Page 52 of All This Time

But why else would he do such a thing? Is it just friendly? Or does he have another reason?

When we fill the last bag, I begin to place them in the cardboard box.

“Sure you don’t want to tackle something else while I’m here?” Fletcher asks from beside me.

“I think this was enough for tonight.”

“Then what’s on the agenda for tomorrow?”

“Why do we need to do anything tomorrow?”

“Uh, because tomorrow’s Wednesday, and in case you forgot, we have a party next Saturday we need to plan. Not to mention, if we’re going to order a cake, we need to do that as soon as possible.”

I glance over at him and sigh. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Damn, hearing that from you just made my day.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Don’t get used to it.” Lifting the box of favors, I take them back to my spare room and place them inside so they’re safe and out of the way. But when I turn to leave, Fletcher is standing right in the doorway. “Excuse me,” I say, motioning for him to move.

But he just stands there, staring at me, a crooked smile on his lips. “I’m going to get you to admit we’re still friends before this wedding is over, Laney.”

“Ha. Friends is a strong term, Fletcher. Let’s just agree to be civil while we handle this wedding crap, and then we can both go back to our separate lives.” I move to walk by him, but he shifts to block me inside. “Come on, Fletcher.”

He lifts his hand and moves to tuck my hair behind my ear, his soft touch sending shockwaves across my skin. “Youcome on, Laney. There was a time where we talked about everything, where you were the person I looked forward to seeing the most—a time when you were myfriend.”

“Well, a lot has changed since then.”

His thumb caresses my jaw as his fingers trail down my neck. I can hear my heart racing in my ears. “Oh, I’m aware. But how we used to be? That’s something that I’ll never regret.”

Any words I had ready to say back to him die on my tongue. Instead, I wait for him to move aside and then walk past him and head straight for the front door, eager for him to leave. The push and pull betweenus tonight was far more intense than I anticipated, and what I need right now is space to process it all.

“I guess I’ll be going then.” Fletcher appears from the hallway to find me at the door, my hand on the knob.

“Yeah. It’s time.”

When there’s only a fraction of space between us, he shoves his hands in his pockets. “So, what time should we meet at the bakery tomorrow?”

“My first client is at eleven, so I can meet before that. How’s ten?”

“Sounds good.”

When I open the door, he stares at me for a few moments before walking through. And even though I want to hang on to my icy demeanor, I can’t let him leave without saying one last thing.

“Fletcher?”

He turns to face me as he’s halfway down the driveway. “Yeah?”

“Thank you,” I state softly.

The corner of his mouth lifts. “For helping? I thought that was the point.”

I shake my head. “Not just that.” With a deep inhale, I say, “Thank you for supporting my salon yesterday.”

His face softens as his lips spread wider. “My pleasure, Laney. You should be proud of what you’ve created.”

“I am.”

“And now my thank-yous are up to five.”