Page 21 of After All This Time

"I think I could've if we'd explored it. But we didn't, and now it's just purely platonic. She's one of my favorite people, and our relationship is different. It's comfortable, you know? There's no pressure, no expectations. I'm completely at ease with her, and she is with me." I nod, pretending his words haven't just struck me in a place I never even realized was vulnerable.

My stomach twists, and I try to ignore it, but a tight, possessive feeling coils in my chest. I hate it. I shouldn't feel this way—not about Tobias, and definitely not about Tessa, who's as kind as they come. I should be happy he has someone like her in his life. And I am. But also… I'm not. And that's an ugly thing to admit.

I gaze out the window, staring at the trees as they blur by in a smear of green and gold, trying to focus on the world outside this car. The energy between us shifts, and I know it's coming from me. I also know Tobias can feel it because he's annoyingly perceptive.

"What is it?" he asks, glancing at me as if waiting for me to say something.

"What?"

"What did I say?"

There's a hint of worry in his voice, and I hate that I've made him feel like he's done something wrong because he hasn't. Not even a little. This is all me—me and my stupid, unexpected jealousy.

"Nothing."

"Mills…"

I sigh, my fingers sliding down to the hem of my shirt, fumbling with the cotton to give my hands something to do.

"I just… I know you find opening up to people difficult, so it's nice that you have someone like her in your life."

The truth is, it bothers me in a way I can't fully explain, and I hate that side of me—a side that I didn't even know existed until I saw him and Tessa together. Jesus, how can I be jealous of their friendship? It's fucked-up, and I know it.

"Amelia?"

"Yeah?" I say, keeping my voice as light as possible to hide that I'm spiraling into a pool of insecurity.

"Tessa's not the only person in my life who I'm comfortable with." I smile at him to let him know I'm fine, but as his eyes dart between me and the road, I can tell he doesn't believe me. "It's different from what we have. You're the closest person to me. You always have been, and if I ever needed anyone, you'd be the first person I'd come to."

I raise an eyebrow, ready to do anything to lose this weight off my chest. "Should I feel flattered or worried that I'm your emotional safety net?"

He laughs, and with that, the tension between us begins to ease. "I'm serious, Firefly. I wouldn't have gotten through these last few years without you. You're who I'm calling at three a.m. if I need anything."

I bite down on my lip as I try to suppress the grin forming on my face. "You know I'm ignoring the hell out of that call, right?"

"I call bullshit," he says, throwing me the side-eye. "You know you'd answer. Just like I always would if it were you."

Chapter 9

Amelia

It's the middle of the week, and I'm losing my mind. The Gossip Girl episodes blur together, a background noise to my mindless Instagram scroll, with each reel more mind-numbing than the last.

If dancing weren't my salvation, I'd have gone stir-crazy weeks ago.

Next week promises something different. My first day with the dance company—it's just an induction, but I can't wait to get there. Knowing I'll be back in a real studio, surrounded by others who live and breathe the same passion as me, excites me. It motivates me. But right now, I feel like I'm stuck in this too-big, too-empty apartment. Tobias is either working or off doing God knows what, and I'm left here alone, playing princess in the tower, waiting for something to distract me.

Feeling deflated and needing a little purpose, I reach out to the one person I know in this city who isn't my stepbrother. Myfingers hover over my phone for a moment before I finally hit send.

AMELIA

Hey, Harper. How are you? I was wondering if you knew of any job openings? I swear I've got cabin fever, and if I don't get out of here soon, I'm going to start having full-blown conversations with myself.

Not even five minutes pass before my phone buzzes, the screen lighting up with Harper’s name.

HARPER

All good here, thank you. Logan's parents own a bar, so you could always ask him.I'll send over his number.

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