CHAPTER 80: ONCE A PLAYER…

SERAPHINA’S POV

It seemed like a fantastic idea in my head to approach Lucian, but as I draw closer to the group of guys he's with, self-doubt and nervousness flood over me.

Just when I'm about to retreat, our eyes lock—his silver eyes meeting mine. We both freeze for a moment, suspended in time.

His eyes widen as if he's seeing me for the first time, or maybe he's just taking in my new look.

Whatever it is, it seems to catch him completely off guard.

"Hey!" he's the first to break the silence, pulling away from his friends almost immediately.

"Hey!" I echo, injecting my voice with enthusiasm as I attempt to cloak my nervousness.

In mere seconds, he's closed the distance between us, standing close enough for me to catch the mix of his cologne and a slight, manly musk.

"Awesome party you've got going on here," he says, edging even closer.

Fumbling awkwardly with my fingers, I suddenly become hyper-aware of my outfit, my makeup, every little detail.

But even in the midst of my self-c