Page 148 of After All This Time

"With Tobias," Tessa adds, and something in her voice makes my heart squeeze.

She's his closest friend, and I can see how much it means to her that maybe—just maybe—he's found someone who makes him happy.

That someone being me.

Wine drunk is a different kind of magic. The kind that makes everything feel soft around the edges and turns regular Friday nights into something special.

Like literal sloths, we sprawl across Jen's living room, riding that perfect buzz where everything's funny and nothing hurts.

"Listen," Jen announces, her words a littleslurred. "When I get married—and this is nonnegotiable—Harry better be ready because I'm having a Disney princess party for one."

"So Harry's not invited to his own wedding?"Tessaasks.

Jen waves her hand dramatically. "I meant for two, obviously. Oh god, and then there's all of you." She starts counting on her fingers, squinting like the math is more complicated thanit should be. "Okay, so maybe a twelve-person princess party. That's reasonable, right?"

"Have you told Harry about these very specific details?"I ask, swirling the last bit of wine in my glass.

"Absolutely not.I'mpretty sure he'd run away from me as fast as possible if he even knew I'd mentioned weddings."

"Bullshit,"I say, shaking my head. "I haven't known you guys that long, but trust me, he is all in for you. He looks at you the way Damon looks at Elena."

The room goes dead quiet, andJen's eyebrows shoot up like they're trying to escape her face. "You better be talking about Salvatore and Gilbert right now."

I laugh, nodding without shame, and Tessa leansforwardwith a grin, tilting the bottle until the last drops of wine splash into our glasses. "I knew I liked you. And for the record, I don't really like anyone."

"That's it."Jen fumbles for the remote. "We have to watch it now. It's basically the law."

She pulls up Netflix,and withinmoments, the screen flickers to life, and the tortured expression of Stefan Salvatore fills the room as he mourns what he thinks is the loss of his brother.

We settle in, and whether it's the wine or just one of those perfect moments, everything feels right.

Tessa raises her glass."To princess weddings that Harry doesn't know about yet,the Salvatore brothers,and friends who don't suck."The sound of our glasses clinking mingles with soft laughter, and I sink deeper into the couch, savoring this moment.

These are the nights that become memories, the kind you look back on years later and think,That's when I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.

The room fills with our overlapping voices and laughter as we watch,andone episode bleedsinto two.

Before we know it, the front door swings open. Harry walks in first, with Tobias right behind him, and my stomach flips as butterflies take off the second his eyes find mine.

Harry surveys our collection of empty wine bottles with amusement, and both guys nod their approval in a way that makes them seem more like proud parents than anything else.

"Not this again." Harry dramatically collapses onto the floor by Jen's feet. "How many times are you going to make everyone watch this?"

"Why are you even acting like you didn't cry when Damon and Bonnie just poofed into oblivion?" Jen shoots back.

"I did not cry." Harry's mouth drops open, and he swivels tofaceTobias."I swear, man, I had something in my eye."

Tobias settles next to me on the couch arm, close enough that I can feel the warmth radiating from him. "No judgment here, brother."

"You know what?" Tessa's wine-brightened eyes study Tobias thoughtfully. "You've always reminded me of Damon."

Tobias raises an eyebrow at her. "I'll take it."

"Seriously." She waves her wine glass for emphasis. "It hit me when we first met—the hair, the clothes, that whole… vibe you've got going on."

"What vibe?" His lips quirk with curiosity.

"The asshole vibe," I tease, gently nudging him with my elbow.

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