Page 86 of All This Time

My shoulders fall as I suggest, “Maybe that’s not what she said. Maybe we heard wrong.”

Dilynne shakes her head, her brows still furrowed. “Nope. I’m pretty sure I heard her correctly.”

As Tori approaches, I say quietly, “Look, I’m sure it’s nothing. Now scram if you don’t want to be around her anymore.”

Dilynne glares at me. “I’m beginning to resent the fact that you agreed to this.” She turns and walks right past Tori, the two of them glaring at each other in passing.

When Tori sees me again, though, her smile returns as she slides into the other side of the booth. “Sorry, work has just been insane.”

“I bet you’re looking forward to the honeymoon, huh?”

Tori nods. “You have no idea.”

When the waiter stops by our table, we place our order and then get down to business. “Well, let me catch you up to speed on everything,” I say, revisiting everything that Fletcher and I have taken care of so far. “Other than the favors and cake, I plan on getting my dress next week. There’s a store in Charlotte that has a great selection and a tailor on-site if I need any adjustments. The flowers are confirmed for delivery on Saturday morning, the caterer has confirmed with the winery and will arrive an hour before the ceremony so the food is readyfor the reception, and the photographer just needs you or Elliot to pay the remaining part of your deposit.”

Tori sighs. “I really appreciate you, Laney. I hope you know that.”

“Of course,” I say, even though part of me is definitely ready for this obligation of mine to be over. I’ve already mentally prepared a speech to politely decline if someone else asks me to be their maid of honor. After this weekend, it’s become abundantly clear that I haven’t been putting myself first, and I’m determined to change that.

“Any last-minute requests for the party this Saturday?” I say, reaching for my water. “I know you and Elliot said you didn’t care very much, but…”

Tori’s eyes light up. “Oh, we should have an ice luge that you do shots out of! There was one at a frat party I went to in college, and it was a huge hit!”

Where on earth am I going to order one of those?

“I’ll, uh, see what I can do.”

“Perfect.” Her phone rings again, but before she picks it up, I see the name flash across the screen. “Speaking of the groom,” she says, rolling her eyes before answering, “Hey, baby.”

See? She called Elliot ‘baby.’ Dilynne must have misheard her earlier.

“Oh, I’m at lunch with Laney. We’re talking wedding details.” A moment of silence while Elliot speaks on the other end of the call. “Elliot says hello.”

“Hey,” I reply back.

Tori laughs at something he said. “Well, I told her we should have an ice luge.” She nods. “Elliot agrees it’s a great idea.”

I give her a thumbs up. “I’ve added it to the list.”

After a few more minutes of sitting there, waiting for her to end the call, my phone chimes with a notification from my glucose app. Shit, I need to eat.

As if I summoned him, the waiter appears and delivers our food, but my phone chimes again, this time with a text.

Fletcher:You’d better be reaching for food right now.

Me:Your supervision is unnecessary.

Fletcher:Think of it as taking care of you, not supervising.

Me:I told you, I can take care of myself.

Fletcher:If that were true, why did you agree to let me make you come again?

His response makes a shiver run down my spine and my entire body grow hot. I glance up to see Tori still on the phone, so I continue to text.

Me:I could retract my verbal consent, you know.

Fletcher:But that’s not what you want.