Page 31 of All This Time

Claudia purses her lips. “That was an oddly specific example, but I get your point. Although, I think we can both agree he is way too good-looking for his own good.”

“Oh, believe me, he knows it too.”

Her smile is small but comforting. “Just breathe and remember this is all temporary.”

“Thank you.”

“And also, I hope you get laid this Friday. I think it will help you move past all the lust threatening to spill out of you.”

My eyes bug out of my head as my heart starts to race. “Uh… What are you talking about?”

“Dilynne texted us last night and told us we’re all going out Friday to get you laid. I agreed it was the perfect way to help you forget about your crush.”

“I don’t have a crush,” I lie. “And who is ‘us’?”

“Me, Glenn, Yvonne, and a few other people from the salon.”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath, fighting with myself and the idea of marching across the street to my best friend’s automotive shop to give her a piece of my mind right now. Sadly, I know it won’t do any good. The damage has been done. “Joy.”

Claudia laughs, rubbing my shoulder. “It will be great. But just so you know, if you want to hide out today, I wouldn’t blame you. You know the rest of us can handle everything.”

Her suggestion is tempting, but the last thing I’m going to do is hide like a coward. “Nope. This ismybusiness. He’s stepping intomyterritory.He’sthe one who should feel uncomfortable, not me.”

“I make you feel uncomfortable, huh?”

Of course he walks in at this moment.

Clenching my jaw, I plaster on the fakest smile I can muster and turn to find Fletcher smirking at me, his hands stuffed in his pockets, and his hat on backwards in his signature way, covering up his hair that I already noticed is in desperate need of a cut, but refuse to tell Glenn.

“Good morning, Fletcher.”

His eyebrows lift. “Wow. I get a ‘good morning’ from you today?” He reaches forward and places the back of his hand on my forehead. “Are you feeling okay?”

I gently push his hand away. “I’m fine, thank you. No need for touching.”

His smirk grows. “Pretty sure you used to like it when I touched you.”

Claudia’s eyes widen because his words sound way more suggestive than they really are. “Oh my.”

I spin to face her so fast I nearly fall over, pointing a finger at her while I regain my balance. “It’s not what it sounds like.”

“And what did it sound like?” Fletcher asks, pulling my attention back to him, my glare coming on strong.

“Now is not the time nor the place to have this discussion.”

Claudia chimes in again, crossing her arms over her chest. “Oh, on the contrary, I think it’s the perfect time. It would make her disdain toward you make a lot more sense, at least for me.”

My jaw drops open. “Claudia! I thought you were on my side?”

“I am, but seeing you two together? Now I’m invested.” She waves her finger between us. “This is the first time I’ve seen him in person,”she says as she dips her eyes up and down his muscular body. “And now I understand why he gets you all riled up.”

Fletcher starts to laugh while rubbing the back of his neck. “Okay, so Laney hates meandI get her all riled up… Good to know.”

“Oh my gosh, he’s here!” Glenn hops over to where we’re standing, Yvonne trailing behind him. “Mr. Fletcher Adams, football god, can I just say I’m a huge fan?” He reaches out to shake Fletcher’s hand, which Fletcher obliges.

“Oh yeah? Huge fan?” Yvonne asks behind me. “What position does he play?”

Glenn giggles. “Oh, you misunderstood, I’m a huge fan of the pants he wears.” Glenn licks his lips before dipping his eyes up and down Fletcher’s body, much like Claudia just did. “But I play catcher if you’re looking for one.”