Page 27 of After All This Time

Cute, but she barely knows this guy.

Maybe I'm missing something—who the hell knows?

I take it she got the job.

She offers him a quick wave before turning around to walk back to the car. I start the engine, feeling the low rumble vibrate through the seat.

Amelia opens the door and slides in with the biggest smile on her face.

Am I meant to be asking how the meet-cute went?

She crosses her bare legs, one smooth calf draped over the other, and turns to face me, practically bouncing in her seat. Her excitement is contagious, but there's an itch at the back of my mind—the urge to ask about this Logan guy but I decide now is not the time to piss on her fireworks.

For now, I'll play nice and let her bask in this little glow.

"So, how'd it go?"

"Really well. Logan's parents are so nice," she replies, her face lighting up like someone flipped the sunshine switch.

"Was that him who walked you out?"

"Yeah, that's him." She tucks a strand of dark hair behind her ear before pulling her seatbelt across.

"He looks… preppy."

"I know, right? So weird for a place like this."

"Yeah, he kind of sticks out. Or does everyone in there look like they belong in a country club?"

"God, no. It was packed with bikers, which was awesome." She laughs, filling the car with that infectious sound that always settles me.

This is how we work. When she's happy, I'm happy. When she's stressed or upset, I feel it too—it's like some invisible string tethers us together. We grew up as teenagers in a house without much warmth or affection, but we had each other. We just… connected. It wasn't something we ever had to work at or force—it was just there, like it had always been waiting. Ourparents' dating threw us together, but it felt like I'd finally found something I'd been missing my entire life.

When I moved away for college, it was the longest stretch we had ever gone without seeing each other. It felt strange, like I left a piece of myself behind, but then I stayed away, so how much I missed her was entirely on me. Every phone call and every text reminded me that we were still us—still connected, still the same, no matter how far apart we were.

And I don't think that will ever change.

Chapter 11

Amelia

I've been shadowing Logan for the past three nights, watching every drink poured and soaking up everything he's been teaching me, including how to handle the rowdy regulars. Tonight, it's different.It's my first shift without him, and my stomach feels like it's hosting an entire circus.

Tobias dropped me off earlier, practically threatening to wait with me like I was a teenager being sent off to their first job. I had to firmly tell him no because there's only so much overprotective hovering I can take before I snap.

He's coming to pick me up later, but I really need to buy my own car.

"Hey, sweetie. Are you ready for this tonight?" Rachel's hands are splayed on the wooden counter, her chipped burgundy nails drumming to the Pat Benatar track crackling through the speakers.

There's something about Logan's mom that makes this place feel less like a dive and more like home—if home came withsticky floors, a fully stocked liquor shelf, and the faint, ever-present smell of stale beer that clings to everything.

"I think so," I reply with a laugh that sounds way more convincing than it feels.

"I'll be here all night, so if you need anything, just yell. It shouldn't be too busy. Thursdays are usually pretty quiet as Daz and the rest of the boys take their bikes out for a meetup."

Thank God.

I keep myself busy behind the bar, my hands constantly moving as I wipe down glasses and make sure the liquor is fully stocked, all while serving drinks with a level of confidence I didn't know I had in me. It feels good to be out here, surrounded by people—different faces, fresh stories, new energy. Admittedly, it's a little rough around the edges—scuffed floors that have seen better days, dim lighting that could probably use an upgrade, and the odd barstool that looks like it's seen one too many brawls. But that's part of the charm. There's an undeniable comfort about it, and I think it's mostly due to Logan and his family.

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