Page 85 of All This Time

“Never say never, son.” He turns around and picks up the cash off the gravel, peering around us to make sure no one saw him, and then heads inside the entrance to the courtyard to get his fix before the winery closes. He must go home before he causes any problems. That must be the only logical explanation as to why they continue to serve him.

As I sit in my truck and stare out the front window, the two thorns of my life come at me from both sides—my unrelenting feelings for my best friend’s little sister, and my alcoholic father.

Then the conversation with Elliot comes back to me, reminding me of how short life is. I’m tired of avoiding parts of mine because of my dad. I need to let shit go so I can move on.

I’m just not sure how I’m supposed to do that when every time I feel like I can breathe, he pulls me back underwater with him, leaving me fighting for air.

Chapter 16

Laney

Party Planning and Asking for What I Need

“When is the Wicked Witch of the West supposed to get here?”

Rolling my eyes, I check my phone on the table where we’re seated in Blossom Brews. “She’s only a few minutes late.”

“Good to know she doesn’t value your time. I mean, it’s not like you’re trying to run a business or anything.” Dilynne purses her lips, clearly annoyed. “Maybe a house fell on top of her on her way here.”

“You know, you don’t have to stick around. I’m pretty sureyou’rethe one who sat down on your own accord.”

“Well, excuse me for wanting to check on my best friend when I saw her across the restaurant.” Dilynne plants her hands on her hips. “If you hadn’t canceled our dinner date tonight, then I wouldn’t have even bothered to stop by. You’d have gotten a quick wave and then I’d be on my way.”

“I’m sorry, but this is the only night I have free this week, and we’ve yet to make any concrete decisions regarding the party. It has to get done tonight.”

“Yeah, you’ve been too busy letting Fletcher drag you into a dark hallway and have his way with you to plan a party, huh?” she whispers, and I’m very grateful she had the decency to do that.

After my phone call with Hazel on Sunday, I sauntered next door and filled in my best friend about what happened the night before while she was getting ready for her car show. And when I told her that I was considering propositioning Fletcher for a physical arrangement, she was more than supportive, even though I was still concerned about my lingering feelings.

Dilynne’s advice was to focus on the physical feelings during the act and avoid kissing.

I’m still not sure I’m capable of that, but I’m damn sure going to try because I owe it to my vagina. She’s been neglected for far too long.

“Oh, look who’s here…” Dilynne turns toward the front door of the restaurant as Tori waltzes in, tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder.

“Hi, Laney.” Her voice is cheerful as she greets me. But when she turns to Dilynne, her smile falls, her eyes narrow, and one of her brows lifts. “Dilynne.”

“Triple W,” Dilynne fires back.

Tori’s brows draw together. “What?”

“Dilynne was just leaving,” I say as Tori’s phone starts to ring.

She glances at the screen and sighs. “Ugh. Excuse me, I have to take this. Order me an iced tea, will you?” she asks. But as she walks away, she answers the phone, “Hey, baby.”

Dilynne tilts her head to the side. “That was weird.”

“What?”

“She seemed annoyed when she saw who was calling, but judging by how she answered, it was Elliot.”

I process what she’s saying. “Oh, uh…maybe she’s talking to someone else?”

“Who else would she call ‘baby’ then?”

“A friend?” I say, growing more uneasy.

“One, I thought she didn’t have any friends. And two, do you call your friends ‘baby’?”