Serena’s POV
My phone lights up with Damian’s name at exactly 10:17 a.m.
I stare at it for one full second before answering.
Which is ridiculous.
Because I am a grown woman.
Not a teenager panicking over a boy calling her.
Still—
My pulse betrays me anyway.
“Hello?”
His voice slides through the phone low and calm. “You’re awake.”
Not good morning.
Not how are you.
Not even acknowledgment of the fact that he kissed me senseless in the middle of a ballroom less than twelve hours ago.
Of course not.
That would be too normal.
Too easy.
I lean back in my chair slowly and glance toward the kitchen doorway to make sure Adrian is nowhere nearby.
The house is quiet for once.
Suspiciously quiet.
“Yes,” I answer carefully.
A pause settles briefly between us.
Not awkward.
Worse.
