Page 132 of All This Time

He releases my wrists and wraps his arms around me, avoiding my insulin pump.

“Goddamn,” he breathes out.

“That was…”

He pulls out of me, flips me onto my back, and hovers over my face, propping himself up on the bed. I feel his fingers part me as he moves his cum around my pussy. “I don’t think I’ll ever get my fill of you. I still can’t believe we’re here like this…together.” His voice comes out low and shaky.

“Me either.” My heart is pounding, but not just from the physical exertion.

Fletcher has told me everything I’ve wanted to hear from him for so long—I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do about it. And until I do, I’d rather say nothing at all.

***

“Is that a hickey?” Dilynne asks when she gets in my car.

I reach up to cover the spot where my shoulder meets my neck. “No…”

“It is! Jesus. Is Fletcher insane? Anyone with eyes and half a brain would know what that is.”

“I told him not to.” Fighting my grin, I turn to my best friend and shrug.

“You’d just better hope that your brother doesn’t see it, or better yet, that it fades before the wedding.”

“I think I’ll be okay, but just to be on the safe side, I should probably try to find a dress that covers my collarbone.”

It’s Tuesday morning, and Dilynne and I are on our way into Charlotte to find my bridesmaid’s dress. There are more shops and options in the city, and the two-hour drive gives us plenty of time to catch up after this weekend. Plus, it’s good practice for me to see just how grueling this drive will be if I start making it regularly to see Fletcher.

“Well, given the state of your skin and the smile that hasn’t left your face, I take it your weekend went well?”

I sigh as I turn onto the highway. “It did, but I’m also confused.”

“Talk to me then. We have two hours to kill, and I need to make sure you’re not just thinking with your clit here.”

“What?” I ask through a laugh.

“Guys think with their dicks, girls think with our clits. It’s an equivalent metaphor.”

“Well, my clit is more than satisfied, but Fletcher brought up something this weekend that my clit, unfortunately, can’t decide for me.”

“Elaborate.”

For the next twenty minutes, I recount the admission from Fletcher, his declaration of how he feels, and his request to make a relationship work between us after this wedding.

“Well, where’s your head at, Laney?” Dilynne asks when I finish.

“I—I honestly don’t know. What he said? It was everything I’ve ever wanted to hear from him, but things are much more complicated now than they were back then. He lives in Charlotte, I live in Blossom Peak. His career is there, and my business is at home.”

“Charlotte is only a two-hour drive. I mean, we’re making it right now for a freaking dress.” Dilynne smacks her gum as she reaches forward and skips the song on my playlist.

“True, but it’s not just the distance. Being with Fletcher means being under a microscope. The entire world will know who I am. And then there’s Rhonan to consider.”

“What about Rhonan?”

I blow out a breath. “I’m not sure how he would feel about me dating one of his friends. We never really talked about that growing up, but I think it’s because he never thought I’d want to date Fletcher, Henley, or Elliot.”

Dilynne scoffs. “First of all, neither of us is desperate enough to date Elliot.”

I laugh. “By the way, the cake?”