Page 46 of After All This Time

There's a voice somewhere in the back of my head, weak and half-assed, mumbling something about "boundaries" and "bad decisions." But as my gaze traces the line of her collarbone, I'm two seconds away from telling that voice to shut the fuck up and never speak to me again.

I know the risks and what's waiting on the other side if I make the wrong choice here. But as I stare at her, my pulse pounding against every last shred of willpower I have left, I'm starting to think it's not a question of if I'll break—it's when.

The alcohol's hit, and now my dick's officially running shit here.

"You good over there?" I need her to sit up properly so I can pull my mind out of the gutter and stop staring at the curve of her neck like I'm about to go full-on ripper Stefan.

And yeah, I only know who that is because Tessa had me watchingThe Vampire Diariesas part of her "breakup recovery plan." According to her, nothing fixes a broken heart like watching two vampires fight over the same girl for what felt likea thousand seasons. I may or may not have started taking sides, and let's just say, I now understand the Damon hype.

"I'm fine," she says, flashing me a tipsy smile. "Your friends are really nice. I get why you wouldn't want to leave what you have here."

I wonder if she has any idea how deep our connection runs for me because it's not just about my friends—it's her too.

She walked back into my life like she never left, and suddenly everything made sense again. I could never go back to those empty years without her, trying to pretend it didn't matter.

"I'm glad you like them."

"I can see why you had a thing for Tessa, you know? She's awesome… but I also get why you never got the girl." She starts laughing, and I shake my head. "Because Zane? Wow. Just… wow."

"You done, Firefly?" I laugh, standing up and grabbing her empty glass. "You want another?"

She scrunches her nose—which should not be as fucking adorable as it is—and looks toward the bar. She catches her bottom lip between her teeth, and God, my cock's already half-hard just watching her mouth.

"Can I have a shot instead?"

"Yeah, you want me to pick?" She nods, already pulling some cash out of her purse. "Put it away, Mills, Jesus."

I walk up to the bar, which is nearly empty now, and Dani's smile lights up her face the moment she spots me.

"Same again, handsome?" she asks, leaning in a little closer than necessary.

"No, just two tequilas, and I'll settle up." I watch as she lines up two glasses of clear liquid on a tray beside a plate with lime slices and a salt shaker.

"You heading out soon?"

"Probably after this," I say, keeping it casual.

"You wanna hang out instead?"

I know what Dani is offering, and honestly, I should say yes. I should want to say yes.

I need something to ease this tension that's been clawing at me all night, especially since acting on it with the one person I really want is out of the question.

We've kissed a couple of times, and I'd be lying if I said the attraction wasn't there once. But right now, with Amelia monopolizing every corner of my mind, Dani might as well be offering to show me her stamp collection for all the heat it's generating.

Because apparently, my dick's developed standards—very specific, very forbidden, very brunette standards.

"I can't leave Amelia to get home alone, but maybe some other time." The lie tastes stale on my tongue, but I wrap it in a polite smile anyway.

I tap my phone against the reader, hoping it doesn't come off as dismissive. But before I can tuck it away, Dani takes my phone from my hand, her fingers brushing against mine as she does.

"Take her home and then come by mine if you want. I've got some beers," she says, typing in what I assume is her number before slipping my phone back to me with the kind of look that says she's already decided where this night is going.

As my gaze drifts to the mirror behind the bar, I see Amelia's reflection, and a twinge of guilt twists in my chest. I tell myself to pull it together, to remind myself that this thing in my head is nothing but lust, but my brain and my dick are pushing two different agendas right now. One is trying to keep it casual, and the other is confusing attraction with something that feels way too close to more. And staring back at Amelia, I can't even tell which side is winning.

Chapter 18

Amelia

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