Page 110 of All This Time

“How do younotknow if you told him how you feel about him?”

Sighing, I bury my head in my hands. “I told him that I can’t believe he hasn’t seen how I look at him, and then his face fell.”

Dilynne winces. “Yikes.”

“Yeah, and then before he could actually respond, someone called for him to play beer pong, so I left and told him not to worry about what I said.”

She shoves my shoulder when I lift my head. “I can’t believe you did that!”

“What?”

“This was your opportunity, Laney. All these years you’ve wanted this guy, and you just walked away from him?”

“Well, he let me.”

“Yeah, probably because he was a little shocked.”

My brow furrows. “I’m confused. You’re the one who thought I was crazy for liking him.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you to get what you want.” Her face softens. “You’re my best friend and you have been pining after him for so long, I wanted to see you get your happy ending.” She shrugs. “Maybe it’s the secret romantic in me.”

I blink. “You? A romantic? Has the alcohol changed you already?”

She rolls her eyes. “Ha. Ha. Don’t tell anyone, okay? I need to protect my image.”

I mimic zipping my lips. “Your secret is safe with me.”

She winks at me before finishing making her drink. When she’s done, she spins around to face me again. “Okay, so you need to go find him.”

“I don’t know…”

“Idoknow. Don’t let tonight end without making your intentions clear, okay? Find him at a point when he’s alone and be crystal clear this time.” She pushes me in the chest.

“What was that for?”

“Puff out your chest. Stand up straight. Be the badass Laney Hart that I know.”

I square my shoulders and nod. “Okay. You’re right.”

“I’m always right.” She takes a sip of her drink. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find a guy to talk about cars with because none of these girls are ever on my level about that.”

“Hey. I’m not on that level either…”

“No, but you’re grandfathered in. We’ve been friends for so long that you knowing anything about cars is irrelevant now.”

I nod. “Okay. Good to know I’m safe.”

Dilynne walks off, leaving me alone in the kitchen as people mill around me. The music coming out of the surround sound is making the walls rattle, couples are making out all over the couch or dancing in the living room, and more noise is coming from outside, so I decide to check out that scene.

As I enter the backyard, I see Fletcher high-fiving his teammate in his game of beer pong. I decide to stand off to the side and observe, but he catches me watching and narrows his eyes at me. Not sure what that means, but once he realizes where I am, his eyes drift to me between every play of the game.

I wish I knew what he was thinking. I wish I had any inclination of what his reaction was to what I shared with him. But then part of me doesn’t want to know at all because what if that glare means he’s mad at me for putting him in this position in the first place?

I turn around and go back into the house to find Dilynne again, standing next to her in silence as she talks about transmissions with some guy around Rhonan’s age that I’ve seen around town a time or two. After about twenty minutes, I see Fletcher walk inside, making eye contact with me as he does. He watches me for a few seconds before turning down the hallway that leads to my parents’ room, which I know for a fact is also locked. There are other rooms back there too, though, so maybe he’s looking for a place to get away from everyone.

Or… Maybe he wants me to follow him?

Not sure what to think, I decide the risk is worth taking and head in the same direction he went. I shake out my nerves as I wander down the hall and notice one of the bathrooms has a light on and I don’t see Fletcher anywhere, so I assume he’s inside. I knock gently but don’t hear anything over the music, so I check the knob and find it unlocked.