Page 64 of After All This Time

"Tobias's dad is a bit of an asshole, so it's amazing that my mom stuck it out this long."

Although, if I'm being honest, I think her lifestyle keeps her distracted. Fancy parties, perfectly practiced smiles, the whole "keeping up appearances" thing—it's probably enough to stop her from looking too closely at how much of a piece of shit her husband is, especially when it comes to his own son.

"Were you another child of divorce? I'm one of those, but my parents were the worst together. I like them both a lot more now that they're apart."

I answer in the way I'm used to, the way that rolls off my tongue like I've said it a hundred times before. "My parents divorced when I was young, but my dad died a few years ago."

"Oh shit," Harper blurts out, her face instantly crumpling with regret. She nudges Logan sharply. "Did you know that? A little warning would've been helpful before I opened my big mouth."

I can't help but laugh. "He didn't know either. And really, it's okay. I dealt with that grief a long time ago."

Harper still looks unsure, like she's waiting for the emotional breakdown I'm clearly not having, but Logan reaches out, rubbing my shoulder in a way that's more comforting than I expected. "Well, if it isn't fine at any time, you know where we are."

Yeah, I'm going to be friends with these two forever.

Grief doesn't wear the same face for everyone. But one thing I know with absolute certainty is that my dad loved me. He'd want me to live fully, to find happiness, and to chase after everything that makes my heart race and my soul come alive.

That's why, every day, I get up and try to be the best version of myself, not just for me but for both of us. That's how I keep moving forward. It's how I carry him with me, even in a world that feels a little emptier without him.

"So are you and Tobias going together?" Harper asks, breaking me out of the moment.

"I'm assuming he'll be flying, but I'll be driving."

"You're gonna drive? All the way to Pennsylvania?"

"Yeah. I don't fly," I answer, shrugging at Logan like it's no big deal.

But it is. It's a huge deal.

After my dad's accident, flying became more than just a fear—it became this living, breathing thing inside me. His accident wasn't just a tragedy—it was a before-and-after moment. The kind that splits your life in two and changes the way you see the world. Planes didn't just become unsafe—they became unthinkable. Even the idea of boarding one makes my stomach twist in knots.

"Besides, I like driving. Road trip for one. Snacks, all the music I want—it's like a little adventure."

"Screw that, I'd be getting a flight. I hate driving. Too many assholes on the road." She's not wrong, but I'm not one of them, so that's got to boost my odds of getting there safely.

"How long does it take to get there?"

"It took my mom's driver about ten hours to get me here when I moved—give or take a couple of breaks." I watch Harper's eyebrows shoot up, climbing so high they're practically part of her hairline.

"You guys have drivers?"

I wince, feeling the awkwardness creep in. "Uh, yeah," I admit reluctantly. "But listen, as far as I'm concerned, I never told you that."

"Did you have a pony called Princess when you were a kid?" Logan teases, his grin widening, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

I flip him off with the grace of a prima ballerina. "No ponies, asshole."

"All rich kids have ponies," Harper jumps in, barely containing her laughter.

"I grew up like a normal person. No animals, no trust funds, just a kid who wanted to dance and probably ate way too many boxed mac and cheese dinners."

"You and Tobias don't seem like the usual rich assholes we meet," Harper adds.

"We've benefited in ways many people haven't, and I don't take that lightly. But I'll never be the kind of person who flaunts it or makes others feel less important because of what they don't have. That's not me. It's not Tobias either."

"Yeah," Harper says with a genuine smile that lights up her whole face, bright-green eyes sparkling. "We definitely made friends with the right person."

Tobias wasn't home when I got back, but that's not unusual. He usually works until about six.

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