Page 125 of After All This Time

"I swear—" He steps toward us, his voice dropping low.

"I'm kidding." I laugh, and Mom turns to face me. "He always offers. I'm the one who says no. And obviously, I made it home just fine."

His eyes narrow on mine, and I know that look intimately—it promises retribution later.

Worth it—my expression challenges back.

He smiles and runs his hand across his jaw when he deciphers the look on my face as easily as I did with him.

"Why are you here?" The question comes out sharper than I mean, but I don't bother softening it. My mom has a way of making herself comfortable in spaces that don't belong to her.

"David's on a business trip, but it's just a golf retreat where they pretend to work while drinking expensive scotch. I thought I'd check on you two and see how you're managing."

More like hovering because you don't trust me to handle my own life. The same way you didn't trust me to choose my own career path, pick my own clothes, or live my own life.

I can't even blame it on anything. She's just naturally this suffocating.

We settle back down, me next to her and Tobias across from us, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"Some warning would've been nice," I say, crossing my arms. "How long are you staying?"

"It was spontaneous, darling. It'll only be for a couple of nights—you won't even notice me."

"We could've set up the couch if we'd known you were coming."The words slip out, and Tobias smirks while Mom looks at me like I've suggested she sleeponthe streets.

"I am not sleeping on the couch! I'll share with you."Tobias nearly chokes on his laughter, his hand flying to his mouth to hide it,while I gape at her like she's lost her mind.

"Mom, no, I'm too old for that. You take my room. I'll crash on the couch."

"No, I'll take the couch, and Amelia can have my room."

The day Tobias voluntarily sleeps on the couch is the day hell freezes over, and the devil takes up ice skating.

"Thank you, Tobias,"she says with a smile, turning to me with a raised brow. "I really don't understand your attitude, Amelia."

"I like my space."I stand, brushing off invisible lint from my clothes, anything to keep my hands busy because right now, they're itching to wrap around her neck. "Let me go and change the sheets."

"Sit, Mills. I'vegot it."Tobias disappears down the hall as he heads for my room.

"How's it going with the company?"she asks while I sit back down.

"I've got an audition next week that I've been working my ass off for."

"What are you auditioning for?"

"It's for a minorrolein their touring show next month."

"You're leaving Chicago?"

"If I get it—which is a bigif—yeah, it'll be six months on the road."

"All over the country? Alone?"Her eyes widen like I just told her I'm running off to join a biker gang or start a cult.

"Not alone, Mom. There are dancers, directors, and production crew. My friends will be there too, so fingers crossed."

She leans back, her lips curving into a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "I have no doubt you'll do as well as you can."Her words come out sweet, but they're wrapped in thorns.

"If not, I'll try again next year,"I add, refusing to let her doubts settle in. "Most second-years who audition make it anyway, so whether it's now or later, I'll be doing it."

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