Page 34 of All This Time

The way Fletcher was looking at me just now, I could have sworn he was thinking about kissing me. He touched me like he was legitimately concerned, like...old Fletcher. The one who used to sneak through my window and hold space for all the things I never told anyone else. For a second, it felt like we were still those people—the ones who hadn’t ruined everything yet.

“Laney.”

“Yeah?” I ask, looking over my shoulder at him.

“I made these appointments because I wanted to support your business,” he says, putting another crack in the wall around my heart.

“Why?”

“Because you’ve built something incredible here, and I’m proud of your success and wanted to see it firsthand.” I stand there in shock, trying to process what he’s telling me. He shoves his hands in his pocket, his boyish grin returning. “I just wanted to support my friend.”

God, I’ve never hated that word more than I do right now.

“I’ve never had a manicure in my life, but when in Rome, right?”

I nearly gasp as I laugh. “Pretty sure the Romans weren’t getting their cuticles buffed.”

The corner of his mouth lifts higher. “Yeah, well, when in Blossom Peak.” He turns around and walks out of the break room, leaving me reeling and feeling way more unsteady than I care to admit.

***

“How are your online reviews?” Fletcher asks as he hands me his credit card.

I tap it on the machine and hand it back to him. “Pretty solid. They’ve been helping bring in tourists.”

“I’m not surprised.” He shoves his wallet back in his pocket and readjusts his backwards baseball cap. “I mean, Yvonne’s hands are so magical, I think she unknotted something in my soul. And Claudia may have turned me into a manicure kind of guy.” He fans his hands in front of him, admiring his nails.

Fighting to contain my laughter, I hand him his receipt. “Well, feel free to brag to the entire internet that Blossom Beauty has changed your life.”

“Don’t worry. I will.” He rocks back on his heels. “We should probably work out some sort of schedule, right?”

“Schedule?”

“Yeah, I mean, for the wedding stuff. I’m free tonight if you want to get started.”

The ball of anxiety that’s been hanging out in my chest starts to bounce around again, but I know he’s right. If we don’t figure outa schedule, things are going to get done at the last minute and that’s going to stress me out even more.

“Look, you don’t have to pretend to be interested in this stuff. I can handle it all and just say that you helped…”

He scowls. “Fuck no. Elliot is one of my best friends, and he pickedmeto be his best man. Granted, it was luck of the draw…”

“What do you mean?”

“The boys and I agreed that each of us would get to do it once in the event we ever got married. Elliot chose my name first, so this is my only shot to be a best man, and I don’t take that lightly. Besides, he wanted us to work together, and you know this would go a lot smoother if you’d just let me help.”

“I don’t need your help…”

“Well, too fucking bad, Laney. You’re getting it.” He taps the reception counter between us. “I’m only here for the wedding and a few days after, so I’m going to make each day count.” His face relaxes and then his voice softens too. “Besides, it’s been a long time since we’ve spent time together, just the two of us.”

I huff out a laugh as I mutter, “Yeah, well, that’s been intentional.”

“Care to explain why?” he fires back.

I don’t answer him because now is not the time nor the place to get into our history, and I can’t deny that his little speech was endearing. He truly cares about this, so I need to put aside my own issues and commit to what I signed on for. “You know what, fine. Come over to my place tomorrow since tonight I have plans, and we can work on the favors if you’re insistent on helping.”

He licks his lips, but there’s still a pinch in his forehead. “I’ll be there.”

“Good.”