I take her in with fresh eyes, casting aside her beauty as a mere mask for her true nature.

Alexander sees me staring, swears under his breath, and walks away with a shake of his head. It’s only a matter of seconds before Miranda takes his spot. I haven’t seen her in weeks and don’t particularly want company, but she comes bearing a gift. The Jack and Coke she offers me is a welcome sight.

“So that’s her?” she asks, nodding toward Lainey.

I don’t answer.

If she knows to ask, she must have seen the news reports today. She doesn’t need my confirmation.

“It’s a sham, isn’t it? A pretend engagement?”

I sigh heavily, not wanting to go down this road. Though Miranda and I are just friends, she’s accompanied me to a few recent events, the ballet included. She knows damn well I haven’t been carrying on a secret love affair with Lainey like the media has suggested.

Still, she presses for more.

“She’s smaller in real life,” she notes. “Childlike.”

I almost roll my eyes. “Don’t let her size fool you.”

She hums. “Beautiful, though. The photos I’ve seen hardly do her justice. I guess your father could have done worse in that respect. Maybe you should thank him.”

“It was intentional on his part. I’m sure he wants pretty grandchildren. He’s not one to leave something like that up to chance.”

Miranda laughs. “Oh, look at her. She’s really enjoying herself. So lovely. Maybe you should go say hi.”

I tip back most of the contents of my drink, already in need of another.

Miranda watches me and shakes her head. “Oof, you’re really angry with her. Does she know?”

I turn my back on Lainey and peer down at Miranda. “Why are you here? Did you sneak in?”

She’s not an alumnus of St. John’s.

She winks. “Maybe.”

Then Harrison crashes our conversation holding a plate overflowing with shrimp. He tosses a clumsy arm over Miranda’s shoulders. “There’s my hot date.”

She barely restrains herself. “Harrison, you’re about to spill cocktail sauce all over my dress,” she whines, elbowing him in the side.

He laughs and lets her pull away. “Aw, don’t be like that.”

Interesting. I know full well that Miranda isn’t interested in Harrison. Her tastes are a little more refined than that. She’s made it clear for the last few years that she’d accept a date if only I’d ask, but I won’t.

Miranda is pretty and sophisticated and much like every other woman I’ve ever met. There is nothing necessarily bad about her, but nothing quite so memorable either. Or perhaps I’m being harsh because I’m in a foul mood. I look over at Lainey again, helpless to stop myself. I want to know what she’s calculating, how she can possibly stand there with such a wide smile on her face and play it off like she’s not the most evil person in the room.

She takes a small sip of her champagne, her lips barely touching the edge. The man she’s standing with watches her with rapt attention, no doubt imagining her lips wrapping around something else entirely.