Page 53 of After All This Time

Amelia, of course, is handling it exactly as I expected her to—as if nothing had happened, and whatever sparked between us that night was simply the result of too much tequila and our mutual misdirected, pent-up frustration.

The thing about Mills and me is that we're too familiar, too in sync, to actually hide anything from each other. But if she wants to pretend, then I guess that's what we’re doing. I'll play this game her way and keep up the act if it means she's okay.

I pull up to Zane and Tessa's place, headlights casting shadows across the driveway as I slide in next to Tessa's car. I've been here for dinner more times than I can count, and tonight, Tessa'smade pasta, and there's no way I'm passing on a homemade meal.

As I step out of the car, the cool evening air gently brushes against my skin, and I swear I can already smell the faint hint of garlic and basil drifting out to greet me.

The door opens, and there she is—the radiant little blonde with a smile that brightens up the whole space as she holds the door open for me.

"Hey, Blondie." I duck inside, dropping a quick kiss on her head just as Zane comes strolling down the stairs. "Thought you said he was out tonight," I tease, raising an eyebrow at her. "You promised I'd get to see your bedroom again."

She swats my shoulder with a roll of her eyes. "It's like you want to be punched."

"Don't threaten me with a good time," I shoot back, but Zane just laughs, clapping a friendly hand on my shoulder as he walks past us and heads toward the kitchen.

I follow, still grinning, watching them both settle into that effortless rhythm most people spend their entire lives searching for and never find. And here I am, right in the middle of it, soaking up what they share.

"Beer?" Zane offers as he reaches into the fridge, but he's already pulling two bottles out before I can answer and has a wine glass ready for Tessa.

"Yeah, please." He hands me a bottle and settles beside her, leaning back against the counter as she moves around the stove.

"You good?" Tessa asks as she stirs the food simmering in the pan. I nod, taking a slow sip of my beer. "It was nice to see you the other night with Amelia."

"She had a good time," I say, leaning back with a grin. "Started crushing on you, though, Professor. But don't worry—I let her down easy and told her you only screw your students. She's over it now."

Tessa bursts into laughter, and Zane just shakes his head, clearly unimpressed but amused all the same. We've hit this sweet spot, the three of us, where he knows exactly when I'm joking around and doesn't get defensive—he just lets it roll off him.

It's a good place, a weirdly comfortable one.

"I'm playing," I add. "She just got hit with the Calloway effect for a few seconds."

Tessa raises an eyebrow and matches my smirk with one of her own. "Coming from the college playboy? You've been surrounded by women since the day we met."

"Speaking of," I say, leaning back against the counter, letting the edge of the beer bottle dangle between my fingers, "you don't have any single friends lying around, do you?"

"You know I don't socialize outside our circle. So I guess it's just you."

"Works for me. I'm pretty into myself, anyway." Tessa laughs, bumping me with her hip as she heads back to the stove, grabs the plates, and starts to dish out the food.

I take a couple of plates and follow her into the dining room. Once we settle into our seats, I dive into the food like it's the first real meal I've had in days.

"This is so good, Blondie," I say between mouthfuls. "Think I'm just going to start showing up more often."

"You're always welcome. You can bring Amelia too if she feels like it."

"Yeah, I'll ask when I see her."

Zane raises an eyebrow, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Don't you two live together?"

"We haven't crossed paths in the last few days."

"What did you do?" Tessa's eyes drill into me from across the table.

"Nothing. We've both been busy."

Lie.

I don't usually bullshit Tessa. Lying is not my thing—not with anyone, but definitely not with her. Yet here I am, sitting across from her and Zane, skirting around a conversation I don't even know how to start.

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