Page 133 of After All This Time

"What are you doing here?"

Harry's smug face says it all before he even opens his mouth. "I messaged her." He shrugs, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "Figured you might need someone to ugly-cry on."

The laugh that escapes me feels like releasing a breath I've been holding all day. My shoulders drop an inch, and some of the tension bleeds out.

After I walk Tessa through the morning's shit show, she fixes me with that look. The one that says I'm being the world's biggest dumbass.

"You've got to talk to Amelia about all this. You need to tell her everything."

"I know." I drag a hand across my jaw, the ache in my chest growing heavier. "I just hope her mom hasn't poisoned her." My voice lowers as the thought eats at me. "She and her mom didn't have money growing up. Kayla married into all this when she got with my dad, but she acts like she's been shitting cash since she came out of the womb and essentially believes she can control Amelia's every move."

Tessa winces, crossing her arms. "I knew you had money, but this sounds like a fucking nightmare and really not worth it."

"I have money because my gramps left it to me before he died. It just sits in an account, untouched, because I haven't earneda cent of it. One day, I'll do something that matters with it, but for now?" I shake my head. "It's just a constant reminder of everything fucked-up about my childhood."

Tessa's lips curl into a smirk, trying to lighten the moment. "I mean, if you don't want to spend it, I'll happily take some."

"In all seriousness, if any of you ever needed anything, all you'd have to do is ask. It's yours. Because growing up in this privileged life?" I pause, my voice hardening. "It's brought me nothing but fucking misery. If I can help you, or anyone I care about, then maybe all of it—the money, the expectations, the bullshit—maybe it'll all have been worth it."

"Can I say something to you?" Tessa asks, her tone soft, but when I turn to face her, I already know she's about to drop her truth on me.

"Course."

"The woman who gave birth to you is a piece of shit. She walked out on you, and yeah, that's left its mark on who you are and shaped pieces of you. However, you are better off without her in your life. You've got people who'll never leave you, who choose you and love you, and that's all you need."

"Even me, I guess," Jen pipes up, and I can't help but laugh as I drag Tessa into my chest.

"Jesus, we're getting fucking sappy here," I mumble, but my arms tighten around her. "Love you assholes though."

I stay a little longer, carefully avoiding any mention of Amelia, but she haunts my thoughts like a shadow.

Back in my car, my phone lights up with her messages.

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.

I'm an asshole.

AMELIA

You know what? Friends aren't meant to ghost friends when they're having their worst day. I'm at work, but I'll talk to you later when I'm home if you can get your head out of your ass.

My lips curl despite the guilt eating at me. She's furious, but that fire in her… fuck, it only makes me want her more. And suddenly, I'm done—so fucking done—with thisfriendbullshit. In fact, I'm ready to fuck the wordfriendright out of her pretty little mouth and replace it with moans and promises that tell the world she's mine.

Chapter 51

Amelia

The bottles rattle as I drop the crate onto the counter with enough force to make Rachel wince.

"Hey, you okay, girlie?"

"All good," I mutter, not even bothering to look in her direction.

"Right," she says slowly, crossing her arms. "I'm going to take that as a no. But look, we're dead today. Why don't you head home? Daz and I can manage."

I'm about to argue when my head snaps up, and blue eyes pin me in place as Tobias walks into the bar. Usually, those eyes would floor me, but right now, I want to smash a bottle over his head for the way he ghosted me today.

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