Page 146 of All This Time

“I know, but it’s better that he knows now than as he waits at the end of the aisle for a bride who’s not coming.”

Rhonan clears his throat. “Let me tell him.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I think he’s going to take it better coming from me, especially when I show him the proof.”

Fletcher turns to me for approval. I nod. “You’re probably right.”

Dilynne steps up to me, her lips pursed in irritation. “Do you want me to go out and send everyone home?”

“Yeah. I think it’s best if they’re all gone.”

Henley straightens his jacket. “I’ll tell the caterers to pack up too.”

“Thank you. All of you.”

Dilynne grabs my hand. “Of course. We’re family. We’ll get through this.”

I look around the room at my brother’s best friends, my best friend, and the man I’m in love with, knowing that no matter what happens today, Elliot will survive this because we all have each other.

The weight of what’s about to happen is sitting on my chest like a ton of bricks, but I know that our support system here will be the reason we get through this—because what’s happened to Elliot with Tori didn’t just happen to him—it happened to all of us. A woman infiltrated our lives, lied to our faces, and made us believe she cared about a part of our family.

Fletcher and I find ourselves alone in the room.

He doesn’t let me say a word before his lips are on mine. “God, you look beautiful. I know we have other things to worry about, but I just needed to tell you that.”

“Thank you. I just can’t believe this is happening.”

“I know, angel. It’s fucking crazy.” Fletcher retreats from me as he looks off to the side of the room. “This is going to devastate him.”My bottom lip trembles as I stare at the things Tori left behind in the room. Fletcher notices and rushes over to me. “Hey, it’s going to be okay.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because Elliot is one of the toughest people I know. He’s been through some shit, and he will survive this too. It’s better that he knows now, though, instead of finding out after they were married.”

“That’s true. I just… I know how much he wanted this, how quickly he fell into the idea of this new life…”

“Maybe that’s the problem. It was too quick.”

His words sit between us like a truth bomb we’re afraid will detonate if we speak.

The entire progression of our relationship has also moved incredibly quick these past few weeks. Does that mean we’re doomed to end tragically a second time?

Before I spiral too far, Fletcher leans down and presses his lips to mine. His touch reassures me. For the first time all day, I feel comfort, and as I deepen the kiss, a switch inside of me flips.

Fletcher matches my desperation, pulling me closer to him, fucking my mouth with his tongue. We drown in each other. I claw at his back. He cups my ass with his hands, pressing his erection into my stomach so I know he wants me just as badly as I want him.

The last thing we should be doing right now is letting our lust for one another drive our decisions, but right now, I just want to forget about what’s happening.

I move to push his coat from his shoulders, but a voice at the door stops me cold.

“What the fuck is going on here?”

Fletcher and I freeze, turning our heads slowly to find my brother and Elliot staring at us.

Rhonan’s eyes bounce between us as Fletcher releases me from his grasp.

“Rhonan…” Fletcher starts as I wrap my arms around my body.