Page 86 of After All This Time

"Hey, how are you? My mom told me you'd be here tonight." He leans in, brushing a kiss against my cheek, and when he pulls back, he's standing closer than he was before.

"I'm great, thank you," he says, flashing that same boyish grin he's always had. "You look lovely, by the way. I finally get to see you in a dress."

"Thank you." I laugh, smoothing the fabric over my hip. "Are you really going to hang that over me forever?"

"Forever," he confirms, eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Please. You hooked up with Michaela Prince after prom. I'd say you recovered just fine."

"That was post-rejection heartbreak, okay? Seeing you walk in with Allison instead? Absolute kick in the balls."

"Allison and I have always been inseparable. You should've known that. Now, if you'd asked us both, you might've gotten a different answer."

His eyes light up as he raises a brow. "Well, I don't totally hate that idea."

"Of course you don't." I roll my eyes with a grin.

He laughs, his gaze dropping as his thumb drags along the rim of his glass.

"So how's it going in Chicago?"

"Really great, thank you. I made the right choice by moving." I glance at him, taking him in fully for the first time tonight.

He's changed over the last couple of years. We didn't really keep in touch after high school, but the boy I remember has clearly grown up. His sandy-brown hair is slicked back, and a bit of facial hair outlines his strong jaw. He's always been handsome, but now it's in a more mature, refined way.

Back then, I just wasn't into him like that. And honestly, the reason for that is becoming more obvious as the days go on.

"What about you? Mom mentioned you're working for David now."

"My dad's one of his clients, and he said David's company is the one I should aim for."

"Well, my mom said he was impressed with you."

He grins, a flash of teeth that's both charming and a little cocky. "I hardly gave him a chance to say no. You know how direct I am."

"Oh, I remember. 'Amelia, I'm taking you to prom, and I can't wait to see you in a dress.'"

Bryce groans, running a hand down his face, but he's laughing. "God, that's embarrassing now."

"Come on," I say with an easy laugh, motioning toward the bar. "Let's get a drink. And maybe, if I get drunk enough, I'll out-humiliate you, and that prom offer will slip into a black hole of forgotten memories."Bryce steps aside, gesturing for me to go ahead, but as I turn, I'm met with Tobias's gaze. He's sitting on a barstool, his legs splayed out in that infuriatingly casual way that screams confidence. One hand hangs lazily at his side, gripping his drink, while the other rests on his knee, fingers tapping in an almost bored rhythm. But his eyes are locked on me with a heat that makes my stomach flip, and I swear, I almost melt right there.

Tobias looks… lethal, not in the obvious way—not in the way that makes you run. No, Tobias is dangerous like midnight promises and back-alley kisses—the kind of danger that whispers, "Come closer," even when your brain is screaming to back away.

Each step I take toward him feels heavier, like the universe is conspiring to drag me into whatever chaos he's offering.

My breath caught in my throat when Tobias stepped into my room tonight. One look at him, and I was done for because Tobias looks fucking phenomenal in a suit. But all I really wanted to do was strip him out of it. I wanted to trace every line of ink on his body with my tongue, feel the heat of his skin, and press my lips against every single muscle until he was begging.

But it wasn't just that. It was the way he looked at me—like I was the only thing in his world that mattered. I've never been looked at like that before, so wanted and so utterly beautiful.

When I finally reach him, I slide into the space beside him, my hand brushing the edge of the bar for balance. I glance down athim, waiting for him to meet my eyes, but he doesn't. Not right away. Instead, his attention is on Bryce, the corner of his mouth curving into a smirk that says,Yeah, I see you—but don't get too comfortable.

"Tobias," I say softly, breaking the silence.

He finally meets my gaze, but his eyes aren’t just looking—they’re claiming me. It’s possession, and I feel it everywhere. Down to my bones, between my legs, and in every breath I can’t quite catch.

This side of Tobias is new to me. Jealousy, yes, but more than that—territorial, and he's not even trying to hide it.

"What are you having?" Bryce asks, his focus entirely on me, which is impressive, considering Tobias is sitting right there, radiating an energy that's impossible to miss.Somehow, Bryce doesn't even notice him, completely oblivious to the tension that's thick enough to choke on.

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