“Still trying to sell me on that, huh?” I say lightly, avoiding his pointed look. “Gotta keep life interesting somehow.”
He huffs a laugh but shakes his head, clearly unimpressed. Then his eyes shift to Lainey, standing just behind me, and his expression tightens slightly. “And who’s this?”
I step to the side, resting my hand on Lainey’s back. “This is Lainey Carrey,” I say, keeping my tone light. “My girlfriend.”
Lainey offers a polite smile and extends her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you, Mr. Darling.”
My father hesitates for just a fraction of a second before taking her hand, giving it a firm shake. “Lainey,” he repeats, his tone neutral. “A pleasure.”
Before the moment can stretch into anything too awkward, a voice cuts through the air.
“Zach!” Clarissa’s voice cuts through the chatter, unmistakable and just as I remember. Before I can react, she steps between Lainey and my father, throwing her arms around me in a hug.
I stiffen immediately, my arms hanging awkwardly at my sides as she presses againstme. My face turns away, but there’s no escaping the cloying familiarity of her perfume. “Clarissa,” I say, my tone flat and deliberately neutral. “What are you doing here?”
Blair’s timing is impeccable, her eyebrow arching in exaggerated surprise. “I thought you were overseas on one of those doctor missions.”
Clarissa pulls back just enough to flash Blair a wide smile, but her arms stay wrapped around me. “I just got back. Perfect timing, right? I wouldn’t miss this reunion for the world. After all, I get to see Zach.” She tilts her head, her tone overly sweet.
Whitney, never one to hold back, crosses her arms and smirks. “You might want to back off, Clarissa. Zach brought his girlfriend. You’re being a little rude.”
Clarissa blinks, finally releasing me and stepping back. “Girlfriend?” she echoes, the word dripping with disbelief.
Blair jumps in, her grin practically gleaming. “Yes, his girlfriend. Clarissa, meet Lainey Carrey.”
Clarissa’s eyes dart to Lainey, her expression flickering with surprise. “Lainey?” she says, her tone lighter now, though her smile looks just a little forced.
Lainey’s polite mask doesn’t falter, but I can see the slight stiffening in her posture. “Clarissa,” she says evenly.
Cora looks between the two of them. “Wait—you two know each other?”
Chapter 12
Lainey
“It’sbeenyears!Howhave you been?” Clarissa asks as she steps closer, her smile widening like she’s reuniting with a long-lost best friend.
I match her energy with a polite smile, though my tone stays cool. “Hi, Clarissa. I’m good. It’s been a while.”
She lets out a breezy laugh, flipping her hair over her shoulder in a move that feels far too practiced. “Oh, it really has. Lainey and I went to USC together,” she announces to the group, her voice carrying a touch of dramatic flair, “before I transferred to UCLA.”
Zach frowns, his gaze shifting between us. “I didn’t know you went to USC, Clarissa.”
Her smile sharpens as she turns toward him, bright but just a little too calculated. “Oh, I did—for two years. Then I transferred to UCLA to join you.” She says it casually, like it’s no big deal, but the implication hangs heavy between us.
Before the moment can stretch, Whitney snorts, arms crossed as she leans slightly forward. “More like you chased after him and followed him there,” she mutters, just loud enough for everyone to hear.
Clarissa’s smile falters for the briefest moment, tightening at the edges, but she doesn’t rise to the bait. Instead, she turns her attention back to me.
“How’s Chloe? Do you still talk to her?” Clarissa asks, her tone light and sweet, though the sharpness underneath isn’t lost on me. “I heard she got… knocked up. She has a child now, doesn’t she?”
Annoyance prickles at the edges of my calm exterior. “She’s doing great, actually,” I say smoothly, matching her faux cheer. “Chloe’s engaged to Wyatt Banks—the father of her son. They’re getting married soon.”
“Wyatt Banks?” Clarissa’s eyes widen in genuine surprise.
“Yep.” Zach steps in, his arm sliding around my waist, a subtle but unmistakable display of support. “And that’s how I fell in love with Lainey. Chloe’s marrying my best friend.”
Clarissa blinks, her mouth parting slightly. “Wait—Wyatt is the one who—”
