She swallowed hard, forcing herself to look at him, but her mind was spinning, and words failed her. Everything Serena had said lingered in her head, haunting her every thought.
She looked at Sidney, but his gaze seemed fixed on something behind her. Her stomach clenched, and she grimaced, knowing that the only person standing there had been Serena. She turned her head slightly, ready to face whatever smug look Serena might still be wearing, but to her surprise—and relief—Serena had already slipped away. Maybe Sidney hadn't even noticed her talking to that woman.
Ava quickly pasted a smile on her face, hoping it looked genuine despite how forced it was. Taking a breath, she leaned up on her toes to kiss him, praying for just a hint of warmth. But at the last moment, he turned his head, letting her lips brush his cheek instead.
