It's About Time (Blossom Peak #4)(30)

I bristle at that. “Give me some credit. I have no desire to allow her back in my life. I haven’t spent all of these months in therapy for nothing.”

“Scars can fade, but they’re still there, Elliot.” She points to the center of her chest. “Wouldn’t you agree? And seeing Tori might stir some feelings up for you that you thought you’d dealt with. Letting her think she has any chance of getting you back is only going to fuck with you too.”

Our eyes are locked as her words resonate, and in that moment, I realize that Dilynne isn’t just talking about my scars. She’s referring to her own too.

Groaning, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I can’t believe I’m even considering this.”

“Just think of how fun it’s going to be to piss off Tori,” Dilynne adds, smiling from ear to ear.

The corner of my mouth tips up. “True. Is that part of your motivation for doing this too?”

“Um, duh. I’m hoping I can make flames come out of her ears at some point. That’s the ultimate goal.”

“And Vinnie? What do you want from him?”

Her diabolical smile falls as she grows serious. “Regret,” she answers honestly, making my pulse spike.

I want to prod her more, but if there’s one thing this woman has clearly shown me this evening, it’s that she’s keeping the extent of her scars close to the vest. And for once, I understand that more than I should.

“Fine.”

Her satisfied smirk reappears. “This is going to be so much fun, Grumpzilla.”

“Get that out of your system now. Calling your fiancé that won’t sell this.”

“Why not? Just because we supposedly tolerate each other now doesn’t mean that our entire dynamic has to dissolve. I mean, maybe it was your grumpiness that made me see you in a different light.”

“Or my grumpiness made the ice around your heart finally thaw?”

“Ice Queen? Really?”

I tilt my head at her. “Nah. Ice Queen doesn’t really fit you. Hades is more appropriate.”

“Fuck you, Thorne.”

“You wish,” I fire back.

Dilynne gags. “Gross. No thank you. I don’t need an STD.”

“But you’re the one with syphilis, remember?”

She glares at me. “Oh, trust me. I haven’t forgotten about that little stunt.”

“You sure? Because you were quick to ask me to be your fake fiancé…”

She leans forward in her seat. “Out of desperation only. Yours, that is.”

I match her body language, leaning forward as well. The faint smell of grease and flowers hits my nose, such a bold contrast, which makes sense for such a dynamic person. “The only thing that I’m going to be desperate for is this arrangement to end.”

Dilynne huffs out a laugh. “Well, that makes two of us. But who knows? Maybe this will work out better than we imagine?”

From your lips to God’s ears, woman—because the only thing I can see happening is one hell of an epic disaster.





Chapter 11





Dilynne



True Heartbreak & Acting the Part



Five Years Ago


“Dilynne?” Laney’s faint voice cuts through my mental fogginess.

I open one eye to make sure it’s her, then roll back over on my bed. “I’m sleeping.”

Laney blows out a breath. “And stewing in your own filth, it seems.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I mutter.

“I can smell you from outside. Now, if you don’t get up and take a shower, I’ll be forced to take one with you.”

“You’ve seen me naked,” I mumble, burying myself deeper into the mattress and covering my head with the blanket. “Just warning you that my bush is out of contro l right now.”

Laney sighs. “Fine, then maybe I’ll just grab the hose from outside and spray you off in your bed then…”

I roll over and meet her eyes. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Her arms are crossed over her chest, and one of her eyebrows is painfully high on her head. “Try me.”

“Fine.” Groaning, I roll off the bed onto the floor, landing with a thud. “Ow.”

“You did that to yourself.” But my eyes instantly fill with tears as I choke back a sob. Laney rushes over to me, helping me out of my blanket cocoon, holding me to her chest. “Hey, you okay? Did you hurt yourself?”

“No,” I mumble through my tears. “But my chest…” I place my hand over the center of it as pain radiates from the organ I wish I couldn’t feel right now.

Laney presses her lips to the top of my head. “I know, Dil. I know. Nothing hurts worse than heartbreak.”

“I hate him.”

“I do too.”

Wiping my nose on my sleeve, I shake my head. “Now I understand how you felt about Fletcher.” I lift my eyes to hers. “I’m sorry that I…”

Laney presses her finger to my lips. “Don’t apologize. You didn’t get it, but trust me. I wish you never had to.”

“Men. Such a waste. Why couldn’t God have just made the penises but not attach them to despicable human beings? Especially ones that stick their penises in other women when they’re supposed to be in love with you?”