Page 50 of All This Time

Little does he know that my walls are even more important when I’m around him. But after that little speech, they’re already starting to crumble.

“Thank you,” I say because anything else doesn’t feel right. I could snap at him again, tell him to back away, and stop talking to me as if he still knows me, but that wouldn’t reflect how I really feel—seen.

Fletcher truly sees me for who I am and all I have to offer someone.

The corner of his mouth lifts as he toys with my bottom lip again before dropping his arms and taking a step back from me. “That’s four thank-yous, by the way.”

Rolling my eyes, I move around him and head back to the table, fixing my hair and straightening my clothes on the way. “And you just ruined the moment.”

“As long as I made my point, that’s all I care about.”

Oh your point was very clear.

But did he say those things just to be nice, to not make me feel bad? Or were they genuine?

I’m not sure which option is worse.

“Let’s just get this done.” Sighing, I pull the opening apart on one of the organza bags, desperate to move past what just happened in the kitchen. But while tipping the bag of M&M’s into the bag with my other hand, I end up spilling them all over the table. “Shit.”

“Why don’t I hold the bags open and then you pour? That way it goes faster.”

“Sure.”

“See? This is why there’s two of us.” He grins at me and then moves his seat even closer to me than he already was.

I can feel my nipples tighten beneath my bra and curse my body’s reaction to him. Clearing my throat, I opt to change the subject. “Anyway, how does it feel being back in Blossom Peak? Have you seen your dad?” As soon as the words leave my lips, I regret them.

I can see Fletcher’s entire body tighten from the corner of my eye. “I have. I ran into him at Blossom Brews actually.”

“Really? How—how was it?”

“Same shit, different day,” he answers bluntly, continuing to fill the bags as I open up each new one. “But he didn’t exactly know I was coming to town, so I caught him off guard, which pissed him off.”

“Are you going to be all right with him coming to the wedding?”

He grunts. “Yeah, I’ll be fine, Laney. I’ll tell you this though, it sure was nice to seeyourdad the other night.”

My lips instantly curl into a smile at the mention of my father. Fletcher empties one of the bags of M&M’s and then reaches for a new one, tearing off the corner with his teeth again.

God, why is that so hot?

“Yeah, he’s doing well, and he sure does love those movie nights we do at the winery.”

“I can tell, although he spent most of the time at the popcorn cart, making sure it was working.”

Sighing, I open up another bag and watch him fill it up before pulling the strings together and tying them. “I keep telling him we need to buy a new one, but he doesn’t want to replace it yet.”

“Why not?”

“Because that’s the one my mom bought,” I answer.

Fletcher nods in understanding. “I see.”

“Anyway, other than that, the events have been doing well, and I help out with them as much as I can.”

“You’re always fucking helping people, Laney,” he says, pulling my attention back to him. “Your dad, Rhonan, Elliot…”

“Yeah, so…”