huge mistake as she looked up to see Leo looking at her.293Please respect copyright.PENANAR0zxDtF9EC
293Please respect copyright.PENANAVU1Tg49zZ4
293Please respect copyright.PENANACKtZr9EBFf
"Are you alright?" Leo asked with an eyebrow raised.293Please respect copyright.PENANAwoHYAd1QRt
293Please respect copyright.PENANApCUFWhQKQk
293Please respect copyright.PENANAv7Q83rbe9C
The look on his face made Miranda blush like crazy that she almost whined. A hand automatically flew to her mouth to stop herself from doing so. Her heart beat so fast that she would die of a heart attack. Maybe even worse, as she felt herself run out of breath.293Please respect copyright.PENANAWZtqhywrxJ
293Please respect copyright.PENANA13ymSmDA84
293Please respect copyright.PENANALkgLqjGDOP
"Oh, no," said Miranda as she quickly uncovered her mouth and gathered her composure. "I’m good; I just lost balance, that’s all."293Please respect copyright.PENANAbPaSyaMqtA
293Please respect copyright.PENANAce9kS5RmcW
293Please respect copyright.PENANATOXiZLpsVq
"Oh, okay," said Leo. He went back to looking at his phone.293Please respect copyright.PENANAFhZwXs35s6
293Please respect copyright.PENANAC35vm4BNfC
293Please respect copyright.PENANAzJTUdglsIs
Miranda felt her heart flutter this time as she smiled. Leo talked to her! She screamed inside with glee. She wished she could’ve actually fallen to the floor instead. He might as well have helped her up. She imagined the thought of his arms around her, trying to get her up. I would’ve liked that, she thought to herself. Maybe another time.293Please respect copyright.PENANAXha6m7tKf8
293Please respect copyright.PENANAcTJHPexwAc
293Please respect copyright.PENANABSg75V9mcn
She could hear the sound of the others’ footsteps coming towards the counter. It was now her cue to leave, but she decided to look at Leo one last time. This time, sensing that someone was looking at him, Leo turned his eyes back on her. Miranda quickly looked away, wishing that she hadn’t done that. She made a quick run for the door, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.293Please respect copyright.PENANAVCfkFP0WxW
293Please respect copyright.PENANARwwCXgfCsl
293Please respect copyright.PENANAxzPOBWtwMM
Eric and Angel appeared by the counter. Eric had his eyes on the door as he caught a glimpse of the woman literally running out of the shop. He turned to look at Leo.293Please respect copyright.PENANA9f4p4qYuTD
293Please respect copyright.PENANAE1cHi0VVwC
293Please respect copyright.PENANA3rTfvRwbCl
"Who was that?" Eric asked.293Please respect copyright.PENANAEtAWrPtiME
293Please respect copyright.PENANAGdlqQUI1ZP
293Please respect copyright.PENANAw88BvpsCJs
"Some lady," Leo answered as he placed the chocolate bar and the pack of chocolate mint on the counter.293Please respect copyright.PENANA1Sui3diyyV
293Please respect copyright.PENANAFjBzqkTFui
293Please respect copyright.PENANAmJdm8j6Drn
"I wonder why she was running out of here. Did you scare her or something?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAMkXd8sFdjP
293Please respect copyright.PENANArM5YlFvHNp
293Please respect copyright.PENANAqymjkmB8b6
"Do I look like a werewolf?" Leo asked. Angel could help but snicker. "She almost fell over a minute ago, and she looked pretty fine to me. I don’t know why she ran out like that."293Please respect copyright.PENANAIee4YZge4A
293Please respect copyright.PENANA3wnT8Sxl3Q
293Please respect copyright.PENANABvyU4ydOgF
"Maybe you made her nervous. You do have a knack for making people faint because of your looks. And yes, you do look like a werewolf."293Please respect copyright.PENANALOlGwKWZPR
293Please respect copyright.PENANADgfdEftiPd
293Please respect copyright.PENANA64cxH65ji2
Leo gave Eric a glare, and it took Angel to snap him out of his thoughts as she came to stand in between them.293Please respect copyright.PENANA7VglOhq9Sh
293Please respect copyright.PENANAFKp1ype0Go
293Please respect copyright.PENANAPEjVvmsUCu
"Let’s just pay for the candy and go," she said. "You really didn’t have to call Leo a werewolf."293Please respect copyright.PENANAENXDVGIWiw
293Please respect copyright.PENANAfXKZIHt6z6
293Please respect copyright.PENANAl6lCnRNzJP
"I know," said Eric. "I was just joking. He called himself that first. Many young women easily fall for his looks since he’s so popular on social media. That lady may have been a fan of his and was too scared to try and talk to him."293Please respect copyright.PENANA6ws0Oa6iTC
293Please respect copyright.PENANAdEOQAFoXeA
293Please respect copyright.PENANAHzP3QEkgvx
Leo rolled his eyes. It’s no surprise that Eric would bring that up. If only Eric knew that he was just as popular as Leo was.293Please respect copyright.PENANA9bfHM74NcC
293Please respect copyright.PENANAMXfTQHo1Eg
293Please respect copyright.PENANApgxLPaywac
"I can agree to that," said Angel, "but that doesn’t give you the right to call him a werewolf."293Please respect copyright.PENANAOpwqBgyuBN
293Please respect copyright.PENANANfE9cfWYp5
293Please respect copyright.PENANAqxiUMkNMrD
"Why are you taking his side?" Eric asked. The cashier soon appeared from the back room to attend to them. "You rarely do."293Please respect copyright.PENANAPbpsHePETF
293Please respect copyright.PENANAH5PAG2cTJs
293Please respect copyright.PENANAQPyI5JXvq5
Leo realized that Eric was right. It was rare for Angel to defend him, and so openly, too.293Please respect copyright.PENANAUELsgV1Agb
293Please respect copyright.PENANAsndSNzmUS5
293Please respect copyright.PENANANhiO0AAXb8
"Just drop it," said Angel as the cashier ran their items through the scanner. "How would you feel if someone called you a hedgehog?"293Please respect copyright.PENANAfcfazxDQcP
293Please respect copyright.PENANAauRZ5mo6eL
293Please respect copyright.PENANA8x5Xi6rPST
Leo couldn’t help but burst into laughter. "Angel has a point, though," he said.293Please respect copyright.PENANAplN7BPsCAi
293Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7Mh8ZGpAu
293Please respect copyright.PENANAbwtmGJcG87
"Whatever," said Eric, who started to bag up the candy into a plastic bag. "You’re just defending him because he guessed your favorite chocolate flavor."293Please respect copyright.PENANA35dq50LJSt
293Please respect copyright.PENANAgdx1CIRXay
293Please respect copyright.PENANAWBx0V8fYMF
Angel threw Eric a smile and didn’t answer. Leo noticed it, and that suddenly made his cheeks blush. He looked away, afraid that the others would notice.293Please respect copyright.PENANAyukdagGjqe
293Please respect copyright.PENANADWqwxruRdr
293Please respect copyright.PENANAUsFHcyt685
Leo paid for the candy, and Eric started to make his way for the door with Angel behind him. Leo followed Angel, and just as they were walking out of the door, he finally realized why he had chosen the raspberry flavor instead of the strawberry. As Angel stepped out of the door of the candy shop, the light bulb just above the door shone on her head, and the red strips of her hair shined brightly in Leo’s eyes alongside the rest of her black hair. He paused for a bit, holding the door open as he watched her go to his car with Eric.293Please respect copyright.PENANAn0gopYfJTL
293Please respect copyright.PENANA2HxYgwTjwl
293Please respect copyright.PENANAts1gvf2ZDO
"Hey, Leo, are you coming?" Eric called out to him.293Please respect copyright.PENANAQdVWq3ec6U
293Please respect copyright.PENANA0KnnZcnsdJ
293Please respect copyright.PENANACyaBgeesHM
Snapping out of his thoughts, Leo walked out of the shop, with the door swinging shut behind him.