Page 12 of Nathan
“Could be.” Serena took a sip from the straw in the colorful drink and pushed it to me.
There was something incredibly intimate about putting my lips where hers had just been. Staring at the drink, I pulled it closer.
“Don’t worry. I don’t have any cold sores or known diseases.”
“But you wear a lot of lipstick,” I said and nodded toward the red color on the straw.
“Do you want a different one?” she asked.
“No.” With a flirtatious smile, I bent down and kept looking at her as I sucked on her straw.
“What do you think?”
The taste of coconut and sweet pineapple filled my mouth. “A bit sweet for my taste.”
“You don’t like sweet things?”
“Depends.” I pushed the drink away. “Anyway, River sends her greetings.”
“How is she?”
“Good. Her business is doing well, and she looks more beautiful than ever.”
“I’m happy to hear it.”
It confused me that Serena looked genuinely happy for River.
Pushing her long curly hair back over her shoulders, she said, “I’ll bet she’s tired of the stupid headlines, isn’t she?”
“Ehh, yes. Some of them are downright mean.”
“I know. It’s like the media forgets that we’re real people with feelings.” Serena’s index finger pointed to the glasses in front of us. “So which drink is next?”
“The blue one.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Leaning forward, Serena took a healthy sip from the martini glass. “Oooh, I think you might like this. Here, taste it.” She lifted the glass to my mouth and let me sip.
“Better, but still not as good as beer.”
Placing the drink back on the table, Serena pulled her hands to her lap and rolled the large rock on her ring finger.
“Forgive my bad manners. I should congratulate you.” I nodded toward the ring, feeling my anger simmer inside me.
“Very funny. What about you? Any engagements we should cheer for?”
I wanted to ask what was funny, but her strange answer threw me off.
“I don’t see a ring on your finger. What’s the deal?”
I shrugged. “There’s no deal.”
Serena kept twisting her ring like she was nervous. “So, you’re still single?”
“Yup.”
Taking another long sip of the first drink, Serena kept playing with the straw.
“Do I make you nervous?” My question was direct, but I couldn’t understand what was going on. Serena was as sweet and easy to talk to as she had been on the survival trip. How was that possible when she was the same snake who had broken up Storm and River?
