I leave Theo to catch up with his old classmates so I can get another drink at the bar. Beckett approaches me to my left like he's been waiting for this opportunity to get me alone.
"I can't believe you're here...withhim," he says with an edge.
"I can't believe you're here withher. You know all it takes is one sentence to ruin your life, right?"
"Don't do this. Don't be mean."
"Mean? This isnice, Beckett. I can be mean if you want… Tell your fiancée you were dating her while living with me. How could you do this to her?"
"Me? You're dating your stepbrother? That's disgusting. If it's even true."
"Oh please, you know I barely knew Theo. We didn't grow up together."
"My point. You told me you hated him. What the hell changed? A rebound?"
"Well, Beckett, that is none of your business anymore."
I grab my drink and begin to walk in the opposite direction.
Beckett grabs me by the arm and prevents me from leaving. It's not exactly aggressive, but I can feel the agitation in his grip as I'm yanked backward a step, expensive alcohol sloshing out of my cup.
Theo eyes us from across the room and is by my side in a matter of moments, leaving his conversation mid-sentence. His buddies are staring.
"I'd appreciate it if you'd take your fucking hands off my girlfriend." The razor sharp edge of his voice is unfamiliar and extremely alpha. The possessiveness, even if fake, makes my legs go weak.
"I'm–I'm sorry…" Beckett puts his hands up in defense. "It’s just, this is unexpected, and I don't know what the hell is going on here."
"Looks pretty clear to me." Theo glances at me to confirm I'm okay.
Theo's stance is overprotective, like he's a bodyguard protecting a movie star. Why is this turning me on?
"Scarlet can see us, you idiot, and I don't want to deal with your lies. Leave us alone," I hiss.
We turn to walk away right as Seth startles us by grabbing Theo around the waist and launching him in the air.
"Theo! My God, it is you."
Their embrace is one I might have had with my best friend in second grade, being reunited after a long summer apart. It's endearing seeing an old acquaintance of Theo's show him such affection even with a rocky past.
Now that our Beckett drama is over, I have to readjust to this one.
"You look incredible," Seth repeats. "How have you been? Are you here with anyone?"
Seth's face changes shape once it dawns on him who I am.
"Amelia?"
Sethissurprisedtosee Amelia here, and I don't blame him. For months before our parents got married, I complained about my soon-to-be stepsister. I vented to him, enraged about my situation, and here I am "dating" her. And what a hypocrite I was, because I didn't want him asking her out.
"You look great, too," he tells her respectfully. "I–I'm speechless. Is this for real?"
"It's still new," I tell him, hopeful his mom and my mom don't communicate like they used to.
"Wow." Seth nods his head like he's trying to make sense of it.
"What have you been up to?" I ask him.
"I'm married now. My wife is home with the baby. She's eight months old."
