It's About Time (Blossom Peak #4)(39)

Rhonan, Fletcher, and I watch him leave the room with his phone plastered to the side of his face. Then Fletcher meets my gaze. “How did this even become a thing?”

I tip my beer back and drain the rest of it, not completely relaxed now but more than I was when I got here. “You know that Dilynne hates Tori just as much as I do,” I explain.

“You used to not hate Tori, though,” Fletcher counters.

“Well, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I do now.” He doesn’t say anything, so I continue. “Look, I have no desire to be with her again, but she’s been trying to talk to me about what happened between us, asking if there’s a chance for us. Having Dilynne as a buffer isn’t the worst idea. And I’m not the only one getting something out of this. Dilynne needs my help with something too.”

A pinch develops in Rhonan’s brow. “What on earth could you possibly help that woman with? You know jack shit about cars, so…”

“Thanks.”

He shrugs. “I’m just speaking the truth.”

Henley comes back into the room, slumping down into his seat before glaring at me. “She said it’s true. What the hell are you two thinking?”

“What did she tell you?”

“That I’m not her father and she’s a grown woman so I can shut the fuck up.”

Fletcher huffs out a laugh. “Sounds about right.”

“Making Tori think that I moved on isn’t a bad idea. You have to admit that.”

Rho nan shoots me a look that says far more than what he actually voices. But I don’t want to think about that right now. “No, I think this is stupid. I mean, how in the hell are you two going to convince everyone that you’re suddenly in love and getting married?”

I shrug. “We’re actually both better actors than either of us thought. Besides, when Dilynne is in front of Tori, she really goes all in. Pissing her off is making her giddy. It’s fucking diabolical, but funny too,” I say, the corner of my mouth lifting. Rhonan widens his eyes at me, instantly making my lips fall back in line. “Anyway, you three don’t have to understand or agree with this, but you need to have my back at least.”

The three of them look at each other. Fletcher nods. “You know we do.”

“Good.”

“But do you honestly think you’re ready to pretend you’re about to get married again?” he adds. “The fact that it’s Dilynne is one thing, but after what you went through…”

“I’m good,” I cut in, standing from my chair to toss my empty beer bottle in the recycling can and reach for a water from the fridge this time. I shouldn’t have another drink so I can drive myself home later, and no amount of beer is going to make me feel entirely resolute in this decision anyway. “Trust me. I’m in a much better place than I was a year ago.”

After Tori left, alcohol and I had a tumultuous relationship, especially when I was out in public. It was the only way I could handle the stares and whispers. I saw the pity in people’s eyes when they looked at me, even from my own fucking friends, and I hated it.

But I’m finally at a point where I can have a few beers and not feel the need to get shit-faced.

I ’ve never been a weak person. I’ve never been someone that others looked at with sorrow and sadness. I’ve spent most of my adult life trying to just live up to the expectations that my grandfather and father had for me, and the expectations I had for myself.

And then my grandfather’s voice enters my mind. “You’ll always make me proud as long as you stay true to who you are.”

It took me a while, but I finally feel like I’ve found myself again, and the new version of who I am too—the man who now knows that Tori’s betrayal is just a part of my story, not the whole thing.

Although I never thought the new me would agree to a fake engagement, yet here we are.

“This isn’t ending in a real marriage, in case you three weren’t aware of that,” I continue as I make my way back to my seat.

Rhonan looks at Henley. “Is Dilynne…”

“She admitted it was her idea and that she’d rather eat regurgitated hot dogs than marry Elliot in real life, so…” He shakes his head. “I think they’ll be fine.”

Fletcher pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’m sure that Laney is aware of this too, then?”

“I would imagine so. And you two are free to tell your women now as well,” I say, pointing to Rhonan and Henley. “The only people that aren’t going to be privy to the truth are my parents and Tori, obviously.”

“Well, I assume so, given that your dad is the one who brought Tori back into your life.”

I sigh. “Trust me, I’m most confused by that.”

Henley leans back in his chair. “I don’t like this.”

Rhonan juts his chin in Henley’s direction. “It’s weird when it’s your sister, isn’t it?”

Hen ley glares at Rhonan as Fletcher casts his gaze to the side of the room. “Well, I see we’re gonna make things awkward now, aren’t we?”

I set my water bottle on the table. “Actually, do you guys mind if we just play some blackjack, please? I could use something to take my mind off the shit show that is my life right now.”