"Are you okay, girlfriend? Why the long face?" asked a stunning woman with icy blue eyes and high cheekbones, her Russian roots evident in both her accent and elegance.
She placed a manicured hand gently on her friend's arm, concern flickering in her expression.
Kristine, the beautiful Filipina sitting across from her, gave a faint smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
She looked down at her drink—a tall glass of mango juice with a small umbrella poking out—and stirred it absentmindedly with the straw.
"I don't know, Sasha," she said quietly, her voice carrying the weight of something deeper. "Colton's just… not the same lately. Ever since he lost in the NBA Finals, he's been different."
Sasha raised a perfectly shaped brow. "Different how? You mean like... sad? Distant?"
