Page 139 of All This Time

“I don’t know that I’ll ever be done talking shit,” Elliot says as he slides the deck to me for my turn to deal.

“We know,” the three of us say in unison before sharing a laugh and falling back into the game.

After a few more rounds, I get up to use the bathroom, but Henley follows me. “Fletcher…”

“What’s up?”

“Do you know what you’re going to do yet?” he whispers, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that Rhonan and Elliot aren’t in earshot.

“About…”

He shoves my shoulder. “Don’t play fucking stupid. You were sitting in that room just now. You have to tell Rhonan what’s going on with Laney before he finds out from someone else.”

I lower my voice. “I will. After the wedding.”

“Fuck. I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Something in my gut, man. I can’t shake it, and usually when I get this feeling, I’m right.”

“What do you want me to do, Henley? You can at least agree with me that this isn’t the time, right? Not with everything going on…”

Henley nods. “Okay, but when you do it, just make sure I’m there in case I have to pull him off of you.”

I huff out a laugh. “Thanks for the support.”

“You sure this is what you want? Laney, I mean?”

I look him dead in the eyes. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

***

“Fletcher? What are you doing here?” Laney opens the front door to Blossom Beauty Friday afternoon, shocked to see me. The salon is closed for the day so the girls can get pampered before the wedding tomorrow.

I hold up the bags in my arms. “I wanted to make sure that you ladies had everything that you needed for today.”

Ellis peeks her head out around Laney’s long legs. “Uncle Fletcher?”

“Hey, princess. I brought cupcakes.”

Her eyes light up. “I love cupcakes!”

“I know you do. Now tell Auntie Laney to let me inside.” I lift my eyes back to Laney’s, only to find her licking her lips.

“This was awfully sweet of you,” she says, holding the door open wider so I can walk through.

I catch the sight of her in her pink silk robe and instantly want to pull it open with my teeth. Instead, I set the bags on the receptionist counter and turn to face her. “I can be a sweet guy sometimes.” Leaning down, I line my lips up to her ear. “But you like it when I’m a dirty guy more.”

Her skin pebbles right before my eyes. “I do.”

“Aw, what did Lucifer bring for us?” Yvonne asks as she walks up to the counter, Glenn trailing behind her.

“Food and booze.”

Yvonne turns to Laney. “Can he be our boss instead of you? He seems way more fun.”

“I’d definitely let him boss me around,” Glenn adds. His eyes drop down my body and back up.