Page 40 of All This Time (Blossom Peak #1)

Laney

Age Eighteen

The Night that Changed Everything

“You did the right thing, George.” My mother’s voice stops me in my tracks as I head toward the kitchen.

“I know, but I still feel shitty about it. What if he tries to sue us?”

I peek around the corner and see my mom framing my father’s face with her hands. “He doesn’t have a leg to stand on. You had just cause for firing him.”

“Everything okay?” I ask, interrupting their moment even though I probably shouldn’t.

My mom smiles at me as she releases my father and moves back to the stove. “Everything is fine, Laney.”

“Dad?”

“Just work stuff, kiddo.” He walks over to me and kisses me on the top of the head. “How was your day?”

“Ugh. Boring. I can’t wait to graduate.”

“Only a few more months,” my mother says. “I can’t believe we’re going to be empty nesters soon, George.”

“I know, honey. You remind me about it every day.” He looks over at me and winks.

“At least Laney will be with Rhonan at Florida State. That makes me feel better,” Mom says while stirring the contents of the pot in front of her. She reaches up and rubs her temples a few times.

“Still have that headache?” my father asks.

“Yeah. I don’t want to take any more medicine, but I think I should.”

My father goes to the medicine cabinet to retrieve some pills, handing them to my mom along with a glass of water. “If you’re in pain, you need to take something.”

Rolling her eyes, she obliges my father’s request. “There. Happy?”

“I’d be happier if you didn’t push yourself so hard.”

My mom eyes my father over her shoulder. “Well, that’s the pot calling the kettle black.”

“You both work too hard,” I interject. “But with me and Rhonan down in Florida, perhaps you guys will be forced to take a few days off and come visit us.”

My mom rolls her eyes. “Good luck with that. I’ve been trying to get your father to take a vacation for years, Laney, and haven’t had any luck.”

My dad crosses his arms. “Fine. Let’s go somewhere this weekend.”

My mom freezes. “What?”

Dad shrugs. “You’re right. We never go anywhere, and after this week with Daniel, I think I need it.”

“You’re serious?”

My father walks over to Mom and wraps his arms around her waist. “Yes, Elizabeth. Let’s get away for a few days. Laney will be fine by herself. Besides, Rhonan said he’s coming home this weekend to visit and grab a few things from his room, so she won’t be completely alone.”

My mom turns to me. “Are you okay with this?”

I nod enthusiastically, not only because I think my parents deserve some time away, but because I know that Fletcher is coming back with Rhonan, which means there’s an opportunity for us to be alone and there will be two less people to worry about finding out.

“You two deserve it. Maybe go to the coast. I hear Carrington Cove is beautiful this time of year.” My father smiles. “That’s what I was thinking. And while we’re there, we can sit down and plan that trip to Aruba you’ve always wanted to go on.”

My mother’s eyes widen with excitement. “Who are you and what have you done with my husband?”

Dad laughs. “I’m just a man who loves his wife and was reminded this week that running this winery has robbed me of time I’ll never get back. I’m trying to live in the moment, honey. Let me, will you?”

My mom presses up on her toes and kisses my dad, which is a sight that should make me gag. But honestly, watching my parents just helps me keep faith that two people can find each other in this crazy thing called life. I want what they have more than anything, and my heart wants it with Fletcher.

And this weekend will be the perfect time to finally go after it.

“Fine. Tell me when to be ready and I’ll have my stuff packed.” My dad smacks her on the ass as she walks away. “Hey!”

“Ugh, Dad. That’s gross.”

He turns to me and shrugs. “You can leave the room if it bothers you, but I won’t apologize for appreciating your mother’s body.”

Mom giggles and turns red at the stove. “Dinner still has about fifteen minutes, Laney, if you have some homework to finish up.”

“I do, actually. Just call me when it’s ready.”

“Sure thing, sweetie.”

I race back to my room and grab my cell phone, lying down on my bed with my phone poised above me, opening up the text message thread with my brother.

Me: Breaking news: Mom and Dad are going away for the weekend.

He texts me back immediately.

Rhonan: WTF? Has hell frozen over?

Me: I know. But you know what would be fun while they’re gone? A party.

Rhonan: You wanna have a party? Yup. Hell has definitely frozen over.

Me: Come on. I’m eighteen now and I’m about to be in college. I need the practice.

Rhonan: 18 is not 21, Laney.

Me: Newsflash: You aren’t 21 either.

Rhonan: But I’m closer than you.

Me: Come on, it’ll be fun! I can invite people from school, you can invite your friends you never see anymore…

Rhonan: Fine, but only because Fletcher just saw my phone and agrees it would be fun.

Knowing that Fletcher approves of the idea makes me even more giddy.

Me: Yay! Let me know what I need to do.

Rhonan: We’ll talk later. I have to finish studying for my midterm tomorrow.

Me: Okay. Love you!

Rhonan: Love you too, sis.

“Oh my God!” I whisper-shout to myself, tossing my phone to the side and staring up at the ceiling as I process everything that’s transpired in the last ten minutes.

But then my phone chimes with another text.

Fletcher: You want to have a party? Who are you and what have you done with Laney?

My heart starts racing as I contemplate my reply. But suddenly, this wave of confidence rushes through me.

Me: Actually, there is something I want to talk to you about. Perhaps we could sneak away to discuss some stuff at the party.

Fletcher: Uh oh. Am I in trouble?

Me: LOL No. I just… really want to talk to you.

Fletcher: Sounds good, angel. See you in a few days

When I read his last text, I toss my phone to the side and kick my feet in the air.

This is the perfect time to tell Fletcher how I feel. We’ll have the chance to be alone, I’ll be at his school in less than six months where we could actually be together, and then all of these feelings for him I’ve been holding inside can finally come out.

It’s perfect. It’s fate.

I just hope that my gut is right and that he feels the same way.

***

“Who are all these people?” Rhonan asks as we stand in the kitchen, surveying our house full of people.

“Honestly, I’m not sure.”

“Jesus, Laney. Did you invite the whole school?”

“No, but people must have told other people, and you know what happens when word gets out about a party, especially in Blossom Peak.”

Rhonan takes a sip from his beer. He and Fletcher brought so much alcohol and now that I’m looking at how many people are here, I’m glad. However, I know neither of them are twenty-one, so I’m not sure how they got their hands on it. I don’t want to know though, so I don’t ask.

“Not many parties these days, huh?” he asks.

“My class isn’t as adventurous as your class was.”

“Not everyone can be as cool as us,” Fletcher says as he walks up to us, reaching out to poke my nose. I swat his hand away. “Great party though, Laney. Watching all these high school kids drink just reminds me of how much better I am at holding my liquor than I was at that age.”

“How drunk are you?” I ask, because my plan to talk to him tonight might have to be put on hold if he’s not coherent enough to remember the conversation.

Although, if he gets drunk and turns me down, it might be easier to pretend like the conversation never happened.

I wipe my sweaty palms on my dress for the hundredth time.

He holds up his red cup. “This is my first drink.”

Rhonan scoffs. “Dude, I’m on my third. Catch up, will you?” Someone calls out to him from the living room. “I’ll catch you two later,” he says before walking off, leaving me and Fletcher alone.

Fletcher moves in closer to me. “It sure is good to see you, angel.”

Staring up at him, I study the lines of his face. He looks different and yet the same. Only seeing each other sporadically over the past two years means each time we’re face-to-face, I spend several minutes cataloging his features for my daydreams and fantasies. “You too, Fletcher.”

“So, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?” He leans against the counter behind us, crossing his arms over his chest while still holding his red cup.

“Oh. Well, we don’t have to talk about that now.”

“Nonsense. There’s no time like the present.” He grabs me by the hand before I can argue and pulls me down the hallway to my bedroom. He stops at the door, rattling the knob.

“You locked your room?”

“Um, yeah. I didn’t want people fucking in my bed.”

“Good thinking. You’re the only one that should be doing that.”

My cheeks turn red because not only does the mention of sex make me blush, but he has no idea I haven’t experienced that yet. “We can talk out here.”

I lean up against the wall as Fletcher rests his forearm above me, his other hand still holding his drink. “All right. We’re alone. Now spill.”

I drop my eyes to the center of his chest as I begin to fiddle with my hands in front of me. “Well, I uh…I sort of have feelings for someone and I’m not sure how to tell him.”

When I look up at him, I see his eyebrows rise. “You have a crush? Is it someone at school?”

I shake my head. “No.”

“Do I know him?”

I nod. “You do.”

The corner of his mouth lifts. “Then tell me. Maybe I can talk to him, tell him to run in the other direction.”

My mouth drops open in shock. “You wouldn’t dare!”

He laughs. “Nah, I wouldn’t. In fact, any guy who’s got your attention is one lucky son of a bitch.”

My eyes bounce back and forth between his. “God, you’re so blind.”

His boyish smile almost makes my knees buckle. “That’s not true. I can see very well. Now tell me…who is this boy you have your sights on?”

“He’s a man, not a boy. High school boys aren’t worth my time.”