“Not since kindergarten,” I answered smoothly.
Theo pinched my side, shooting me a look.
“No, we don’t,” he said, clearing his throat.
But that didn’t stop her. “Oh. Well, my husband and I are still interested. Maybe we can watch you two?”
God, come for your world.
“I don’t think so, sorry.” Theo smiled.
“What a shame,” she murmured, completely unfazed. Then she floated away like a ghost.
I blinked once.
“What the hell kind of party is this?” I muttered, then threw back the rest of my drink.
The rooftop was stunning—an open-air lounge wrapped in golden lights, the city skyline glittering behind sleek glass railings. Soft jazz poured from a live quartet in the corner, and servers weaved through the crowd with champagne flutes and tiny hors d’oeuvres on silver trays. Everyone here looked like old money.
I was already on my second glass of champagne and still didn’t feel like I belonged, despite the fact that Theo had been introducing me as his girlfriend all night.
His hand lowered on my back possessively. He was so tense tonight. He squeezed my hands more times than I could count, and I knew his anxiety was fighting to make an appearance. I tried to lighten his mood.
“I’m just saying,” I murmured, tipping my champagne flute toward the crowd, “we’re easily the best-looking people here. If not the youngest. Everyone else looks like they wanna fuck us or they’re waiting for their knee replacement surgeries to be approved.”
Theo glanced at me. “Baby, stop it. Can you please behave tonight?”
Random Voice: What does he mean by behave?
The voice returned uninvited.
No. No. No. Not this shit again. Didn’t I say to leave me alone?
I pushed the voice down, smiling like everything was fine.
“I’ll try,” I said sweetly. “But everyone here is looking at me like I’m some arm candy trophy wife.”
Theo’s brow ticked playfully. “Can you be that? Just for tonight?”
Random Voice: Absolutely not!You’re an intelligent, highly educated, and award-winning law school graduate! You start at a top-tier firm in a week! You’re not some airhead—
“Yeah,” I said, cutting the voice off and clinking my glass against his. “I can play along.”
Theo didn’t look entirely convinced, but he slid his arm around my waist anyway, pulling me in like I was the only one who mattered here.
For now, I let him believe I wasn’t bothered.
“Theo!” someone called from behind us. “I wasn’t sure you were coming. You didn’t mention it when you left the office.”
I turned to find a very attractive man standing with one hand in his pocket and the other holding a scotch.
“Hey, Carter,” Theo greeted warmly. “I thought it was a good opportunity to get this one outside.”
He gestured down to me, and I gave the man an awkward, sheepish grin when our eyes met.
“Carter, this is Carmen. I know you’ve been eager to meet her.”
My eyebrows shot up, “Oh?”
