Page 2 of All This Time (Blossom Peak #1)

Laney

Three Weeks Earlier

Dildos, Orgasms, and Lucifer

“God, I wish I could visit you next weekend.” My eyes drift to the rearview mirror as I change lanes, inching closer to Blossom Beauty, the full-service salon I opened six years ago.

“I know. You’re gonna miss out on all the new products Adeline is bringing. I think this passion party is going to be my biggest one yet,” Hazel, one of my closest friends, says through my car’s Bluetooth as I continue my drive to work.

Hazel Sheppard and I met years ago when I needed some professional photos done for my salon, and I stumbled upon her photography page online, instantly enamored with her work.

Even though Blossom Peak is seven hours away from her hometown of Carrington Cove on the North Carolina coast, she ventured out here, completed the job, and we hit it off, becoming instant friends.

She regularly hosts passion parties for all the women in her town, and I’ve made it a point to attend as many as I can, extending my visit for a few days just to break up the monotony of my life and spend time with her.

Laughing, I flip on my blinker as I stop at a red light. “Does Gage know what he’s getting himself into?”

“Well, we’re already married, so it’s not like he can do too much about it.”

“Touché.”

“Honestly, I think he might be more excited about the party than I am. The man has no problem bringing toys into the bedroom.”

“You know that I’m genuinely thrilled that you’re so happy, but part of me really hates you right now.”

Hazel laughs. “Why?”

“Because you found the perfect man,” I say, pulling into the parking lot behind the salon and shutting off my car.

“Oh, Gage is not perfect by any means. But he’s definitely perfect for me.” Her words hit me right in the center of my chest. “And one day, you’re going to find the man that is perfect for you too, Laney.”

“I’m not so sure about that anymore,” I groan, dropping my head against the headrest of my seat. “I mean, my last relationship was over a year ago, I haven’t attempted another one since, and my date the other night was more focused on my potential connection to you-know-who than me.”

Even twelve years later, being associated with Fletcher Adams is still messing with my love life.

“First of all, fuck any man that would rather talk about football than get to know you, okay? And second, you dodged a bullet with Spencer as far as I’m concerned. I mean, he couldn’t even make you come!”

A knock on my window makes me jump. “Jesus Christ!” My hand flies to my chest as I look over to find Glenn, one of my employees, waving at me as he bites the straw of his iced coffee.

“What happened?” Hazel asks as I will my heart rate to calm down.

“Glenn is trying to give me a heart attack this morning.”

“Oh, Glenny-poo. How is that beautiful man?”

I roll down the window so Glenn can hear her. “Hazel says hello.”

“Hazel! Girl, when are you gonna come visit so I can meet that fine-ass man of yours?”

Hazel laughs. “I don’t know, Glenn. Maybe never if you aren’t going to be able to keep your hands to yourself.”

Glenn holds up his free hand like he’s making a solemn oath, even though she can’t see him. “I swear I won’t touch. Looking only.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t believe him, Hazel. Glenn is notorious for making straight men question their sexuality.”

Glenn pops his shoulder. “It’s a gift. I won’t apologize for that.”

“But he never went after Spencer, did he?” Hazel asks.

Glenn dry heaves. “Ew. No thank you.”

“Oh, come on… Spencer wasn’t that bad.” I say, trying to make myself feel better, even though I know he was a safe choice, not the right one, and definitely didn’t make me desperate for him.

Glenn chuckles. “Laney, I’m beginning to think you need your eyes checked. You were way out of his league, first of all. And if he couldn’t make you come, that should have been your first clue to run far, far away.”

I close my eyes and blow out a breath. “You heard that, huh?”

“Your volume is up loud enough for the entire town of Blossom Peak to hear, sweetie.” Glenn clutches his iced coffee to his chest. “Now, I’m going to head inside and get things ready for the day.

” He pushes his head through the window.

“Hazel, it was good to hear your voice, honey. Come visit us soon.”

“Will do, Glenn!” Hazel calls.

I watch Glenn unlock the back door to the salon as I roll the window back up. “Note to self, turn the volume down when I pull into the parking lot.”

Hazel lets out a laugh. “Glenn is right though, Laney. You are way too good for Spencer.”

Staring down at my hands in my lap, I groan. “I know. But I can’t help but feel like I played a part in the downfall of our relationship too.”

“How so?”

Staring out the front windshield, I press my lips together as I consider how to explain. “Well, I mean, he cheated on me. I obviously wasn’t giving him what he needed physically…”

“Oh, hell no. You are not about to take responsibility for his infidelity. That’s all on him, regardless of how he felt about your sex life.”

“I wasn’t initiating, though,” I counter. “That was one of his biggest arguments as to why we drifted apart.”

“Laney, if he’d actually been good in bed, you would’ve wanted it more.”

“That’s true…”

“And a mature man would have had a conversation with you about it instead of sticking his dick in another woman. Joke’s on her, though, because you know he didn’t make her come either.”

I snort. “That is also true.”

“Well, if you really want to escape and ditch the wedding festivities, you know where to find me. Just look for the house full of silicone penises.”

“Don’t tempt me. I was already questioning why I even agreed to be Tori’s maid of honor, but now that I know you-know-who is Elliot’s best man, the list of injuries I could fake is getting longer each day.”

“Maybe I can call you and say there’s an emergency here, like how girlfriends do for each other when they’re on a really bad date so you don’t have to see him. What should be our code word?”

“How about pathetic? Because that’s how I’m beginning to feel.” My hand covers my eyes. “I don’t even have a date for the wedding.”

“I think that’s for the better, actually. Then you can flirt with whoever you want.”

“You act like I don’t already know all the single men who will be there.”

Hazel hums. “Good point. I, uh…will be praying for you then?”

I huff out a laugh. “Gee, thanks.”

“Hey, if I remember correctly, you were basking in my emotional turmoil last year when I was basically bribed to marry Gage. I guess the tables have turned, huh?”

“You know what? I’m beginning to question our friendship.”

“No you aren’t,” she says as I glance at the time and note I have to end this call soon to get ready for my first client. “You’re going to keep your chin held high, pretend Fletcher doesn’t affect you, and in three weeks, he’ll be gone and everything will go back to normal.”

“When you told those lies to yourself about Gage and your six-month marriage, did they work?”

“No.”

“Exactly.”

“But Gage and I realized we were meant to be, Laney. So…maybe you and Fletcher—”

“Please don’t finish that sentence,” I cut her off, shaking off memories as I do. “We had our chance, and he made his choice. I just wish seeing him didn’t bring all those emotions back up again.”

“I get that. Your first love shapes you… But, whatever happens, just know I’m here if you need to vent or process.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

“Always, girl. Good luck!”

“Thanks, I’m gonna need it.”

After ending our call and making my way into the salon, I finish some paperwork from the night before and prepare the color and tools for my first client.

Two hours later, her hair is transformed and she leaves with a smile on her face just as Glenn comes up beside me, leaning close to my ear.

“Girl, you just worked magic on her. She was looking a little like a troll when she walked in, and now she looks like a movie star.”

I roll my eyes, not at all surprised by his flair for exaggeration.

“Being a new mom is rough, Glenn. The world doesn’t revolve around you anymore, and a lot of women neglect themselves when they have a baby.

She just needed to be reminded of the gorgeous woman she still is, despite her life now revolving around keeping another human alive. ”

A dull ache fills my chest.

God, am I ever going to get the chance to be in the same position? A new mom, exhausted from taking care of my newborn baby, but overwhelmed with gratitude for the role?

I just turned thirty, and I am not even close to making that a reality. I want a love like my parents had. I want a partner that looks at me as if I’m the center of his universe. And I want a family someday.

But then the fear of letting someone in again makes my chest tighten.

Heartache is difficult to recover from, and I’m not sure I’d survive it a second time.

Shaking off my plaguing thoughts before they burrow too deep, I head back to my station to clean and sanitize before my next client. Glenn’s close behind. “And that is why I will never have children,” Glenn declares as he shudders. “The smell of formula alone is enough to make me gag.”

“You never know. You might meet the right man one day and want to start a family with him. Don’t completely close the door on that opportunity.”

Glenn rolls his eyes. “The chances of me finding a gay man in this town are about as likely as winning the lottery, Laney.” He snaps his fingers as he heads back to his station. “But maybe a hot tourist will come in one day and prove me wrong.”

As he walks away, I can’t help but agree. Blossom Peak isn’t exactly a dating hotspot. Especially if you aren’t looking for a small-town high school legend turned hometown has-been with a hero complex.

“What’s he going on about this time?” Yvonne, my lead massage therapist, asks as she joins me where I’m sweeping.

“Oh, nothing we haven’t heard before. Ranting about how he’ll never find a man.”