“Hey, Theo.” I twisted my neck to smile at Miranda. “Theo and I are in a Shakespeare class together. We’re actually working with another classmate, Lachlan, on a midterm project.”
Theo let out something between a bark and a cough. Attention returned to him. “I’m speechless. I had no idea you knew Miranda.”
I dipped my chin. “Just as I had no idea Miranda was your stepmom.”
Miranda clapped her hands. “Oh my, what a small world. Well, obviously it’s small here, since you both attend Savage, but it truly never occurred to me you might share a class. This is just perfect.”
The beautiful blonde at Theo’s side stood from her seat and draped herself on his shoulder. “Hi, I’m Abby.”
Theo was stiff, but Abby took no notice. She rested her chin on his shoulder and pressed herself into his arm. My skin felt bathed in acid. He could move on, he didn’t owe me anything, but seeing it up close and personal really wasn’t fair. But that was life. Shit hurt.
I tilted my head. “We’ve met...at the T.” I looked her up and down. “Elena is my roommate too. The Prada looks great on you.”
“Thanks.” She smoothed a hand over her hip. “I remember now. You were with a little kid, weren’t you?”
“Mmhmm. That was my sister, Luciana. I would have introduced you, but you were all about The that day.” I used her stupid-ass nickname, which did not escape her, based on the way she curled her pretty pink lip at me.
Miranda pressed her hand on my back, turning me the other way. “This is my husband, Andrew.” The older man, who was unmistakably Theo’s father, got to his feet and offered me his hand.
“Helen, Miranda hasn’t stopped talking about you for a solid year. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” His handshake was warm, firm, and sincere. His smile too. His eyes didn’t twinkle as much as Theo’s did, but I saw where he got it.
“It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
He waved me off. “None of that formal stuff. Andrew is fine. Are you sitting with us tonight?”
“Yeah. I mean…yes. I think I am.”
He pulled out the empty chair beside his. “Come, sit by me. Miranda and I see each other all the time. I haven’t had the chance to get to know you.”
Miranda patted my shoulder. “You’ll sit between us so we don’t have to fight over you, darling. This way I can talk to my darling Theo too.”
My eyes flicked to Theo, who had been watching my interaction with his dad carefully.
“Lucky you.”
I took my seat beside Andrew Whitlock and tipped my head back to make eye contact with Theo one more time. He grimaced like he was vastly uncomfortable with my presence. I wasn’t having the time of my life either.
But he’d made his choice.
He’d put us here, and I had zero desire to make tonight any easier for him.