Page 94 of All This Time

“Never say never, Rhonan.”

We leave the deli and head back out to our cars. “Yeah, I guess I shouldn’t assume what the future holds, right?”

“Yeah, because life can take you by surprise.”

I might be speaking from my own experience, but it couldn’t be truer than what I’ve gone through in the past week and a half.

I came back to Blossom Peak as one man, but I’m hoping to leave as another.

And after today, I’m starting to realize—my biggest challenge won’t be changing my own future. It’ll be convincing the people I love that this change is a good thing, not a threat to the friendship we’ve spent years building.

Chapter 18

Laney

A Run-In and a Haircut

“You got it, Laney,” Justin says as he finishes scribbling down my order for the party.

“Do you think that will be enough?”

“I mean, youarefeeding Henley, Rhonan, Elliot, and Fletcher, plus more. But you’ve ordered enough food for a small army, so I think you’ll be all right,” he teases.

“Okay.” I sigh in relief and hand him my credit card. Blossom Brews only has a few customers right now because they just opened.

It’s Thursday morning and I left the salon to come over here and place the order for the food for the bachelor and bachelorette party on Saturday.

“Do you evereat at home?”

Dilynne’s voice makes me jump. My hand flies to the center of my chest as she takes a seat at the stool next to where I’m standing at the bar. “Jesus Christ! You scared the shit out of me.”

Laughing, she pulls her phone from her pocket, checks it briefly, and then slides it back into place. “Well, I hope you have an extra pair of pants on you, then.”

Rolling my eyes, I inhale deeply, trying to get my heart rate back under control. “To answer your question, yes, I eat at home. I’m here to order the food for Saturday.”

Dilynne nods in understanding. “Nice. The boys will like that.”

“That’s what Fletcher and I thought.”

“Speaking of Lucifer, how are things going there? Any more magical spells from the talented man?” she asks, using her euphemism for orgasm that she thought was clever, so I humored her.

“Oh, um…” I can feel my cheeks turning pink. “Yes, there have been a few.”

“And are you enjoying yourself?”

Tucking my hair behind my ear, I say, “Immensely.”

Dilynne slaps me on the back a little too forcefully. “I’m proud of you. How does it feel taking what you need and not worrying about the implications?”

I wish I could say that I’ve been able to do that, but the truth of the matter is that last night when Fletcher was at my house, I felt way too many feelings. His gesture of bringing me my favorite pizza and that cake from the bakery, his comment about me finishing my degree, and then him admitting that he hasn’t touched alcohol since he was drafted brought up way too many emotions.

The orgasms he gave me before he left helped remind me of what we agreed to, but I think I was naïve to think that I would be able to shut off everything that manmakes me feel.

“Well, I definitely don’t feel as tense.”

Dilynne laughs. “Yeah, that’s what a few orgasms will do for you. So, you guys have everything ready for the party? Not gonna lie, I’m dreading it a little bit.”

“Why?” She gives me a flat look because I should already know the answer. Choosing to redirect, I say, “Anyway…I’m in charge of food and games. We’re doing a Vegas theme with blackjack and poker tables, but I feel like that’s more for the guys. The women need something too, you know?”