Page 137 of All This Time

“Yes. We need time.”

Time. Onething we don’t have a lot of.

God, why can’t love ever just be simple?

Chapter 26

Fletcher

Hiding the Truth

“You’re getting married in two days. You have the rest of your life to spend Thursday nights at home with Tori, so turn that frown of yours upside down and deal some fucking cards.”

Henley smacks the table gently in front of Elliot, whose mouth quirks up into the closest thing to a smile he’s had since we kidnapped him earlier and took him to Henley’s house for one last boy’s night before the big day.

“You’re right. I’m just spent. I can’t wait to be on a beach next week with my wife.”

Fuck. Elliot’s words strike a chord with me because I’d love nothing more than to do the same thing with Laney, not that I can tell my friends that.

Her in a pink bikini, her long brown hair cascading down her back, her tan skin shining in the sun. Me on a lounger watching her walktoward me, growing harder by the second. The two of us alone with no one else to worry about…

Fuck. I hate keeping yet another thing from them, but I have to until this wedding is over and I know that Laney and I are on the same page.

“Fletcher? You in there?” Elliot knocks on my forehead.

I swat him away. “Jesus. What?”

“Rhonan just asked if you want to hit or stay.”

I stare down at the cards in front of me, realizing that my friends have all been playing the game while I’ve been daydreaming about Laney. I feel like someone who’s only ever seen in black and white finally seeing the world light up with color. My chest feels lighter, my body alive, my mind finally fucking clear.

And it’s all because of the woman I’m head over heels in love with.

I fucking love her. Pretty sure I always have.

Flipping my cards over, I smile when I see the ten and the ace I’ve been dealt, tossing them on the green felt. “No need to hit me, my friends. I think luck is on my side this evening.”

Henley snorts beside me. “Beginner’s luck.” He turns to Rhonan and says, “Hit me.” When Rhonan flips over Henley’s card, he busts. “Shit.”

“You’replaying like a beginner, not Fletcher.” Elliot laughs from across the table.

“Well,myluck in blackjack seems about as good as my luck in work lately,” Henley says as Rhonan tosses a few chips to me and Elliot since we beat his hand as the dealer. Elliot takes the cards for his turn to deal now as we all toss a chip in the center of the table.

Even though my time with my friends is coming to an end, I’m grateful that I feel like I’m part of their lives again. These past few weeks have revived our friendship in ways I think we all needed.

Hopefully, that’s yet another thing that will change after this wedding is over.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

Henley lifts his beer to his lips. “I’ve got to hire a few new people at the resort. Business isn’t slowing down, especially as we head into winter, and one of my ski instructors isn’t coming back this year.”

“Have you put out an ad yet?” Rhonan lifts his cards from the table to see what he was dealt.

Henley blows out a frustrated breath. “Not yet. I was going to wait until the wedding is over and I can give it all my focus. Besides—” His voice is cut off by the sound of his phone ringing. “Jesus, this girl just can’t take a hint.”

“Is that the same woman who’s been calling you?” I ask.

Elliot slides his eyes between me and Henley. “What woman?”