The Twin Temptations

CHAPTER FOUR

ELENA’S POV

“We should get you something to eat,” Justin offered as he stifled a chuckle. I didn’t refuse as I nodded my head slightly.

My flushed cheeks, on the other hand, didn’t show any sign of receding.

“Come on,” he said softly, grasping my palm as he led me in another direction. My gaze was focused on his back which had my bag slung around it.

I didn’t stop to think that what I was doing could be considered dangerous. All I knew was that in that moment, he saved me.

His brown curls seemed to shimmer under the streetlights as we continued walking.

I watched as we stopped in front of a bakery. My stomach let out yet another growl as I wondered how he had access to the place.

The clang of keys immediately filled my ears as I watched him key the place open. The slight doubt I once had vanished as I once thought he would break us in.

As though sensing my thoughts, he turned to look at me before letting out a slight chuckle. “I work here part-time but my boss trusts me well enough to leave me a key.”

He said, before he pushed the door open. My hand remained grasped in his the entire time, as I constantly felt his warmth.

It was only then that I realized how soft they were. They didn’t seem like the hands a teenage boy should have.

“What would you like to order?” he asked, as he walked behind the counter. Putting on a hat before giving me a fake professional look.

“Haha,” a light chuckle escaped my lips, as my eyes curled into crescent moons. Stifling the discomfort that had accompanied me since I left the mansion, I decided to relax a bit.

My gaze narrowed a bit as I surveyed the options he laid out in front of me. I didn’t spend too much time making my decision, as I was too hungry to care.

“I would like a slice of red-velvet cake please,” I almost drooled as I made the order. “Coming right up,” he said with a salute as he served me the pastry.

I resisted the urge to devour it right then and there, as I walked to a table with the cake in hand. He accompanied me, with a piece of chocolate cake in his hand.

We didn’t exchange any more words as we dug into the cake slices. I suppressed a moan as the burst of flavor consumed me.

I didn’t know if it was because of my current state, but I was sure that the slice in front of me was hands down the best thing I had ever tasted.

“It’s so good,” I said with my mouth still full as I stared up at him with glittering eyes. “Thank you,” he said with a smile that showcased his dimples.

I was a little starstruck as I felt like he looked much sweeter than the cake I had fallen in love with a moment ago.

“Hm,” I hummed, shaking away all unnecessary thoughts as I returned to my pastry. We ate in silence. It was a comfortable silence as we both stuffed our faces with frosting under the cover of the night.

“I’m stuffed,” he let out as he rubbed his slightly protruding belly. I didn’t have his courage as I pulled on my clothes to hide my slightly similar state.

He threw me a knowing smile, causing a blush to immediately creep up my cheeks.

“We should get going. It’s already getting late,” he said softly. His words made me pause in my tracks as the state of my affairs was brought to the forefront of my thoughts.

My head dipped as I stared at the plate dotted with red-velvet breadcrumbs. “If you want some more, I could always make more. But not tonight.”

Justin said with some uncertainty in his tone as his voice drew closer. I momentarily forgot about my previous thoughts as I turned to ask him, “You made this?”

“Yeah,” he replied sheepishly, turning his gaze away as he ran a hand through his hair. My gaze brightened slightly as I stared at him.

He was barely a few years older than I was, but he was so good. It was inspiring if anything. “You’re so talented,” I breathed as I unconsciously stepped up towards him.

“Thank you. I’m not that good. You should taste my brother’s,” he coughed as his cheeks had an added pinkish hue.

“We really should get going,” he said as he didn’t give me the chance to dive deeper, waving his arms as he diverted the topic.

I didn’t know what to say, as I just stood in my tracks. Words seemed to fail me in that moment as I tried multiple times to speak. With my lips parting but words never leaving.

“You ran away, didn’t you,” he said after a while. I stood silently, before slowly nodding my head. “Ugh, I should have known,” he groaned softly as the room descended into silence once again.

My nerves grew taut at the thought that he might send me away, wanting to be rid of a random runaway. A wry smile tugged at my lips at the thought. I understood it. But it didn’t stop tears from pooling in my eyes.

“You can come with me then,” he said softly. My eyes widened in surprise as I whipped up my gaze to face him. He had a sheepish look on his face as he avoided my gaze.

“Only if you want to of course,” he added, waving his hands as he took a step back. I was too stunned to say anything as I just stared at him. Taking in his features once again as though I had just seen him for the first time.

“Are you sure?” I asked softly, not at all surprised by the c***k in my voice. It took everything in me to suppress the tears that threatened to fall.

And that was only so I wouldn’t scare him anymore than I already did. He turned to face me, looking straight into my eyes as he let out, “Yes, I am.”

The room descended into silence as we stood, staring at each other.