Page 130 of After All This Time

"Exactly, I do know how he gets. Which is why I know when something's wrong with him," I snap, leaning forward, my eyes narrowing. "What aren't you telling me?"

"I think you're reading too much into this, but then you've always been a little dramatic when it comes to your stepbrother." She stirs cream into her fresh coffee, the silver spoon clinking against bone china in that precise way she does everything. "I've beenthinking that maybeyou should get your own place."

"Excuse me?" The shock must be written all over my face.

She was the one who insisted on this arrangement in the first place, considering her nervous wreck of a self had three separate panic attacks at the thought of me living alone in the city.

"You've been living with Tobias for a while now." Her voice takes on that patronizing lilt that makes me want to gouge my eyes out. "I'm sure he doesn't want you in his pocket forever.And since you'll be leaving for a few months anyway, it's the perfect time to set you up in your own space."

I blink at her, struggling to process what she is saying. "I'm sorry, what?"

She laughs—that practiced, society-wife trill that sets my teeth on edge. The waiter arrives with our food, and she uses the interruption to slip back into her perfect mother facade, arranging her napkin just so.

"I was speaking with Tobias this morning, and he mentioned that the only downside of living with his sister is that he can't date like he used to."

"You'reso full of shit."

Her head snaps up, the mask slipping just enough to reveal the viper lurking beneath.

"Neither of you can live separate lives while you're stuck in this little bubble together," she says, her voice rising slightly. "It's time you both grew up, gained some independence, and had your own space. So, after this, we'll be viewing apartments."

My fork clangs against the plate as I set it down, and her eyes dart around the room, no doubt checking who's watching because appearances are all she cares about.

"I'm a fucking adult, and I absolutely won't be doing that."

"You will," she snaps, her composure cracking as she leans forward. "My realtor set up a few viewings, and we're going."

I stand abruptly, my chair scraping againstthemarble like nails on a chalkboard.

"Sit down, Amelia," she hisses through gritted teeth.

"Firstly, Tobias and I both have independence. He left for years to get away from you and David, and I don't know if you've noticed—maybe because you've never existed without a man's validation—but I'm not some porcelain doll who needs bubble wrap and constant supervision."

"Amelia!"

"Secondly," I continue, ignoring her, "get a flight back home today. I'm serious, Mom."

Her mouth moves, forming words I can't hear over the roar of my own pulse. I'm already gone, moving faster than my thoughts as I storm out of the restaurant.

By the time I'm in my car, my hands are shaking so badly I can barely grip the wheel. When I finally manage to pull onto the road, Chicago traffic wraps around me like a special kind of hell—all brake lights and horns and the overwhelming urge to scream until my throat bleeds.

The apartment door slams against the wall as I burst in and head straight to Tobias's room.

He's gone.

My chest tightens, my pulse racing as I spin on my heel, scanning every corner of the apartment, but there's no sign of him.

I pull my phone from my pocket, my fingers shaking as I call him. Twice. Both calls go unanswered, and my stomach knots tighter as I fire off a text.

AMELIA

I just left my mom at Laurent's because she was talking some shit about me moving out. Whatever's going on, I need you to call me and tell me before she finds her way back here.

The pacing starts around the living room, my frustration rising with every unanswered call and question.

I can't sit still, and my thoughts are too loud, crashing against each other as I try to piece together what the hell is going on.

Because I'm fucking missing something here, and I need to know what it is.

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