Chapter 4

My buddy, Jake, got the word and threw a gathering that night. It was all old classmates and friends.

A few rounds in, the door opened again.

A couple of guys immediately brightened: "Serena? You’re a rare sight!"

"Yeah, Ms. Serena, what brings you here tonight?"

Serena’s cheeks were slightly flushed. "I was just doing some business next door, heard about the old classmates gathering, so I came to join the fun."

As she spoke, her gaze lingered on me for a moment before slowly moving away.

Jake nudged me quietly: "Alex, Serena’s here for you, isn’t she?"

I forced myself to look at her.

She was a little taller than Scarlett, and had a better figure.

I squinted for a bit, then looked away and shook my head: "No way. We haven’t kept in touch for years."

But Jake ignored me and called out to Serena directly: "Hey, campus queen, could you give Alex a ride later?"

"We’ve all been drinking, and we don’t want him to get ripped off by a ride-share."

Serena's gaze crossed over everyone and landed on my face.

After about two seconds, I saw her nod: "Okay."

"Thanks, campus queen."

Jake sat down with a grin and whispered to me:

"Alex, why should Scarlett be able to play the field, but you can’t have a second chance at love?"

"Besides, a beauty like Serena, it'd be a crime not to go for it."

"How do you know she’d be interested in me?"

Jake gave a mischievous grin: "The way she looked at you just now, it was like she wanted to devour you!"

"Trust my experience, man."

4

The gathering ended, and Serena drove me back to my hotel.

When we arrived downstairs, I unbuckled my seatbelt,

And thanked her: "Thanks for the ride tonight."