Page 66 of All This Time

I suddenly feel dizzy. Bracing myself on a toolbox behind me, I say, “You really think so?”

Dilynne shrugs. “Yeah, I do. But, I wasn’t there. You were. So, you’re the only one that truly knows what happened between you two, but I will say this.” She points her wrench up at me again. “You’ve spent almost twelve years wondering if the man felt the same way about you because you never got that validation back then. I hate to say it, babe…but I think you got it from him the other night.”

“I—I don’t know.”

She straightens her spine. “I’m gonna ask you something and don’t be mad at me.”

“I hate when you lead with that.”

“I’m just forewarning you. But Laney…do you think there’s even a chance that maybe what you saw that night twelve years ago wasn’t what you thought it was?”

The image of Fletcher in that final moment that sealed the deal for me flashes in my mind. “I know what I saw. And I know what he said—or didn’t say.”

“Then why would he be putting forth all this effort to get on your good side?”

“Because he’s Rhonan’s best friend. Because he cares about Elliot and is taking this best man duty seriously. Or maybe he doesn’t remember that night because he’d been drinking. Or maybe he thinks he can get laid while he’s here on his little mini-vacation and then go back to his life as a playboy wide receiver in the NFL.”

“You know what’s weird, though?” She taps her chin in thought.

“What?”

“He’s never actually been confirmed to be dating anyone.”

“Yeah, because he probably just has one-night stands and licks cake off of their fingers too.”

Dilynne clears her throat while arching a brow at me. “Is that…from personal experience or…?” Her eyes widen. “Oh my God. Did he do that when you two went cake tasting yesterday?”

I close my eyes and nod. “Yes. He was flirtatious, hand-fed me samples of cake, and sucked on my fingers to the point that I thought I was going to have an orgasm right there in the bakery.” I cover my face when I remember what that led to. “Then I made the mistake of admitting out loud how I haven’t had an orgasm from something other than my hand or a vibrator in three years…”

Dilynne stares at me, barely blinking. “You are so fucked, so the only thing left to do is fuck him and get it out of your system.”

“That’s your advice?”

“What?” She throws her hands to the side. “You know I’m not the relationship type. Sex without feelings is my love language, Laney.”

“God, I wish I could do that.”

She shrugs. “You can. You just live out the fantasy of being with him, enjoy these next couple of weeks hopefully full of mind-blowing orgasms, and then move on knowing you’ll no longer wonder what if.”

“I just really wish I didn’t feel anything for him at this point. It would make this a lot easier.”

“Again, I think you’ve built this whole thing up in your head, so maybe it’s just time to face it and find out the truth.”

“I think I’d rather get a root canal.”

Dilynne laughs before looking back at the car. “To each their own, but don’t forget we’re going out Friday night, if for nothing else than to get your mind off of this whole thing.”

I fake a cough. “I don’t know. I think I feel a cold coming on.”

She glares at me. “Don’t even think about it. You’re going.”

“Ugh.” I stomp my feet and then turn to exit the shop. “You know, you’re not my mom. You can’t make me go.”

“Oh, yes, I can. Remember that I know how to do wicked things with a pair of pliers.” She shakes her finger at me. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

***

“Who are these people?” Lifting my drink to my mouth, I suck on the straw between my lips. The strawberry and lime margarita is going down smoothly with only a hint of a burn from the tequila.