Chapter 36
_Lisa’s POV_
It was finally the night of the date.
I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my room, staring at my reflection with a frown. Clothes were scattered across the bed, the floor, and even the armchair in the corner. Tops, dresses, jeans and jackets. Nothing felt right.
My heart beat faster than it should have. It was just a date. Not even a real one. Just a night out. A break from all the chaos. No rogues, no Kael, no drama. Just me and Rylan.
Still, my hands trembled as I held up another dress, then tossed it aside with a sigh.
“What am I doing?” I muttered to myself. “It’s not like I have to impress him.”
Sierra stirred in my mind.
You sure about that?
I groaned. “He’s just being nice.”
He likes you. And you like him. Admit it.
“I don’t even know what I feel,” I whispered and sat down on the edge of the bed.
You feel safe with him. That’s a start.
I pressed my palms against my cheeks, trying to cool the blush that had crept up. “I don’t know, Sierra. I don’t want to lead him on.”
Then don’t think too far ahead. Just enjoy tonight. One evening won’t break you.
That made sense. For once, Sierra wasn’t being pushy.
I took a deep breath and stood. Enough with overthinking.
“I’ll wear something simple,” I decided out loud.
I went with dark skinny jeans that hugged my legs just right, a soft cream blouse with lace around the sleeves, and a pair of ankle boots. I let my hair down in soft waves and added a touch of gloss to my lips. No heavy makeup. No flashy jewelry. Just me being plain, simple, and hopefully not awkward.
I took one last glance in the mirror. “That’ll do.”
I walked downstairs. My heart was pounding harder with each step.
And then I saw him.
Rylan stood at the bottom of the stairs. He was leaning casually against the banister. He wore dark jeans and a black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The fabric clung to his toned arms,
and his black hair was slightly tousled like he had run his hands through it a few times. His brown eyes lit
up the moment they saw me.
“You clean up nice,” he said with a grin. His eyes were scanning me from head to toe.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”
He stepped closer and offered his arm. “Shall we, milady?”
Before I could respond, Alexandra appeared from the hallway.
“Well, don’t you two look cute,” she teased and crossed her arms with a mischievous smirk.
Rylan groaned. “Not now, Alex.”
She ignored him. “Have fun tonight. And Lisa, you look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I said, cheeks warming.
“I’m heading to bed early,” she added with a yawn. “Training in the morning.”
Rylan snorted. “Please. You barely break a sweat during training.”
She gasped and playfully shoved his chest. “Excuse you! I happen to be very dedicated.”
He raised his brows. “Dedicated to skipping warmups, maybe.”
She rolled her eyes and turned to me. “Don’t let him talk too much. He’s annoying when he’s trying to be
charming.”
“I’ll manage,” I laughed.
Alexandra winked and waved. “Goodnight, lovebirds!”
Then she disappeared down the hall, leaving Rylan and me alone again.
He opened the front door and gestured grandly. “Shall we?”
I chuckled and followed him out. His car was parked right outside. He hurried ahead and opened the passenger door for me like a true gentleman.
“Thank you,” I said softly as I slid in.
He closed the door and rounded the car. Once inside, he started the engine and glanced at me with a sideways smile.
“So,” he said, “where do you want to eat?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not picky.”
He gave a dramatic sigh. “Why is it that you ladies never know what you want to eat?”
“Excuse me,” I said, laughing. “That’s such a stereotype.”
“And yet, so accurate,” he teased.
I smacked his arm lightly. “Maybe I’m just letting you decide. That’s polite, you know.”
He gave me a wink. “Alright then. I know the perfect place. There’s this amazing Mexican restaurant not far
from here. The food is to die for.”
“Mexican sounds good,” I said and relaxed into the seat.
The drive was peaceful. He hummed to the music playing softly from the radio and I found myself smiling for no reason at all. For once, my mind wasn’t haunted by shadows or painful memories.
We pulled up to a cozy-looking restaurant with colorful lights hanging from the roof. The smell of spices and grilled meat wafted through the air the moment we stepped out of the car.
Inside, the place was warm and welcoming. A waitress greeted us with a smile and led us to a corner
booth.
“Date night?” she asked with a grin.
Rylan smirked. “You could say that.”
I blushed and looked away.
Once we were seated, she handed us menus filled with dishes I couldn’t pronounce.
I frowned. “What…what even is Mole poblano?”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ll order for us.”
“That obvious, huh?”
He leaned closer. “Just a little.”
I narrowed my eyes playfully. “Fine. I’ll trust you.”
When the waitress returned, Rylan ordered for both of us. I didn’t catch half of what he said, but he seemed confident. I just nodded and smiled.
“So,” he said once she was gone, “you’ve never had proper Mexican food before?”
“Not like this,” I admitted.
“You’re in for a treat,” he said with a grin. “And don’t worry, I didn’t order anything too spicy. I don’t want you breathing fire halfway through the night.”
I giggled. “That’s considerate.”
“I try.”
He reached across the table, resting his arms in front of him. “You seem more relaxed tonight.”
I shrugged. “It’s nice. Being out. Not worrying about… everything.”
He nodded. “That’s what I wanted for you.”
We talked about silly things; favorite colors, childhood games and weird food combinations. He grinned at me over the rim of his glass. “So… be honest. Are you one of those people who eats pineapple on pizza?”
I narrowed my eyes at him and set down my fork. “Absolutely not.”
Rylan gasped like I had just insulted his ancestors. “Lisa! You wound me.”
I laughed. “Don’t tell me you like it?”
“I don’t just like it. I love it,” he said proudly and placed a hand over his chest. “Sweet and savory? It’s a
culinary masterpiece.”
I made a face. “That’s just wrong. Fruit has no business being on pizza.”
“You’re breaking my heart.” He pretended to pout, then leaned closer and lowered his voice. “But I suppose
I can forgive you. No one is perfect.”
I rolled my eyes and hid my smile behind my napkin. Why is he so effortlessly charming?
Sierra chuckled in my mind. He’s trying to impress you. And it’s working.
Shush, I replied silently, but I could feel the warmth rising to my cheeks.
The food arrived, and my eyes widened. The plate was full of colorful rice, beans, meat covered in rich
sauce, and warm tortillas.
“Okay,” I whispered. “This looks amazing.”
“Wait until you taste it.”
I took a bite and groaned. “Oh my goddess. This is so good.”
He beamed. “Told you.”
As we ate, the mood stayed light. He made me laugh more times than I could count. I felt seen, heard and
safe.
Sierra purred in my head.
You like him.
I took a sip of water to hide my smile.
“I’m having fun,” I admitted.
You deserve this.
I looked at Rylan as he told a ridiculous story about Alexandra falling into a river while trying to catch a fish during training.
“She was soaked from head to toe,” he said while laughing. “And the fish still got away.”
I covered my mouth as I laughed. “Poor Alex.”
MIpt: :u
“She never let me live it down because I laughed too hard to help her.”
I shook my head. “You’re such a terrible brother.”
He leaned in, his voice softer now. “But a good date?”
I blinked. “Yes,” I said quietly. “A good date.”
Something passed between us then, something warm and unspoken.
I liked being around him. I liked the way he looked at me. Like I mattered.
He reached out, his fingers brushing mine. “Lisa…”
But before he could say more, a scream tore through the air outside.
It was loud, sharp and terrified.
We froze. Then another scream followed. And another.
My heart jumped to my throat.
Rylan’s eyes darkened instantly and he stood from the booth.
“Stay here,” he ordered.
“Rylan”
But he was already moving toward the door.
And I… I couldn’t breathe.
Something was wrong.
Very, very wrong.
