Page 37 of Until We Meet Again

"I can't say I expected to see you here tonight, let alone looking like this, Blondie." He openly stares at my body, not feeling any shame in doing so, and even though the only person I want toreceive that kind of attention from is Zane, slightly-drunk me doesn't completely hate it.

"How many girls have you said that to tonight?"

"Only six. You can be lucky number seven."

"Cute, but don't let me stop you from finding unlucky number eight."

"Number eight isn't even on my radar, Blondie."

For a moment, I fix my eyes on him. "You know, you're not as smooth as you think you are, Tobias." He rubs his hand across his jaw, smiling down at me from his six-foot-everything height.

"No?" I shake my head at him, both of us laughing. "Damn, I guess I'll have to work on that."

Rolling my eyes, I accept his outstretched arm and link mine with his. I feel the warmth of his skin against mine, but despite him being the perfect guy for a rebound, I don't feel even a fraction of what I do when Zane touches me.

"This is oddly gentlemanly of you." I look up at him, and he keeps his focus forward.

"I can be one when I feel like it."

"And right now, you feel like it?"

"No, not at all, especially when you're looking like that," he answers with his eyes fixed straight ahead. As he walks me through the house, he speaks to practically everyone we pass.

Finally, Harry and Jen appear, and as we approach them, we catch them during a highly heated make out session—the second time this has happened to me now—which Tobias gives zero fucks about interrupting as he leans into Harry's ear.

"At the very least, I take the girl to my room before grinding against her like a rabid dog." As they part, I can't help but laugh, and Jen grins as she rests her head against Harry's chest. Tobias hands me a shot before clinking my glass with his, and we both drink. "This is where I leave you, Blondie. Have a good night,yeah?" He gives me a wink before setting his glass back on the kitchen countertop and walking away until he's out of sight.

"What was that about?" Jen asks, her brows liftingas she stares at me.

"It was just Tobias being Tobias. You know how he is."

"He's a player, and he'll never change," Erik says, lifting his beer to his lips.

"He's your friend," I remind him, and he bursts out laughing.

"Doesn't make it any less true."

My phone vibrates in my back pocket, and my heart races when I see the familiar number appear on the screen with a new message.

He wouldn't show up. There's no way.

Z: I'm outside, and I'd appreciate it if you'd come and talk to me about what the hell is happeninghere. P.S. Despite my behavior today, I want your rawtruth, Tessa.

I read it once, then twice, just to be sure. My palms start to sweat, my body begins to overheat, and I wish I were either a lot drunker than I am or not at all.

"What's wrong?" Jen asks, and I take her hand, leading her away from Harry and Erik. She narrows her eyes as I turn the phone so she can look at the message. "He's here?" she asks quietly while I quickly tap on his location.

"What should I do?"

"Go see him. Nothing is worth getting kicked out of school for, so you need to end this." She makes it sound so simple, but in truth, it's anything but. This feeling isn't one I can just switch off. "I'll be fine here. Go and talk to him, but let me know you're okay."

After downing another shot to boost my confidence, I make my way out of the house. The music is loud, and the bass thumpsin my chest as I navigate my way through the crowd of people dancing by the front door, trying not to bump into anyone while squeezing past them and ignoring the heady scent of sweat and alcohol.

As I step out of the house, I notice car lights flickering in the distance. I stroll towards the passenger side, doing my best to maintain an air of calm despite the rapid beating of my heart. Straining my eyes, I desperately try to catch a glimpse of himthrough his window. I slide in next to him, and all I can do is keep my eyes forward while trying to keep my emotions under control.

"Look at me, Tessa."

I reluctantly turn my head to face him, and the moment I see the gold glinting in his hazel eyes, I know I'm screwed. Getting into this car was probably the stupidest thing I could've done since there's no way this will end without one of us giving in to the feelings we're having.

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