Page 2 of All This Time

“You know that I’m genuinely thrilled that you’re so happy, but part of me really hates you right now.”

Hazel laughs. “Why?”

“Because you found the perfect man,” I say, pulling into the parking lot behind the salon and shutting off my car.

“Oh, Gage is not perfect by any means. But he’s definitely perfect for me.” Her words hit me right in the center of my chest. “And one day, you’re going to find the man that is perfect for you too, Laney.”

“I’m not so sure about that anymore,” I groan, dropping my head against the headrest of my seat. “I mean, my last relationship was over a year ago, I haven’t attempted another one since, and my date the other night was more focused on my potential connection to you-know-who than me.”

Even twelve years later, being associated with Fletcher Adams is still messing with my love life.

“First of all, fuck any man that would rather talk about football than get to know you, okay? And second, you dodged a bullet withSpencer as far as I’m concerned. I mean, he couldn’t even make you come!”

A knock on my window makes me jump. “Jesus Christ!” My hand flies to my chest as I look over to find Glenn, one of my employees, waving at me as he bites the straw of his iced coffee.

“What happened?” Hazel asks as I will my heart rate to calm down.

“Glenn is trying to give me a heart attack this morning.”

“Oh, Glenny-poo. How is that beautiful man?”

I roll down the window so Glenn can hear her. “Hazel says hello.”

“Hazel! Girl, when are you gonna come visit so I can meet that fine-ass man of yours?”

Hazel laughs. “I don’t know, Glenn. Maybe never if you aren’t going to be able to keep your hands to yourself.”

Glenn holds up his free hand like he’s making a solemn oath, even though she can’t see him. “I swear I won’t touch. Looking only.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t believe him, Hazel. Glenn is notorious for making straight men question their sexuality.”

Glenn pops his shoulder. “It’s a gift. I won’t apologize for that.”

“But he never went after Spencer, did he?” Hazel asks.

Glenn dry heaves. “Ew. No thank you.”

“Oh, come on… Spencer wasn’tthatbad.” I say, trying to make myself feel better, even though I know he was a safe choice, not the right one, and definitely didn’t make me desperate for him.

Glenn chuckles. “Laney, I’m beginning to think you need your eyes checked. You were way out of his league, first of all. And if he couldn’t make you come, that should have been your first clue to run far, far away.”

I close my eyes and blow out a breath. “You heard that, huh?”

“Your volume is up loud enough for the entire town of Blossom Peak to hear, sweetie.” Glenn clutches his iced coffee to his chest. “Now, I’m going to head inside and get things ready for the day.” He pushes his head through the window. “Hazel, it was good to hear your voice, honey. Come visit us soon.”

“Will do, Glenn!” Hazel calls.

I watch Glenn unlock the back door to the salon as I roll the window back up. “Note to self, turn the volume down when I pull into the parking lot.”

Hazel lets out a laugh. “Glenn is right though, Laney. You are way too good for Spencer.”

Staring down at my hands in my lap, I groan. “I know. But I can’t help but feel like I played a part in the downfall of our relationship too.”

“How so?”

Staring out the front windshield, I press my lips together as I consider how to explain. “Well, I mean, he cheated on me. I obviously wasn’t giving him what he needed physically…”

“Oh, hell no. You are not about to take responsibility for his infidelity. That’s all on him, regardless of how he felt about your sex life.”