Page 102 of All This Time
God, he’s so good with her. He would make such a great dad.
My hand covers the center of my chest as I imagine Fletcher with kids, but then I remember him saying once upon a time that he never wanted them.
That’s why there’s no point in entertaining that idea with him, Laney. That’s why you two agreed on just orgasms.
As that thought slams into me, the song ends and Ellis dramatically bows in front of us. Fletcher and I give her a round of applause.
“Ellis, I think you sing that better than Elsa does,” Fletcher tells her.
She reaches for the bowl of popcorn and then walks back over to her spot on the floor. “I know. I’m a pro-tessional.”
“I think you mean professional, sweetie,” I say.
“That’s what I said,” she replies while shoving popcorn into her mouth.
Fletcher and I share a laugh before he walks back over to where I’m standing, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Sorry for surprising you, but I was worried if I asked to come over that you’d tell me no.”
“I probably would have, but it was sweet of you to want to hang out with us.”
He cups the side of my face, the warmth of his touch heating up my body. “I brought stuff for ice cream sundaes, and a gift for Ellis in my truck.”
“Wait, what kind of gift?”
“It’s a strider bike. It doesn’t have pedals, so she uses her feet to move it. A few of my teammates swear by them for their kids. Theylearn the balance first, and then there’s no need for training wheels later.”
My mouth falls open slightly. “You—you bought her a bike?”
He takes a step closer to me, leaning his head down so his mouth lines up with my ear. “When are you gonna learn that I listen to everything you say, Laney?” He presses his lips to the spot behind my ear. “Especially when it involves people that I care about too.”
My eyes close as his words wash over me. “This seems way beyond our arrangement.”
When I open my eyes, his are narrowed at me. “Do you honestly think the only reason I would want to be here is to get you naked?”
“Uh, well…”
Leaning in again, he whispers in my ear, “I mean… Have I been thinking all day about all the ways I wanted to make you come tonight, to thank you for being there for me last night? Absolutely.” My skin grows hot. “But do I want to be near you in any way I can, even if that doesn’t include sex? Hell yes.”
“Fletcher,” I moan as his lips touch my neck ever so softly.
“I’ve thought about you all day,” he whispers right before Ellis’s voice cuts through our moment.
“Uncle Fletcher, why are you sniffing auntie?”
Fletcher’s head pops up as I twist away from my niece, hiding my laughter. “Well, Ellis… Your auntie smellsreallygood.” He leans over and whispers, “Tastes amazing too.”
Ellis drops the bowl beside her and runs up to Fletcher, holding her arm above her head, offering him her armpit. “I smell good too. Wanna see?”
Fletcher leans down to sniff her armpit. “You’re right. You smell delicious,” he says before pretending to eat her and tickle her all over. Ellis dissolves into a fit of laughter before Fletcher secures her on hiship again. “I have a present for you, but it’s outside. Would you like to see it?”
Her eyes light up. “I love presents!”
“I know you do. You’ve got to get your shoes on first, though.”
Ellis rushes to grab her shoes as Fletcher turns back to me. “Don’t overthink it, Laney.”
“I’m not,” I say a little too defensively—because I hate that he can read me that easily.
Inside, my mind is spinning, fighting furiously to push down those pesky feelings I’ve been trying to avoid. But when he goes and does stuff like this, it’s virtually impossible.
