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.261Please respect copyright.PENANA6ztUsYnGnr
261Please respect copyright.PENANAL8u5ZR2tGY
261Please respect copyright.PENANArAdomLnYVE
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAzphpXR33a0
261Please respect copyright.PENANA7n4hR3mWQg
261Please respect copyright.PENANAptNQNNE226
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAkTDUe9SCJa
261Please respect copyright.PENANAH59pQPLN4H
261Please respect copyright.PENANAOPbP0CKcnz
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAW7zXFytcuk
261Please respect copyright.PENANAZdj8GBRDfE
261Please respect copyright.PENANARoWDAb1GfI
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAjKNTa2G9KM
261Please respect copyright.PENANAxXY2XQKafX
261Please respect copyright.PENANA9RwgCEiRRG
"She can be so annoying at times," said Leo as he looked up at the ceiling.261Please respect copyright.PENANAs0Gr3bkubF
261Please respect copyright.PENANAYZAFD9UE6I
261Please respect copyright.PENANAsr6ko2nLmV
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAWK7dd5PBzd
261Please respect copyright.PENANAikU1syjioi
261Please respect copyright.PENANALZ3Mo0o3ep
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANARpYqRRe2jo
261Please respect copyright.PENANAykpFuFYqtn
261Please respect copyright.PENANA4mByVLIHXi
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAaQCZ7aqGjP
261Please respect copyright.PENANAKIN8oAm9mM
261Please respect copyright.PENANA8fiFqH3t1J
He quickly went for the door, and when he opened it, Carly quickly pushed herself in, closing the door behind her.261Please respect copyright.PENANACKMGTpFHsw
261Please respect copyright.PENANAxm4rcJNqdt
261Please respect copyright.PENANA313Hp1vM2N
"Whoa, Carly, that was quick." Leo chuckled at how fast she was getting into his room.261Please respect copyright.PENANAyoxyu8Do79
261Please respect copyright.PENANAiilxhW1kUj
261Please respect copyright.PENANAwLnlbYvPbD
"There was no one in the hall, so I had to be quick before anyone saw me," Carly answered as she looked at him.261Please respect copyright.PENANABT9mTi7KL6
261Please respect copyright.PENANAwBXn0sJ3Xg
261Please respect copyright.PENANA7GZbdxngbn
"Your sister is going to kill me if she ever knew you were in here."261Please respect copyright.PENANALp8HSsnRii
261Please respect copyright.PENANA5mGL8J43JP
261Please respect copyright.PENANAmfn3TT17sz
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAZyyK2aAvcY
261Please respect copyright.PENANAaTE7duDFGC
261Please respect copyright.PENANApUzq0AAXcE
"She wouldn't mind since I hadn’t seen you since last night." She smiled. "I really missed you, Leo."261Please respect copyright.PENANAs2ZNqYpMgi
261Please respect copyright.PENANAyKPyCgwRse
261Please respect copyright.PENANAsmIxr2RLop
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANASWAtknSwRQ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAGYVcj3TZ1D
261Please respect copyright.PENANAn7UCUFWC1G
"I missed you too," he said. "How did the party go last night?"261Please respect copyright.PENANAtyuaYdup8I
261Please respect copyright.PENANAMxGxgekUca
261Please respect copyright.PENANALIR5Zl7F3V
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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAID5n2olW1I
261Please respect copyright.PENANARvsmq6zlT2
261Please respect copyright.PENANA8hxJy34z63
"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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAoEGUVfYS7E
261Please respect copyright.PENANAIEKwY09bIj
261Please respect copyright.PENANAyfgDKw93te
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANA1S4BJPlEpY
261Please respect copyright.PENANAtmf2QAGfcM
261Please respect copyright.PENANAFrX5NE8r0L
"Wait, should we really do this?" Carly asked as she stopped kissing him.261Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6fIlFzoPb
261Please respect copyright.PENANA56ekOXfwwp
261Please respect copyright.PENANAfw91kkm4t6
"What? Are you scared that Angel might walk in through that door?" Leo asked as he teasingly looked at her.261Please respect copyright.PENANAU5FlflyRUF
261Please respect copyright.PENANAsq6nLhpvGf
261Please respect copyright.PENANAoy77vTe2wl
"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?"261Please respect copyright.PENANAiAXm4jWa9U
261Please respect copyright.PENANA3mEtYUmTpF
261Please respect copyright.PENANAGxyL2pi4C9
Leo scoffed. "Forget them," he said. "Right now, it’s about you and me."261Please respect copyright.PENANAcaPfD8wJ8z
261Please respect copyright.PENANAIKFI1EdSnc
261Please respect copyright.PENANA4Xz0Krlip8
Before Leo could bring himself to kiss Carly’s neck, a knock came at the door. This time, it was a loud one.261Please respect copyright.PENANA2mN9xdw7gR
261Please respect copyright.PENANAZzbMijFDmR
261Please respect copyright.PENANA2xghd86JXb
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANA3AZuwAeL6X
261Please respect copyright.PENANAgBAY0rlAb7
261Please respect copyright.PENANABMMwo5UAZV
"Leo? Are you in there?" came Mrs. McDonell’s voice.261Please respect copyright.PENANAusn177Ad3c
261Please respect copyright.PENANAtq0ZFKjptd
261Please respect copyright.PENANAEcctMd6wmp
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAc672oj5qBQ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAF3XmfjQYhV
261Please respect copyright.PENANATrqqUyq6vn
"Quick, you have to hide," Leo whispered to Carly.261Please respect copyright.PENANAlmcvEmCIP7
261Please respect copyright.PENANAnLXYZjlmOG
261Please respect copyright.PENANAdHTCcBuztw
"Okay, but where?" Carly asked.261Please respect copyright.PENANAnq5bfJj5T0
261Please respect copyright.PENANAYwJRhXfkOo
261Please respect copyright.PENANArZySecDOq0
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!"261Please respect copyright.PENANAum1BDjgOiR
261Please respect copyright.PENANAOGbH8K5WmJ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAAHThhI30vj
Carly quickly tiptoed to the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind her. Leo made his way to the door and quickly opened it.261Please respect copyright.PENANAWqmyXaSp4t
261Please respect copyright.PENANAjq922QMduU
261Please respect copyright.PENANAw4WV7ezHXk
"Hey, mum," said Leo upon seeing his mother’s face. "I was just about to go and take a shower."261Please respect copyright.PENANA34KoCX9dGx
261Please respect copyright.PENANAx1aeXoEDuj
261Please respect copyright.PENANAz7m1mle158
"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.261Please respect copyright.PENANArjD93zzPal
261Please respect copyright.PENANAA2A9SAMfhf
261Please respect copyright.PENANAPNi42QyTgp
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAgt5SLaqV5i
261Please respect copyright.PENANAH4duiwsr1K
261Please respect copyright.PENANA4dlgzAhsBX
"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.261Please respect copyright.PENANA71ohCaseZt
261Please respect copyright.PENANAQtCbSB6IyI
261Please respect copyright.PENANATdehLhMs1J
"I hear Mrs. Lance and Angel are helping out with the preparations for the meeting," said Mrs. McDonell.261Please respect copyright.PENANAXtBbySSuyK
261Please respect copyright.PENANAx6fPI6ncGQ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAIqwMNle0mh
"So?" Leo shrugged his shoulders.261Please respect copyright.PENANAxW8qejTxAq
261Please respect copyright.PENANA2rHNeP9JaN
261Please respect copyright.PENANAfwqfrXUat6
"I just find it strange. Haven’t you and Eric always been in charge of these things?"261Please respect copyright.PENANAyaaDK5AbLk
261Please respect copyright.PENANAwfxESgFWLN
261Please respect copyright.PENANAIIKe33CiW5
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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAw0LQkmdvuy
261Please respect copyright.PENANATNMbfrb4RL
261Please respect copyright.PENANAFTNC6QCDa1
"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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAVncDVWGt9G
261Please respect copyright.PENANA8heeoiOQ5v
261Please respect copyright.PENANAfStE6h6NNS
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAZQAX9TDM8l
261Please respect copyright.PENANArLCE6OBtiy
261Please respect copyright.PENANAMXwFTEbhmf
"And what's wrong with that?" Leo asked, still with his arms folded.261Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8GPNutX1e
261Please respect copyright.PENANACbHIea1JyU
261Please respect copyright.PENANAjfVD2YUpId
"Your father is quickly engaging her in so many plans involving the company already," his mother answered.261Please respect copyright.PENANA4oC8QGJL6t
261Please respect copyright.PENANAcPeEoY7kLz
261Please respect copyright.PENANAJPo4HiVRi6
"You’re overreacting," Leo said with a chuckle. "This is nothing. Besides, she might be helping us out with such things in the future."261Please respect copyright.PENANAY1UFG3Zkwf
261Please respect copyright.PENANA6XONa4mRvp
261Please respect copyright.PENANAS3Rtt5MIQI
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAsFfbSiAH74
261Please respect copyright.PENANArTE7EBtRvj
261Please respect copyright.PENANAMCq9CWsCve
"You’re slowly becoming like your grandmother and father, you know?" Mrs. McDonell rolled her eyes.261Please respect copyright.PENANAcn3B1D7SfT
261Please respect copyright.PENANAvYmiqN27B0
261Please respect copyright.PENANA5WuVUGUT8E
"I’m just being reasonable. Besides, if this bothers you so much, why haven’t you told dad about it?"261Please respect copyright.PENANAIjmM8GRQhU
261Please respect copyright.PENANAROQGCcVTAJ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAC0f6X3qR4v
"Because he will respond in the same way you did. From him, I’m guessing it's going to be worse."261Please respect copyright.PENANAOQDrIFPxCu
261Please respect copyright.PENANATXHkV7a86q
261Please respect copyright.PENANAOcwjzt9rgz
"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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAc9zF7WuN6j
261Please respect copyright.PENANAJZArhE5Gis
261Please respect copyright.PENANALZyRsEV7eK
"Fine."261Please respect copyright.PENANANnQZdgUmYT
261Please respect copyright.PENANAh5HkSVM7Xb
261Please respect copyright.PENANAw58NsNMwPZ
"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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAEQNiNXKKbI
261Please respect copyright.PENANAYxVf3XsD7n
261Please respect copyright.PENANA2kxBEqWfRf
Mrs. McDonell scoffed. "Why do I have a feeling that you’re mocking me?"261Please respect copyright.PENANA7HX6NXLOps
261Please respect copyright.PENANAyOBMju0VTI
261Please respect copyright.PENANAsu3VBD8s1B
"I’m not. I’m being serious about this, mum."261Please respect copyright.PENANAmgInPR3zPv
261Please respect copyright.PENANABXZZJejxsS
261Please respect copyright.PENANAWY3ZGsvMsv
"You go take a shower, Leo. This heat must be messing with your head."261Please respect copyright.PENANAoKY7F6A10B
261Please respect copyright.PENANACQ963NIHcS
261Please respect copyright.PENANA8oGtp4C9gK
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANA5LQukyapiM
261Please respect copyright.PENANAfjBKPMkhCk
261Please respect copyright.PENANATGD8cUazEc
"She’s gone," said Leo.261Please respect copyright.PENANA0GQcQDgnDo
261Please respect copyright.PENANAlokcQ8Uwto
261Please respect copyright.PENANA3bvsn0F5t5
She stood up from the toilet seat. "That was a close one," she said.261Please respect copyright.PENANAJRJcI7p5y1
261Please respect copyright.PENANAKWghaY2HNk
261Please respect copyright.PENANAtKXKZ3uO5R
"Yeah."261Please respect copyright.PENANA9eUNFOfwiU
261Please respect copyright.PENANAeyo7zeD9cU
261Please respect copyright.PENANAOpImcUQXQO
The two stood in silence until Leo said, "I’m sorry for my mum. She can be annoying sometimes."261Please respect copyright.PENANAcWbK3Xvn2B
261Please respect copyright.PENANA1yu9FHBSQf
261Please respect copyright.PENANAbM5WxeuRc8
"I already know that. Thanks for doing what you did just now. I mean, defending Angel."261Please respect copyright.PENANAMXCmTud3q0
261Please respect copyright.PENANA0vjTxVUzN3
261Please respect copyright.PENANApxlm6rfMAS
"I wasn’t defending her; I was just telling the truth."261Please respect copyright.PENANAZWk6csgSdh
261Please respect copyright.PENANAEgSwmdtjdC
261Please respect copyright.PENANAeZwj6bGwnq
Carly smiled as she approached Leo. "Anyway, thank you. You’re a knight in shining armor."261Please respect copyright.PENANArvHqn4mjLw
261Please respect copyright.PENANAf1WXTE5BAZ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAEDwoYdfjnx
"I’m your knight, not hers."261Please respect copyright.PENANA20Z4HsSAJF
261Please respect copyright.PENANAJ51I06qbQp
261Please respect copyright.PENANAA4MjrpZKQU
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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAmvPo726hgA
261Please respect copyright.PENANAixTxGCZdKl
261Please respect copyright.PENANAGh3N3MwPvp
"Good idea. Should we continue this later?" Leo raised an eyebrow as he asked.261Please respect copyright.PENANAkHhGLarRyi
261Please respect copyright.PENANAHrV4FoXsNh
261Please respect copyright.PENANAtOD3YY8tE4
"When everyone’s asleep?"261Please respect copyright.PENANAFBwLSE2fHy
261Please respect copyright.PENANArb5lgoGIv4
261Please respect copyright.PENANA3PwijOzWCD
"Deal."261Please respect copyright.PENANA6dT3JFOxOa
261Please respect copyright.PENANAAHOgfHCR6g
261Please respect copyright.PENANANHwEJtb7id
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9gae4L8fI
261Please respect copyright.PENANAkndLnGT5aA
261Please respect copyright.PENANAg4giRpsAbV
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANARMecIOHK0q
261Please respect copyright.PENANA2SpGrE8e1G
261Please respect copyright.PENANAAIWrTGuhxP
"Angel, what are you doing here?" Carly nervously asked.261Please respect copyright.PENANA3HinnXhOWm
261Please respect copyright.PENANA7hWyU3bSbw
261Please respect copyright.PENANAZQ86xB25ky
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?"261Please respect copyright.PENANA7378S4oVUe
261Please respect copyright.PENANAgzK4lOUkuP
261Please respect copyright.PENANAo1mU0VE52k
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAoilU4vLQPk
261Please respect copyright.PENANAL6euXIyMWG
261Please respect copyright.PENANAy2HseNAqKV
"You better come down," said Angel. "Food will be ready at any moment."261Please respect copyright.PENANAeIFG9exDyf
261Please respect copyright.PENANAkEapcYDZjx
261Please respect copyright.PENANAKZqCDzsB2w
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAI2ufsyhQ8s
261Please respect copyright.PENANAvVy7aDQbqH
261Please respect copyright.PENANAbHpROmF0FQ
"I’ll meet you downstairs, Carly," said Leo as he looked at her. He had to stop her before she said anything concerning Angel.261Please respect copyright.PENANAXOpq9FpKKJ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAUjDWyNRhI1
261Please respect copyright.PENANAvKyE5zRthT
"Yeah, right," said Carly as she turned back to the door and slowly opened it.261Please respect copyright.PENANA99LOdkJiec
261Please respect copyright.PENANAwU7qaTU1A9
261Please respect copyright.PENANAvhTrUU8ffP
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAKuDDAzJEx3
261Please respect copyright.PENANARHQw4iELPa
261Please respect copyright.PENANAVrXpOzUQW7
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAJJ3CU1KCPd
261Please respect copyright.PENANA5R1dKp7ILu
261Please respect copyright.PENANANuMevQRHvT
***261Please respect copyright.PENANAr01pX4AZOq
261Please respect copyright.PENANA9Bt5QJCQ0p
261Please respect copyright.PENANAQz4XIcEOpL
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAQF0SnQHVrS
261Please respect copyright.PENANAnsxdFtdpLW
261Please respect copyright.PENANAtjUeKN1INC
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAf1encoyQnj
261Please respect copyright.PENANAUAxLSyb48L
261Please respect copyright.PENANAuzDwJfVqRo
"I do hope everything goes well tomorrow," said Angel.261Please respect copyright.PENANAf2760xMU90
261Please respect copyright.PENANAvMeJOGkJDq
261Please respect copyright.PENANA0cwaYWd5E2
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAR0fBUQhIhy
261Please respect copyright.PENANASquOUNTgGI
261Please respect copyright.PENANAkfnKgNJlEI
"Of course it will," said Eric. "If I were you, I wouldn’t think about it too much."261Please respect copyright.PENANA2jV47ipYQg
261Please respect copyright.PENANAFS2di015os
261Please respect copyright.PENANAdIFHGzd4Qq
"Yeah, you’re probably right. It’s just a meeting and dinner at the end of it. How hard could it be?"261Please respect copyright.PENANAK0vHy4xezL
261Please respect copyright.PENANAQAFpq4Guu2
261Please respect copyright.PENANAjlso8AV0og
"Harder than you think," said Leo as he looked at her in the rearview mirror.261Please respect copyright.PENANAyUuHYS0X5J
261Please respect copyright.PENANAIVP1XRKuH3
261Please respect copyright.PENANAJu7qxHF4aC
"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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAV7SzSNA1wK
261Please respect copyright.PENANAOIZzXwwAU3
261Please respect copyright.PENANAjSSyAhPhQK
Angel smiled. "Well, we’ve all been working so hard," she said. "Don’t worry; I can handle my end with Leo."261Please respect copyright.PENANAcY0U1BFd1A
261Please respect copyright.PENANA1RMqbQKzt7
261Please respect copyright.PENANAtWdsl0po8d
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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAzuCtfYhgdW
261Please respect copyright.PENANAw8vQUfCkgK
261Please respect copyright.PENANAwpXknADqRi
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."261Please respect copyright.PENANA46HjuRt6zZ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAI8xvagIhYK
261Please respect copyright.PENANAKA9djIq1LB
Leo looked at the shop Eric was pointing at and sighed. "What’s wrong with you? Are you really in the mood for candy?"261Please respect copyright.PENANA2LTdBQKA5r
261Please respect copyright.PENANAAMiK6Oyfma
261Please respect copyright.PENANAw7inBWbGGw
"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."261Please respect copyright.PENANA2v0vNHRTCL
261Please respect copyright.PENANAnKG9Y7UBAu
261Please respect copyright.PENANA723Sf8YPoT
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANActsLTJGQ7E
261Please respect copyright.PENANA1sKP9fhURi
261Please respect copyright.PENANAzQGKFDd4qG
"Should I get you anything?" Eric asked as he turned to Angel.261Please respect copyright.PENANAbaQncTgp0P
261Please respect copyright.PENANAFQ0GSD1EWj
261Please respect copyright.PENANAGifGWxzYDp
"How about I enter the shop with you?" Angel suggested.261Please respect copyright.PENANAoXLH9NP4Xk
261Please respect copyright.PENANAVqxaPzs74x
261Please respect copyright.PENANAQb9OOQHkkM
"Okay." Eric looked at Leo. "Want to come along?"261Please respect copyright.PENANAUhQRVAVzIm
261Please respect copyright.PENANAWvknHcJlzB
261Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2NSVVGm9M
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAMIir5KzCsV
261Please respect copyright.PENANAG4T4jEhyUZ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAN2043ujPWq
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAPThOI5MdCZ
261Please respect copyright.PENANA3YQ4xU72Um
261Please respect copyright.PENANAtITODMrqRR
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAH5vq4J9jE5
261Please respect copyright.PENANALNSJgUUimH
261Please respect copyright.PENANAWNPlQ5itvr
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAaW47hyjYvE
261Please respect copyright.PENANAJzbcEJml8D
261Please respect copyright.PENANAid4HLLLTz5
"Leo is here." Miranda finally got some words out of her mouth. "Oh, my goodness. He's really here."261Please respect copyright.PENANAxMnED9RS1K
261Please respect copyright.PENANA70guCXhkKA
261Please respect copyright.PENANA1U7LwBmirh
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAe1QSzXxZc1
261Please respect copyright.PENANAVSHfcQQlez
261Please respect copyright.PENANAXTh4GFhZ8D
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAdJhINCbNKe
261Please respect copyright.PENANAcoI8Hvjfr7
261Please respect copyright.PENANAwXhejEE3gp
"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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAT51B4EyN84
261Please respect copyright.PENANA65wKQc6JO7
261Please respect copyright.PENANAddq8MVNgA1
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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAn0L1tLe4pQ
261Please respect copyright.PENANA87Sneh1v9f
261Please respect copyright.PENANAL9xHnYw9F5
"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.261Please respect copyright.PENANA4akNxheto3
261Please respect copyright.PENANA5xvcrl1Vtq
261Please respect copyright.PENANA57ponZqOHH
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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAqnRmx5F7iF
261Please respect copyright.PENANA9JdlBC3BnH
261Please respect copyright.PENANArsO8Z2s0M4
"No, they are not," Leo mentioned.261Please respect copyright.PENANASMGNQFZT6q
261Please respect copyright.PENANApC1Bk3UUAD
261Please respect copyright.PENANA8ycp5X0HDP
Eric threw Leo a look that he wasn't going to see anyway. "Have you thought of what treats to get yourself, Angel?"261Please respect copyright.PENANAjURlj2jfQI
261Please respect copyright.PENANAmRhHAQyWn9
261Please respect copyright.PENANAPlaAC8TBbK
"I was thinking of getting something for Oliver," Angel answered as she looked through the shelves. "Do you know what he likes?"261Please respect copyright.PENANA08XAAXyzks
261Please respect copyright.PENANAP7gIujdHcz
261Please respect copyright.PENANA4hRCuw5m9Q
"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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAJhMN2dExbI
261Please respect copyright.PENANAKV4e5kVi9N
261Please respect copyright.PENANAuwgw2cGuS8
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAZCwbxii9Z4
261Please respect copyright.PENANAJzEoKJ3q0d
261Please respect copyright.PENANAd0xskmurnS
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANA7WcoVgNBvg
261Please respect copyright.PENANA9cJK6pLGFt
261Please respect copyright.PENANAmh0hnyBqhj
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAmMJN37IaZR
261Please respect copyright.PENANAopyCVZWZWM
261Please respect copyright.PENANA8Jxl32ujZP
"Have you found something for Carly, Leo?" Eric asked as he came to join Leo.261Please respect copyright.PENANAGNXzVzZymi
261Please respect copyright.PENANA1lgN61h5Om
261Please respect copyright.PENANAasCj4TnHmv
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?261Please respect copyright.PENANAhDHIwkANGJ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAj1Bm0K5X2q
261Please respect copyright.PENANAgnBSn3KsCH
"No," Leo answered. "I was thinking of getting her chocolate."261Please respect copyright.PENANAHspYOr8v1G
261Please respect copyright.PENANAbeENBlMqA0
261Please respect copyright.PENANAn7sdqAms3n
"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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAGdybqyaOkp
261Please respect copyright.PENANAJWKEUJfZn4
261Please respect copyright.PENANAu4UT5UdDYg
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANA1TQO3kR2KH
261Please respect copyright.PENANA4pDIxAV1fP
261Please respect copyright.PENANAZn25mGg9Eo
Angel walked past him, and Leo had no choice but to follow her. Before he turned around, Eric gave him a funny grin.261Please respect copyright.PENANAPQPwI4kKKI
261Please respect copyright.PENANAUmoSN8lnoe
261Please respect copyright.PENANAxK0fj8OxCC
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAHNKX5CLn56
261Please respect copyright.PENANApbjDiS8jn5
261Please respect copyright.PENANAeISDTfmEcL
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANA97II21RVG7
261Please respect copyright.PENANAhq9zpJ0xR9
261Please respect copyright.PENANAlGhGbi5Ob9
"Here, she’s a big fan of Cadbury's caramel flavor," said Angel.261Please respect copyright.PENANAN6eJXqeaU0
261Please respect copyright.PENANA5jOHk7wU7Y
261Please respect copyright.PENANA8QYEUCyuhe
"Thanks," said Leo as he slowly took it from her. "What's your favorite chocolate?" Leo couldn’t believe he asked.261Please respect copyright.PENANATFlfGa55TW
261Please respect copyright.PENANA1RvHBg0xV6
261Please respect copyright.PENANAUjVjpWzOrQ
"What makes you think I like chocolate?" Angel asked, raising an eyebrow.261Please respect copyright.PENANAszd4GcV0Ka
261Please respect copyright.PENANAD2SpoBnKvC
261Please respect copyright.PENANAugYX5zMsti
"Don’t all women?"261Please respect copyright.PENANAOGc72nVNTr
261Please respect copyright.PENANAzyMEeeVgXf
261Please respect copyright.PENANA6XuWwyuhsp
"Yeah, true." Angel looked back at the bars of chocolate. "I’ll make you guess on this one."261Please respect copyright.PENANAJqUf9yPpn5
261Please respect copyright.PENANAXd2LfZDhkh
261Please respect copyright.PENANAeXVChecDCi
"Oh, this just got interesting," said Eric as he came from behind. "I would like to see what you would pick."261Please respect copyright.PENANAwFd6JCkVfY
261Please respect copyright.PENANAXeXAvtCLMx
261Please respect copyright.PENANA422IdrRMNc
"This is so unfair," said Leo. "There are so many brands here. And then I would’ve had to break it down to flavor."261Please respect copyright.PENANAxxheECVwwU
261Please respect copyright.PENANArzTNDAHKfM
261Please respect copyright.PENANAmi4luAkrTi
"You’re right," said Angel. "Okay, I’ll break it down so that you can only figure out the flavor."261Please respect copyright.PENANAjVnMh6sxEY
261Please respect copyright.PENANAVLgW5YZOQP
261Please respect copyright.PENANAB5dIUAWVlp
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAbDX7QzYOkg
261Please respect copyright.PENANAgOJIhPGugO
261Please respect copyright.PENANA05pHRiAZYG
"This is going to be a tough one, Leo," said Eric. "I wish you all the best."261Please respect copyright.PENANAG2TAcmOIEN
261Please respect copyright.PENANAXx5PGxrH1n
261Please respect copyright.PENANASpwJUB8kNZ
"You make it look like it’s a death sentence," said Leo, shooting Eric a look.261Please respect copyright.PENANAOEAQVN74vy
261Please respect copyright.PENANAk5FPBc0x4q
261Please respect copyright.PENANAxNSpRkxCVe
"I say it is," said Angel as she gave Leo a smirk.261Please respect copyright.PENANAKbIzeLbS2J
261Please respect copyright.PENANAvcOLNs5tKB
261Please respect copyright.PENANA38ts2v7d0Y
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAAoAIKUtzuA
261Please respect copyright.PENANAvg2ZHA8LhH
261Please respect copyright.PENANA3KBQXOH9A4
"If I fail, what would my punishment be?" Leo asked.261Please respect copyright.PENANAfMtXmPR7aY
261Please respect copyright.PENANAvZnqAzvJo1
261Please respect copyright.PENANAEysRj9MCrV
"Oh, you'll know when it comes," Angel answered, as the smirk on her face grew ever more sinister.261Please respect copyright.PENANAkd1AD50J0t
261Please respect copyright.PENANAUNKwKJWtqt
261Please respect copyright.PENANAb72LgqkGWj
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANArVZvxLOGRR
261Please respect copyright.PENANA2VRzr6F6ee
261Please respect copyright.PENANAUYpKW1Q75d
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANANsVlCCRU1w
261Please respect copyright.PENANApvSB4pp2bX
261Please respect copyright.PENANAWVZ7oc6xX0
"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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAXJ4IZpGSmf
261Please respect copyright.PENANAjv2AWWQFkw
261Please respect copyright.PENANAqePPPUdCYC
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAMcuORncch0
261Please respect copyright.PENANAr9D4zA3j6s
261Please respect copyright.PENANAmF6L8yDAwR
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANALQr11QUgZK
261Please respect copyright.PENANA4BrLQOmvpx
261Please respect copyright.PENANASFc1O2vCn1
"Have you decided what to pick?" Angel asked.261Please respect copyright.PENANA1GzMlD94Gm
261Please respect copyright.PENANAaZjgH8AYsN
261Please respect copyright.PENANANfggzn6PYj
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAbCffyhd55a
261Please respect copyright.PENANAOGAiDIqrTI
261Please respect copyright.PENANAxKzAtB92WI
He turned around to face Angel. "Is this the one?" he asked.261Please respect copyright.PENANAEsUFSVZ91y
261Please respect copyright.PENANAezjB9PIJZo
261Please respect copyright.PENANAGXoJWX0wyS
"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.261Please respect copyright.PENANATTRE0qp9fJ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAIciDo1cOBS
261Please respect copyright.PENANA8NSpcOSa1m
"Seriously?" Leo shook his head. "Why are you being so difficult today?"261Please respect copyright.PENANAfRaEGRbOMG
261Please respect copyright.PENANAUewLi5oJHa
261Please respect copyright.PENANAOEFd3US9mN
"Because you trouble her too much," said Eric.261Please respect copyright.PENANAqnzlhmk8qU
261Please respect copyright.PENANAlmPSsPF6SF
261Please respect copyright.PENANA71JgG0Oah5
"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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAeaHUnz5Jiw
261Please respect copyright.PENANAzIOyi9liYO
261Please respect copyright.PENANAY1SUAn2Pch
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAIaIQhkY4nX
261Please respect copyright.PENANAfolwcIsGrQ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAcKLAnnHTr2
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANASCuutifYkD
261Please respect copyright.PENANAEmxDmCoFA4
261Please respect copyright.PENANArKCV58yUrz
"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.261Please respect copyright.PENANA87YvIVk1y0
261Please respect copyright.PENANA3GpsC9m8PX
261Please respect copyright.PENANAvoSKkvU8NU
"…right," she finished her sentence.261Please respect copyright.PENANAVbNF9JZB82
261Please respect copyright.PENANAqoEyC6QGjo
261Please respect copyright.PENANAGWPHTJcwRB
"What!" Leo and Eric yelled simultaneously. Even Miranda couldn’t believe it.261Please respect copyright.PENANA4nLftoEPX1
261Please respect copyright.PENANAygCEfwCXoN
261Please respect copyright.PENANAwuz7tUDbLX
"Yep, it’s my favorite. You can ask Carly if you want."261Please respect copyright.PENANACQ2BgBui8t
261Please respect copyright.PENANA6ptT8PXMoJ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAuv68JHWUCD
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANA6zxeI4Zmhb
261Please respect copyright.PENANAa2KlBZygrN
261Please respect copyright.PENANA1gnIyUFXgi
"No way," said Eric as he pulled out his phone. "Leo can’t simply have known. Let me call Carly."261Please respect copyright.PENANAYItEXaMEZ3
261Please respect copyright.PENANA6j9qWW6q35
261Please respect copyright.PENANAK4yCTQaAdn
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAqlC6JFdus1
261Please respect copyright.PENANAqWfkTNDbpb
261Please respect copyright.PENANA2dZiz4HixN
"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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAK7kWKAqJiM
261Please respect copyright.PENANA5vjmM7XuxD
261Please respect copyright.PENANAmXdFXGvGjr
"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?"261Please respect copyright.PENANA8rjUphM1m2
261Please respect copyright.PENANAcEBbIPzIbk
261Please respect copyright.PENANAlrQFJGvj1l
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?"261Please respect copyright.PENANAu3x5nTEn6H
261Please respect copyright.PENANAS3w4ehFxsO
261Please respect copyright.PENANA6O1oGdCVYT
Leo and Angel continued to look at Eric. His facial expression soon changed as he cut the call.261Please respect copyright.PENANACFdPyPBwgz
261Please respect copyright.PENANA2n06jiLE78
261Please respect copyright.PENANAdeJklE0KLx
"She’s right," he confirmed. "Angel does like the dark Lindt chocolate, raspberry-flavored."261Please respect copyright.PENANA9vkzShJF8K
261Please respect copyright.PENANA0uKd4vCIbz
261Please respect copyright.PENANAPLApyRcxoE
"Wow, yes," Leo cheered, looking rather relieved. Angel couldn’t help but laugh at Leo’s reaction.261Please respect copyright.PENANAuYVJxe2Z7J
261Please respect copyright.PENANAlMe2v9hKxl
261Please respect copyright.PENANAtnZWLXZnsC
"You’re let off the hook this time," said Angel. "Next time, you won’t be so lucky."261Please respect copyright.PENANAsyA4c5gZqP
261Please respect copyright.PENANAf6QFwdOukq
261Please respect copyright.PENANAFWmzSfmaqW
"Bring it on," Leo challenged, feeling pumped up after his little victory.261Please respect copyright.PENANAD2MgUH8Eip
261Please respect copyright.PENANACuwR7WZh4q
261Please respect copyright.PENANAS4isbb54b2
"I don’t want another challenge," said Eric. "We can save that for later."261Please respect copyright.PENANAgB8JCbUULf
261Please respect copyright.PENANAGaPjKY588Q
261Please respect copyright.PENANAHnYe5Nglub
"Sure," said Leo, still feeling rather pleased with himself. "We better get home before supper."261Please respect copyright.PENANAS9iZKRdNQi
261Please respect copyright.PENANAoF80BDFr3o
261Please respect copyright.PENANAMIQpEy8l3f
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANATDb6mx7Npx
261Please respect copyright.PENANAJhuronRpKA
261Please respect copyright.PENANAbNKAfI3AKy
"Uh, Eric, you didn’t tell me what to get Oliver," said Angel as she led the way to the counter.261Please respect copyright.PENANA77OwgjS2JQ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAqIPZz4yuHu
261Please respect copyright.PENANA0TMh0frCMp
"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?"261Please respect copyright.PENANAifQGcETDGQ
261Please respect copyright.PENANAz4SdETvqrh
261Please respect copyright.PENANAA8pBd28yBV
"Sure," said Angel as she also stopped to look around.261Please respect copyright.PENANAx5jx5vSKQ1
261Please respect copyright.PENANA0CCoP6Xd4k
261Please respect copyright.PENANA3asZF6UuUH
"You two will find me at the counter," said Leo as he walked past them.261Please respect copyright.PENANAtQRBZl1P0a
261Please respect copyright.PENANAa2sHVkajLx
261Please respect copyright.PENANA0NXfb03QoB
Miranda, who walked in the other aisle, also started to make her way there.261Please respect copyright.PENANA5WNxc0mHVy
261Please respect copyright.PENANAgw9kGFW0Vw
261Please respect copyright.PENANAFJeJt9CSDX
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANA0schysExWF
261Please respect copyright.PENANAucAV6gXA0s
261Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZwoV4ubQe
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAfeupEXZVuR
261Please respect copyright.PENANAVtss4mG4dx
261Please respect copyright.PENANABTMKTs0pid
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAxIq4Ci5edT
261Please respect copyright.PENANAmTQMk5F0lr
261Please respect copyright.PENANAOaLWIpnt1M
"Are you alright?" Leo asked with an eyebrow raised.261Please respect copyright.PENANAsAb4Cfgl4b
261Please respect copyright.PENANAWXyT0F6Fyf
261Please respect copyright.PENANAiMVDn8LuXS
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAGVmCiDGntr
261Please respect copyright.PENANAt3hs3Fm50B
261Please respect copyright.PENANAar3Gi2JwOh
"Oh, no," said Miranda as she quickly uncovered her mouth and gathered her composure. "I’m good; I just lost balance, that’s all."261Please respect copyright.PENANAXsVveX0UA8
261Please respect copyright.PENANApKbYQDThe5
261Please respect copyright.PENANAGO0H5ZhYKb
"Oh, okay," said Leo. He went back to looking at his phone.261Please respect copyright.PENANAm5i54Cqwdt
261Please respect copyright.PENANAme9NlNgQvo
261Please respect copyright.PENANAZCzcW0dQWw
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAqEsRxXnz54
261Please respect copyright.PENANACuAGHc6Qhh
261Please respect copyright.PENANAl67w5jGkQA
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANApE2Ayrbxmh
261Please respect copyright.PENANAnrAdTDsOA2
261Please respect copyright.PENANA5F4MyVGmrC
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAUvi0sX4XVH
261Please respect copyright.PENANA1LM0bcWgiA
261Please respect copyright.PENANAqBj2mZvPaK
"Who was that?" Eric asked.261Please respect copyright.PENANABSC7yxpNkG
261Please respect copyright.PENANA2R40Xf0EOK
261Please respect copyright.PENANAbqBnj32osp
"Some lady," Leo answered as he placed the chocolate bar and the pack of chocolate mint on the counter.261Please respect copyright.PENANAcD7enELfXg
261Please respect copyright.PENANAwIWt0rOLAC
261Please respect copyright.PENANAtTm9Uj3nS9
"I wonder why she was running out of here. Did you scare her or something?"261Please respect copyright.PENANAydUpw2IwRO
261Please respect copyright.PENANAyVCcpfHDaZ
261Please respect copyright.PENANA1qcpfpkfKy
"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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAlCrovXXYh3
261Please respect copyright.PENANAPESFWahmLy
261Please respect copyright.PENANAfH3HwTJmY5
"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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAfQDN5HHmxd
261Please respect copyright.PENANAHtySuDkh7r
261Please respect copyright.PENANAyiY9j3Jqak
Leo gave Eric a glare, and it took Angel to snap him out of his thoughts as she came to stand in between them.261Please respect copyright.PENANAjlAfD0mHQD
261Please respect copyright.PENANADT8mRDTslY
261Please respect copyright.PENANA2sUmWV282p
"Let’s just pay for the candy and go," she said. "You really didn’t have to call Leo a werewolf."261Please respect copyright.PENANAEUltf0cIOx
261Please respect copyright.PENANAI8wPCjAhMV
261Please respect copyright.PENANA8F1VrfwAoy
"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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAcfnKzHfPYo
261Please respect copyright.PENANApTWDjR7wSl
261Please respect copyright.PENANAdjMwPcAqhc
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAlCfUsVABks
261Please respect copyright.PENANAKZTtvlNXyc
261Please respect copyright.PENANABPUzMsFix6
"I can agree to that," said Angel, "but that doesn’t give you the right to call him a werewolf."261Please respect copyright.PENANAOIQUeGfHgu
261Please respect copyright.PENANA9tJ63gLwpn
261Please respect copyright.PENANADiE2cVgR6A
"Why are you taking his side?" Eric asked. The cashier soon appeared from the back room to attend to them. "You rarely do."261Please respect copyright.PENANACs0XLKvYAz
261Please respect copyright.PENANATMhOACdQ9m
261Please respect copyright.PENANALRcc4zLgpK
Leo realized that Eric was right. It was rare for Angel to defend him, and so openly, too.261Please respect copyright.PENANABp8tc2cI0A
261Please respect copyright.PENANAuzgaal1XmB
261Please respect copyright.PENANAzeIQUwwT61
"Just drop it," said Angel as the cashier ran their items through the scanner. "How would you feel if someone called you a hedgehog?"261Please respect copyright.PENANASIZM1b4yog
261Please respect copyright.PENANAKiHZ1LByf8
261Please respect copyright.PENANACLCH0524ef
Leo couldn’t help but burst into laughter. "Angel has a point, though," he said.261Please respect copyright.PENANAFNxIDkhgfW
261Please respect copyright.PENANAEmSQVKYgKa
261Please respect copyright.PENANADmDjVR6CFH
"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."261Please respect copyright.PENANAP9ckzPWjij
261Please respect copyright.PENANAkNZNkLd3Ec
261Please respect copyright.PENANAvpFrZEP6rO
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAKEhfLIFF9T
261Please respect copyright.PENANAZJnwFoZ0wY
261Please respect copyright.PENANAxF19HEZtqR
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.261Please respect copyright.PENANAV8z0M2vZJh
261Please respect copyright.PENANAWcYYtM2tl6
261Please respect copyright.PENANAoEyxCpvLBM
"Hey, Leo, are you coming?" Eric called out to him.261Please respect copyright.PENANAKOODbpXqhE
261Please respect copyright.PENANAdQQTrmM7Zn
261Please respect copyright.PENANA9a4PY53qyy
Snapping out of his thoughts, Leo walked out of the shop, with the door swinging shut behind him.