By now all of Valhalla would have heard of her latest, embarrassing encounter with the aggravating Sentinel.
Callie’s smile faded. “What’s he done?”
“You haven’t heard?”
“No.”
Serra shrugged, pouring another shot. “It doesn’t matter.”
“He’s still being an ass?”
Serra lifted her shot glass in a mock toast. “A grade-A, platinum-plated ass.”
Cassie shook her head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”
“Join the crowd,” Serra muttered before heaving a sigh. “Maybe I’m just deluding myself.”
“About what?”
“Maybe he truly doesn’t want me.”
Callie gave a sharp shake of her head. “He wants you.”
The tequila was spreading a warm glow through Serra. So why the hell was she shivering with cold?
“How can you possibly know?”
“I’ve seen how he stares at you when he thinks no one is watching. How he always waits until he knows you’re in the dining hall before he goes to dinner. How he takes twice as long to carve the figurines he creates for you.” Callie pushed away from the counter and crossed the short distance to gently remove the shot glass from Serra’s hand. “He wants you bad.”
“Then why the hell won’t he do anything about it?” Serra snapped, fiercely holding back the tears. By God, she wasn’t going to cry over the bastard. Not one tear. “I’m tired of being treated like I carry the plague.”
Callie set the glass on the countertop, biting her lower lip before she tentatively made the suggestion that Serra had been dreading.
“Do you want me to talk to him?”
“No.” She unconsciously pressed a hand to her heaving stomach.
Fane had not only been connected to Callie on a spiritual level, he’d also indulged her every whim.
God. The mere thought that he would force himself to show an interest in her to please Callie . . .
A low groan escaped her lips and Callie grabbed her hands to give them a gentle squeeze. “This can’t go on, Serra.”
Serra gave a sad smile. Callie was right.
This was it.
She’d tossed herself at Fane for the last time.
She wasn’t wasting another day on something so stupid as unrequited love.
“I know,” she admitted, a humorless smile twisting her lips.
Easily sensing Serra’s sudden resolve, Callie regarded her with open concern.
Understandable.
Serra tended to act on impulse. Especially when her feelings were hurt.