Page 104 of All This Time

“You need to brush your teeth, Ellis,” I say as she snuggles in closer to Fletcher.

“I don’t want to miss the movie,” she whines as if she hasn’t seen it a million times.

“One night of not brushing her teeth won’t kill her,” Fletcher mutters out of the side of his mouth.

Rolling my eyes, I settle into my spot and let the argument die.

Fletcher’s voice cuts through the silence. “Thanks for letting me crash your sleepover.”

“You’re welcome. Although I’m sure you’re used to much wilder Friday nights.”

He turns to face me. “How so?”

Shrugging, I say, “You know… Clubs, half-naked women dying for the chance to spend the night with you…”

“Actually, that sounds like hell.” His eyes fall to Ellis as her eyes start to grow heavy. “This is much more my style.”

“That’s not what your father said,” I mutter, catching myself right as the words leave my lips.

“What about my dad?”

God, why did I say that?

“I, uh, ran into your dad yesterday,” I say. “He was at Blossom Brews when I ordered food for the party.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this last night at the salon?”

“You were already upset, and I didn’t want to make it worse.” Dropping my eyes to my lap, I continue, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have even brought it up.”

“But you did.” He clears his throat. “So, what did he say to you?”

I look back up at him. “He was asking me if I’d seen you since you got back in town and mentioned the wedding and how he felt that Elliot was rushing into it. When I told him that some people don’t want to wait when they find the right person, he said that he hopes you won’t make the same mistake, that you’d be a fool to ever get married…to let a woman get in the way of the game.”

Fletcher’s brows draw together as his eyes move back and forth between mine. “Why are you bringing this up, Laney?”

“Like I said, it was my mistake. I shouldn’t have said anything, but when you implied you enjoy Friday nights like this—” I gesture to Ellis and myself, “I just thought…”

He tilts his head to the side. “Is there something you want to ask me?”

I shrug and look back at the television. “Never mind.” Fletcher continues to stare at me, but I don’t look in his direction.

God, Laney. Why did you even say anything?

A few moments later, the movie ends, and I look down to find Ellis fast asleep. “I’m gonna take her to her room,” I say, but Fletcher beats me to it.

“I’ve got her.” He lifts her into his lap and then stands from the couch, carrying her in his arms down the hallway to the spare room I direct him to. I have a bed and toys just for her when she spends time here with me. He lays her down gently in the middle of the bed. “Does she sleep in here all night?”

“Inevitably, she’ll end up in my bed with me, but I always start her in here.”

We stand there, staring at her small size in comparison to the bed before I glance over at Fletcher and he does the same to me. Our eyes meet and that familiar electricity starts to flow between us.

“Where is your room?” he whispers.

“Across the hall.”

“Can I see it?”

My mind tells me it’s a bad idea, but my heart and libido have me leading Fletcher across the hall into my bedroom. When I spin around to face him, his eyes are on me. But then they dart behind me to where my dresser is before he walks in that direction.