Alexander crossed his arms, his tone dry. "Highly doubtful. If you were such a love expert, you'd have figured me out years ago."
Serena's eyes narrowed, but her grin didn't fade. "You really want to go there?"
"Why not?"
Serena gave an exaggerated eye-roll. "Charlotte didn't manage it in over a decade either. Yeah, well, join the club. If the two of us couldn't crack you, maybe it's not us. Maybe *you* are just completely, irreparably, cosmically—*impossible*."
He tilted his head, like he was actually considering it. "So I'm... difficult?"
"Difficult?" She gave a sarcastic laugh. "You're emotionally constipated, control-obsessed, and allergic to vulnerability. But, sure, let's go with *difficult*. Sounds cuter."
He exhaled, a sound halfway between a sigh and a chuckle.
Serena leaned back against the counter, watching him. "But you're also trying now. I can see that. So… maybe you're not a lost cause."
Alexander raised an eyebrow. "High praise, coming from you."
