[ Letting Steph’s name slip is going to haunt him, but at least he didn’t have to bring up his adopted father. Besides, Steph’s friendly, and it’s a party. Odds are good that she would talk to Billy at some point. ]

She’s a good friend.

[ She’s also his ex, but that label undercuts the relationship - and provides more reason for Billy to interrogate her. The cycle of everyone talking about him is doomed to continue. ]

And I guess it did.

[ He’s not really sure about that, where he’s been confident in everything else. The juxtaposition is audible. They have reasons for turning up separately, but Tim’s been joking about how he keeps tabs on his friends today. He’s worried he’ll accidentally look like a stalker (instead of deliberately, as usual). ]

Is he going to think this is me crashing your plans? I don’t like coincidences either - because you’re right, they’re usually not. If he’s not the big mystical force behind it and if he really didn’t want me to meet you, I can scram.

[ A real smile now, smaller and softer than the one he said hello with. ] I like staying on his good side.