Page 146 of After All This Time

"It's raining out. We can't let those fluffy sheep on your feet get wet now, can we?" I lean in and press a soft kiss to his cheek in thanks.

Once we pull up to Jen and Harry's place, Tobias steps out into the rain like it's nothing, the downpour soaking him instantly. He strides to my side of the car and opens the door, lifting me into his arms and holding me tight against his chest.

His shirt clings to him, and rain drips from his hair and catches on his eyelashes, but his focus stays on me.

"I got you," he murmurs, and I swear to god, I melt. Not just metaphorically—I literally feel myself dissolving into him, becoming something boneless and weightless.

When Tessa opens the door, she's standing in a pair of brightly colored Care Bears pajamas. Her hair is pulled up into a messy bun, with a few loose blonde strands framing her face, makingher look cute as hell. The second her eyes land on us, her entire face lights up, and a wide grin spreads across her lips.

"Where do you want her?" Tobias asks, completely deadpan, as if showing up at someone's door with me in his arms is the most normal thing in the world.

Tessa steps aside, holding the door open and pointing toward the living room."In there works," she says, still giggling.

"You know I could've walked from the door."

He throws me a look that says we both know that's not happening—not when he wants me exactly where he can touch me.

Jen glances up from where she's arranging pillows on the couch, a smile tugging at her lips as she watches Tobias gently lower me down.

"You know what you guys are doing tonight?" she asks.

Tobias straightens, his hands sliding into his pockets as his gaze flicks to mine. "We're gonna shoot some pool and have a couple of beers."

His words are for Jen, but his eyes are fixed on me, and for a moment, the world around us seems to fade. The memory hits us both at once—the last time he played pool.

That night at our parents' house.

The night everything between us really began.

Tessa bursts back into the room, her Care Bear pajamas swishing against her legs.

"How come you didn't go with the professor? I thought things were serious between you two."Tessa elbows him as she walks by, earning an exaggerated grunt. "Ouch,Blondie, no need to get vicious," he mutters, rubbing his ribs with a smirk.

"I couldn't get the time off work," she says, dropping onto the couch beside me. "Besides, it's good for Zane to go and spend some time with his family. I'll go next time."

"I don't know about that. Families are pretty overrated," he says, and we all hear the meaning behind the words. The history that doesn't need explaining.

Jen raises a brow, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she smirks at him. "What are you talking about? Your parents sound awesome."

Tobias gives her the bird just as Harry strolls into the room with a beer in hand and a smile on his face.

"Hey, you ready?"

"Of course I am. I'm waiting on your ass," Tobias fires back at him. "Damn, you smell good, man. This for me?" He leans in toward Harry, dramatically sniffing him.

Harry grins, his voice dropping into a playful, low drawl. "You know it, baby."

Tobias rolls his eyes, shoving Harry with that perfect mix of brotherly bullshit and genuine affection.

"Let's leave these beautiful women to do whatever it is they do,"Tobiassays as Harry turns to Jen and presses his lips against hers in a tender kiss.

Then Tobias is there, in my space, his mouth finding mine like muscle memory. The kiss is soft, barely there, but it sets off fireworks under my skin.

"So this is what it feels like to be a fifth wheel," Tessa teases, playfully rolling her eyes at all of us.

"You want some love too, baby girl?"

Before she can tell Harry where to shove it, both guys descend on her like oversized puppies, planting exaggerated kisses on her head while she shrieks with laughter.

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