Page 140 of After All This Time

"Yeah." The excitement in the young woman's voice barely registers as my phone vibrates against the metal table, andAmelia's name lights up my screen like a beacon in the dark. My heart slams against my ribs so hard I swear the client must hear it, but I can't—won't—be that artist who half-asses the end of a session because something else caught his attention.

Even if that something else is everything.

"If you go see Lola at the front desk, she'll schedule an appointment."

"Sounds great. Thank you so much,” she says, beaming as she heads toward Lola.

The moment she’s out of earshot, I reach for my phone and step out the back.

"Mills?"

"Tobias." Her voice shakes when she speaks, and I'm already holding my breath. "I got in. They loved it." Relief slams into me so hard that I have to press my palm against the wall to stay upright.

"Fucking yes, Mills! I knew it! I fucking knew you'd do it! I told you!" Pride surges through me, and the grin on my face is so wide that it hurts.

"I can't believe it."

"We're celebrating tonight,"I tell her, and it's not a question. "Whatever you want. Wherever you want."

"Logan and Harper asked if we wanted to go to a club—dancing, drinks… We don't have to, but I said I'd ask. I'm only going if you're coming."

"Idon't care what we do. I just want to be with you."Until we can't be.The thought gnaws at me, but I shove it aside. "God, I'm so proud of you, Firefly. So fucking proud."

"Thank you. I'll see you back at the apartment, yeah?"

"I've got a piercing to do, but I'll be home in an hour, baby."

As soon as the call ends, I slip my phone back into my pocket, and Lola stares at me like she's waiting for me to trip over myself.

"What?"I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Who were you talking to?"

"Amelia. She was auditioning this morning."

"Since when do you call her baby?"She's smiling now, the kind of knowing smile that makes me want to walk the other way. "Thin walls, handsome. You know that."

"What do you want me to say, Lo?"

"That you're not stupid enough to be screwing your stepsister. Do you even realize how messy that shit's gonna get?"

"Yeah, I'm way past giving a single fuck about how messy it is."

Her eyes narrow, searching my face, and then she laughs, shaking her head. "Wow."

"What?"

"I just never thought I'd see the day."

"That's becauseshe'sbeen living in Pennsylvania the entire time you've known me."

"You always had these feelings?"She crosses her arms, leaning against the counter.

"No,"I admit, taking a sip of my water. "But she's the other half of me. Always has been, one way or another."

"Okay, I'm sorry I called you stupid. I just assumed you'd run out of pussy."

I nearly spit out my drink. "Fucking hell, Lola."

---