7
His friend returned, clapping William.on the shoulder with a grin. “Just got off the phone with Sera.”
The others immediately started their teasing. “So, William, if she shows up crying, you gonna go soft on her?”
William tapped the ash from his cigarette, a slight smile on his lips. “We’ll see.”
“But seriously, man,” one of them said, “Sera’s way easier to be with than Melina.”
“Yeah, Sera’s a sweetheart.”
“Remember when you had that car accident? The way she rushed to the hospital?”
“She started bawling the second she walked into the room. It was heartbreaking to watch.”
William seemed to drift back to that memory, a flicker of softness entering his eyes.
“You and Melina have been all over each other lately. Sera’s probably been crying her eyes out in private.”
“The last time ! saw her, she looked like she’d lost a lot of weight. And you could still see the scar above her eye.”
The hand holding the cigarette paused mid–air.
Sera had been hurt that day, too. How could he have been so callous, just leaving her there?
But Sera was sweet. She was easy to soothe.
He went home and changed into a crisp white shirt. Sera loved him in white shirts.
