Xavier''s post disappeared quickly, but everyone in his circle had already seen it.


    That included Vanessa and Serena.


    Serena, especially. She stared at the post, her mind going nk for several seconds. Who had Xavier cooked pasta for? And who made him feel so happy?


    He''d posted it at eight-thirty that night. Did that mean this person was staying over at his ce? Were they about to spend a wonderful night together?


    The thoughts tumbled through Serena''s head until she could barely breathe, when suddenly her phone rang. It was Vanessa.


    She took a shaky breath and answered, her voice t. "Hey, Vanessa."


    "You saw Xavier''s post too, right?" Vanessa asked.


    "Yeah. I follow him."


    "So, do you know who he made pasta for?" Vanessa pressed.


    "No idea," Serena replied, unable to guess. There were always so many women orbiting around someone as exceptional as Xavier.


    "It''s Eleanor," Vanessa said.


    Serena''s eyes widened. "Her? How could it be her?" But even as she spoke, she muttered to herself in denial, "No, it can''t be. Maybe it''s some other woman...''


    "Henry asked Xavier privately. The pasta was for Eleanor," Vanessa said, shattering her hope.


    Tears stung Serena''s eyes. She couldn''t believe Xavier would cook for Eleanor himself.


    "How... how could it be Eleanor?" she whispered, her nails digging hard into her


    arm.


    "Serena, are you okay?"


    Serena bit her lip, her voice trembling with quiet sobs. "Vanessa, I don''t understand... Why would Xavier fall for someone like her?"


    "Men can be blinded by appearances sometimes,” Vanessa replied with a self- deprecatingugh. "Remember your brother? He was so taken with her, he ended up marrying her. Eleanor seems ordinary at first nce, but she clearly knows how to get to men."


    "What gives her the right?" Serena suddenly cried, her voice rising.


    "Calm down, Serena," Vanessa soothed.


    "I just... I need to be alone," Serena said, and hung up. She curled into the corner


    of her couch, hugging her knees tightly to her chest, as if that might hold back the pain ripping through her heart.


    Xavier falling in love with Eleanor-it hurt more than anything Serena had ever experienced.


    Xavier was the first man Serena had truly loved as an adult, her first real love. So what Eleanor had taken wasn''t just a man Serena liked—it was her first love.


    And that made all the difference.


    ***


    The next morning, Eleanor opened her front door, only for Princess to dart out past her in a burst of excitement, making her jump. "Princess! Princess,e back!" she called, hurrying after the dog.


    But when Eleanor reached the yard, she stopped short at the scene before her.


    She had no idea whenn had arrived, but now his car was parked in front of her house, and he was crouched down, giving Princess a good scratch behind the


    ears.


    "Daddy!" Evelyn ran over, her backpack bouncing.


    Eleanor felt utterly powerless. She couldn''t stop her dog, and she certainly


    couldn''t stop her daughter from running into his arms.


    With a stony face, she watched asn scooped Evelyn up for a kiss. "I''ll drive you to school today."


    "Okay!" Evelyn grinned, then turned to wave at Eleanor. "Bye, Mom!"


    Eleanor forced a smile and waved back. Once her daughter climbed into the car, Princess leaped in too, leaving Eleanor fuming, her chest tight with frustration.


    She watched the car drive off toward the preschool, let out a slow breath, then grabbed her bag and headed for her own car.


    By the time she arrived at theb, Callie had already set up everything. Eleanor was grateful for such a reliable teammate. They split the work efficiently, but around noon, while Eleanor was conducting her cell experiment, she realized theb''s equipment wasn''t up to the task.