Page 171 of The Girlfriend Clause
“I don’t think that’s what either of us wants, Sveta.”
She rolled her eyes and looked around the room.
“So where did you findher?” she asked, as if she were commenting on a new maid. “She’s very Temu, isn’t she? Looks good at a distance.”
Something in me went still. Andrea was immaculate tonight, and Sveta’sjealousyturned my stomach.
“I guess the question always is, is she actually up to the job?” she said.
Despite her beauty, Sveta suddenly looked rather ugly. Her perfectly slanted eyes were lifeless, her cheekbones harsh, not exotic.
“You’ve always been very confident about things you don’t understand,” I replied coldly. “This is one of them.”
Sveta held my gaze for a beat, then smiled as if I’d said something mildly charming.
“Well,” she said, looking away, bored. “You’ve changed.”
Before I could answer, Ben materialized at my shoulder like he’d been summoned.
“Sveta,” he said, delighted. “I was wondering how long it would take.”
She turned, assessing him, then smiled. “Ben Roth. You look handsome, darling.”
“Genetics. Though obviously I got the sturdier model.” He glanced at me. “We try not to compare.”
Dex popped up on my other side, already grinning. “This is where we pretend we’re surprised to see you, right?”
Sveta laughed. “It’s a gift, Dennis. Nice to see—” She stopped, a tiny wrinkle appearing between her brows. “But… your face—is that… deliberate?”
“Afraid so,” said Ben gravely, patting Dex on the shoulder.
“So was Brexit,” I added quietly, looking away.
“I told you that having a dead squirrel for a chin wouldn’t work for you, mate,” Ben said, leaning forward.
Sveta laughed again, louder this time. “You’re all terrible. I think it’s… sexy.”
There was a brief, stunned pause.
Dex looked hopeful. “Really?”
“No,” Ben said immediately. “She was being polite.”
Sveta laughed, her mouth open a moment too long. Maybe there was a camera somewhere.
“Miranda says it makes me look rugged,” Dex said, straightening.
“Miranda is lying to you,” I said. “Out of kindness.”
“Or pity,” Ben added.
Dex sighed. “I knew I should’ve stopped at stubble.”
“Yes,” I said. “That was peak facial hair for you.”
“You three really do travel as a unit, don’t you?” Sveta was already looking past us as she said it, attention drifting. Someone else. Something shinier. I’d seen it before. The exact second she stopped trying.
“We bond through cruelty,” Ben said cheerfully, enjoying himself nonetheless. Dex laughed, a fraction too loudly, still trying to look unfazed. They were both playing to her now, instinctively filling the space she’d created.
