Page 150 of All This Time

“What are we going to do?”

I stare out the front windshield. “Right now? Just be together. Let shit die down. And hope to God I didn’t just ruin my friendship with your brother and Elliot, and my career in one fucking day.”

***

My phone rings on the nightstand beside me, waking me up shortly after I’d fallen asleep. When I pick it up and look at the time, I see that it’s just after two in the morning. Laney and I talked for a while before she finally passed out, but I couldn’t shut my mind off.

I kept staring at her, wondering if I was doing the right thing dragging her into the chaos of my life, stroking the side of her face as my heart warred with my mind. The videos of me punching my father went viral at record speed, causing my agent to call me a few hours after we left the winery, chastising me for my behavior. When I told him why I hit my dad, though, his attitude changed rather quickly.

He’s the first person that I’ve told about my past besides Laney, and I have a feeling he won’t be the last.

He assured me that he’d spin this in the right way to make sure my career wasn’t in jeopardy, including contacting the PR team for the Carolina Thunder. But the other issue I now have to face is thatthe world knows about Laney. It’s clear that we’re an item from the multiple videos online, which is yet another piece of information shared with the world, but not in the way I planned.

I see the number on the phone has an Asheville area code, so I’m pressured to answer it, even though I don’t know who it might be.

“Hello?”

“Hello. I’m looking for Fletcher Adams.”

“This is he,” I reply as Laney stirs beside me. When her eyes pop open and she sees me on the phone, she pushes herself up, but I stop her from moving further.

“My name is Dr. Esser,” the man continues. “I work in the ER at Asheville Memorial Hospital and your father was brought in about an hour ago.”

I sit up, my pulse spiking. “Okay…”

“You might want to come down here. Your father was in an accident, and…”

“Fuck.” I bury my head in my free hand. “Did he…”

“He’s alive. Damn lucky, if you ask me.”

I toss the covers off and head straight for my closet. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“He’s stable, but since you’re his next of kin, I’m obligated to contact you.”

“Thank you.”

When I hang up the call, I find Laney right behind me in the closet, the sheet pulled around her naked body. “Fletcher?”

“My dad got in an accident.” I pull a shirt from a hanger and toss it over my head. “He’s in the hospital.”

“Is he okay?”

“Of course the fucker lived.” I twist to face her and find a look of terror in her eyes. “Shit, Laney.” I rush toward her, pulling her againstmy chest. Here I am irritated that my father is still alive, and yet Laney would give anything for her mom to still be here.

She leans back and looks up at me. “I’m going with you.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I know I don’t.” She inhales slowly. “But I’m in love with you too, Fletcher Adams, and you don’t have to face him alone anymore.” It takes a few seconds for her words to register, and when they do, my lungs fill with oxygen in a way they never have.

I cup her face in my hands. “I love you so fucking much, Laney.” My lips meet hers. “I’m sorry that I said it for the first time in front of your brother, but…”

“It’s okay. I know you were just trying to get him to understand that this isn’t just a fluke.”

“It never was. I think I’ve loved you since I was seventeen. It just took me a while to admit it.”

She rolls her eyes at me, but her smile is blinding. “God, take forever, why don’t you?”