Page 73 of All This Time

“Fine.” Henley drains the rest of his beer. “Itisloud as fuck in here, but that’s the only reason I’m leaving. A redhead was eyeing me earlier and I had every intention of taking her home tonight.”

“Sorry to be a cock block.”

“I’ll survive.” Henley follows me closely as we make our way toward the exit. “Funny how we used to enjoy this shit a few years ago, huh?”

“Well, wearein our thirties. Now, a good time is music low enough I can talk over, going to bed at a reasonable hour, and not waking up with a hangover the next day.”

Henley eyes me from the side. “You sound like Chandler from that episode ofFriendswhen the boys realize they’re too old to party anymore.”

When the cool air hits us as we walk through the front door of the bar, I chuckle. “Hate to break it to you, man, but I relate to that episode more and more every day.”

“This is just sad. Are you gonna be in bed by ten the night of the bachelor party then?” he asks as we head out to my truck. We had to park far away since this place is packed.

“Depends on how the night goes.”

I pull my phone from my pocket as we continue walking, bringing up my text thread with Laney.

Me:How are you getting home?

She responds almost instantly.

Laney:Claudia. She isn’t drinking.

Me:Good. Be safe.

Laney:*rolling eye emoji*

Me:And Laney?

Laney:What?

Me:I certainly hope that orgasm was better than the cake.

Laughing, I listen to Henley drone on about me being an old man now before we hop inside my truck. But I barely pay attention to anything else he says because as I drive us both back to Blossom Peak, the only thing on my mind is what it felt like touching, listening to, and seeing Laney come apart in my arms.

And as I grip the wheel, her scent still lingering on my fingers, one thing becomes crystal clear.

That was not a one-time thing.

Not even close.

Chapter 14

Laney

Benefits and Training Wheels

“You’re alive.” Hazel’s groggy voice says through the phone.

“I am, but are you?” Tucking my leg underneath me, I take a seat on my couch, holding my coffee cup in my hand.

“Just waking up,” she says before she bursts into a fit of giggles.

Sounds of rustling come through, and then a male voice replies. “She’s lying to you, Laney. I just fucked her hard into the mattress and she’s still recovering.”

The reminder of what Fletcher and I did on Friday night hits me hard, followed by the thought I’ve had a thousand times since…What if we’d kept going?

Hazel returns to the line with a groan. “Sorry. Gage doesn’t have a problem with sharing every detail of our lives, apparently.”