Page 42 of After All This Time

"Tobias Sinclair," she purrs, her smile widening as we get closer. "Haven't seen you in a while."

Of course he knows her.

She looks like she was practically custom-made for him, every single inch of her screaminghis type. Sure, Tobias doesn't have a lip piercing like hers, but he's got a nose ring, his ears are pierced, and let's not forget the nipple piercings, which I've definitely had to pretend not to notice on more than one occasion. They shouldn't make him hotter, but they do, not that the gorgeous prick needs any extra help with that.

"How are you doing, Dani? You're looking well." Tobias leans against the bar, his large, tattooed hands splayed across the counter.

His energy is magnetic, drawing attention even when he doesn't try, and the way Dani's eyes light up at the sight of him says she feels it too.

I get it. I hate that I get it, but I do.

"Thanks, handsome. You're looking good yourself," she replies, her smile widening in an almost predatory way. "And who's this?"

"Amelia," I say, forcing a polite smile even as irritation begins to creep in.

Every instinct in me is itching to walk back to the table and sit down—anything to avoid watching whatever is about to unfold between these two.

"You two together?"

Well, she clearly gives zero fucks about subtlety.

Her eyes drag up and down my body, sizing me up like I'm nothing more than competition standing in her way.

But I'm not competition—I never have been, and I never will be.

"No," I reply, maybe a bit too fast, needing the word out like I have to remind myself of what we are and what we've always been—family. "He's my brother—well, stepbrother."

"Okay, good to know." Dani's tone is smug, almost satisfied, like she's just crossed me off an invisible checklist. I can feel Tobias's eyes burning into the side of my face, gauging my reaction and probably wondering why I answered the way I did. But I can't look at him—I keep my focus firmly on Dani, who's now eye-fucking him like she's planning their sleepover tonight.

Tobias rattles off our order, and I stand beside him, watching as the inked-up blonde gets to work on the drinks.

"So, you know her well?" I ask, nudging my head toward Dani.

"Kind of."

"Kind of," I echo back. I lean in slightly, lowering my voice until it's barely above a whisper, forcing him to read the words straight from my lips. "That means you fucked her."

"No, actually. I haven't fucked her."

"You've made out, at least." The words come out accusatory, hungry for details I have no right to want, but he doesn't answer. He just keeps watching me, and even though I wish I didn't care, some part of me does.

"Are you judging me, Firefly?" His blue eyes hold mine, and right now, they're blazing with fire. There are no games, no bullshit—just this raw, stripped-down intensity that makes my ribs feel too tight for my lungs.

"Have I ever judged you?"

He leans in so close that his breath ghosts over my cheek, his voice dropping to a whisper meant only for me. "You tell me."

For a moment, the world falls away, and it's just us—nothing else exists.

That look.

Jesus. Fucking. Christ.

It makes my knees weak in a way I'll never admit.

"There you go." Dani's voice shatters the moment like a brick through glass as she sets the drinks down before us, her eyes fixed on Tobias. "You want a tab?"

I can't decide if I want to thank her or throat punch her for interrupting us.

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