Page 12 of After All This Time

"Tell you what," I say, moving closer to her. "Why don't I arrange something so my friends can all meet you properly?"

She raises a brow, clearly unimpressed with me. "You're doing that out of pity, and it makes me feel lame as shit."

I can't help the laugh that bursts out of me. "Baby, you are lame." Her eyes narrow, but I keep going. "But they're gonna love you anyway. They've been riding my ass about meeting you. I just thought…" I trail off, running a hand through my hair. "I don't know what I thought…Maybe you had a lot going on."

"Yeah, I'm swamped with absolutely fuck all," she bites out, staring at me like she's ready to slap me.

"I'll ask them to do something, but I'm warning you, they'll fuss over you like you're some shiny new toy."

That smile hits different.

It lights up her whole face.

Worth it.

"I can't wait to trade stories with them."

"Are you threatening me, Firefly? Because I have a lot on you too." I smirk down at her, throwing an arm around the back of the couch behind her.

She holds up her pinkie, and fuck me if it isn't the cutest thing I've seen all day. "No secret-spilling. Deal?"

I hook my pinkie with hers, and something warm spreads through my chest. "Deal. Now get your drunk ass to bed. I don't want you breaking anything else tonight because I'm not in the mood to clean up after you."

I push to my feet, reaching down to help her up. She takes my hand, but as she rises, she stumbles forward, crashing straight into my chest. Her fingers dig into my shoulders to steady herself, and Jesus—those nails pressing into my skin send my mind straight to hell, imagining nails dragging down my back, and no—absolutely fucking not.

I instinctively reach out and grip her waist to keep her upright. "Whoa, you good?" I ask, my voice sounding a little more hoarse than I intended.

She keeps her face down, that curtain of dark hair hiding whatever expression she's wearing, but I hear the giggle. I feel it vibrate through her body where she's pressed against me before she gently pushes me away.

"See you tomorrow, Tobias."

"Night, Mills," I reply, my hands slipping into my pockets as I watch her walk to her bedroom. Her door clicks shut, and I head back to my room, trying to shake off whatever the hell that was.

I collapse onto my bed, remote in one hand while the other cradles my head, trying to focus on Netflix's endless scroll of shit I won't watch. But I can't focus on anything. I'm agitated right now—my mind is restless, and my whole body's coiled tight. My dick has been semi-hard for what feels like forever, and even the briefest touch from Amelia made me twitch.

She's a beautiful girl. Always has been. But she's my friend, my pain-in-the-ass stepsister, and my roommate, and even though we're close, it's not like that between us.We don't blur those lines—not now, not ever.

Still, it's been way too long since I've been with anyone, and the feel of those delicate hands on my shoulders is enough to remind me just how on edge I am.

I place the remote down next to me, running a hand over the bulge in my sweatpants, hoping this hard-on will fuck right off.

I need to get laid.

I grab my phone from the nightstand and begin scrolling through my contacts.

There are a lot of names—women I know, women I've slept with. I'm not going to pretend I didn't screw my way through college because I did, and I don't regret a second of it.

I love women, and I love sex.

It is what it is.

I stop scrolling when I hit Roxy Chambers's name. She's fun, uncomplicated, and exactly what I need right now. No drama, no expectations, and no strings. Without letting myself overthink it, I shoot her a message.

TOBIAS

Drinks tomorrow night?

ROXY

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