Page 64 of Fighter
She disappeared before I could order water, but I knew she'd bring it. All of them knew everyone's drink preferences here. Small town life drove me nuts the way it pigeonholed people with familiarity.
What the hell, Hernandez?I thought, even as relief mingled with the suspicion. Serafina wasn't here now so I didn't have to awkwardly confront her about my coldness last night. A momentary reprieve until I figured my own mind out. But now I couldn't stop wondering where she went with Hernandez.
“You are a mess if you think she's doing anything like that with Hernandez,” Mav muttered. “Serafina has the hots for you the likes of which I haven't seen since I found Bethany.”
“I never said a word,” I snapped.
Mav leaned back. “What. Happened.”
This time, not even hammering my problems out with my fists had helped. I'd hit the bag for three hours between last night and this morning and Sadie still haunted me. This time, she brought Serafina with her. What did I say to Serafina after all this? What was the welling dread in my chest everytime I thought about her now?
“Sadie,” I finally muttered.
Maverick grimaced. “Ah.”
While I related Serafina's story, his expression only grew more grim. “I hate to speak ill of the dead, but man am I glad she's gone.”
“I can't believe she did that.”
“I can.”
Dagny returned with our usual salad and sandwich combo, but my appetite fled. I poked around my salad and tried to summon excitement for it, but all I tasted was cardboard. With a sigh, I shoved it out of my way and put my head in my hands.
“You're wrecked, brother,” Maverick said.
“I'm not.”
“You're wrecked for Sera and you think she's going to turn into Sadie.”
“You're making this crap up,” I said with a surge of rage. “Serafina is no Sadie.”
Unbothered by my glower, Mav simply picked up his sandwich. “I know that. Serafina knows that. Ava maybe even knows that. I don't think you know that.”
His self-righteous smugness made me want to put a fist right into his teeth, but I schooled it back. I knew that Serafina wouldn't turn into Sadie. She didn't have it in her. But maybe I did.
The distant ring of a phone peeled through the air, and a cook in the back barked that they'd get it.
“Whatever,” I muttered.
Maverick laughed, which only made me rage worse. Trust a brother to find something funny in this twisted situation.
“It's not just about Sera,” I said. “What the hell am I supposed to say to Ava about this with Sadie?”
“Ask her about it like the human she is.”
“She's six.”
“She's smart. You need to address it.”
I tilted my head back, gaze narrowed. “You have a two-year-old, what do you know?”
Mav laughed. “I've always known more than you, brother. Especially when it comes to people. Besides, it's what Bethany would do with Ellie after she first showed up, and that girl was a mess at a young age. Just like Ava. It works.”
My phone buzzed on my thigh. Grateful for a distraction, I pulled it out. My gut clenched when Serafina's name flashed across the front. I opened it.
Serafina:Sorry to do this last minute, but can I have the afternoon off?
Seconds after I read it, a voice called from the back.
