It's About Time (Blossom Peak #4)(72)

“Blackjack next week then?” Henley asks.

“Maybe later in the week. Dilynne and I have to go to Georgia this weekend to pick up one last part for the Porsche, and I need to get ahead on work for when we go out to California.”

Rhonan’s eyebrows both lift. “You’re going on a road trip with her?”

“ Dilynne has gone on plenty of trips by herself to pick up parts,” Henley argues. “Why do you need to go with her on this one?”

I cross my arms over my chest, widening my stance as I face him head on. “Why does it matter?”

“I mean…it doesn’t, but…”

“For your information, part of the reason I’m accompanying her is so we can strategize for Motorlux. Being stuck in the car will give us plenty of time to do so, time that she doesn’t want to give up as she races to finish the car.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Fletcher says, bouncing his eyebrows. Luckily, Henley doesn’t catch it because he’s too busy glaring in my direction.

I roll my eyes. “I wasn’t looking for your approval.”

“Are you two driving out to Motorlux together too?” Rhonan asks.

Henley shakes his head, answering for me. “No. There’s a delivery service for the car. All cars have to be finished a week before the show and then they’re sealed in trailers until the big event.” Remy starts to grow fussy in his arms. “I’m gonna grab some popcorn for Elodie and meet you guys inside, all right?”

We nod and then watch him walk away. As soon as he’s out of earshot, Fletcher leans in closer to me, Rhonan following his lead. “Okay, Henley is gone. Now you can tell us everything.”

“You sound like a teenage girl looking for gossip,” I say.

Rhonan shrugs. “I’m with Fletcher. I feel like there’s way more going on than you wanted to say in front of Henley, and since Fletcher and I know how you’re really feeling about Dilynne…” He checks around us to make sure no one is listening, and luckily, Tori is farther away from us now. “We’re fucking invested, man. We just want to support you.”

I b low out a breath and push my hand through my hair again. “What do you want me to say? That we’ve had a few moments that felt…natural? Real? That she’s tempting me in ways I didn’t expect? That having her at my parents’ house for dinner made me protective over her in a way I’ve never felt with anyone else? Even Tori?”

Fletcher rubs his palms together. “Hell yeah. That’s exactly what we want to hear.”

“So this road trip…?” Rhonan prods.

“I honestly don’t know what to expect, but all I know is that I wanted to go with her.” And it’s true. The thought of her going by herself made my chest tight, the same tightness that only she can calm.

Fletcher rubs his chin. “And what’s the vibe you’re getting from Dilynne?”

My eyes drift over to the main building of the winery where she is. “Fuck. She’s…”

But I don’t get a chance to finish my sentence because someone is tapping on my shoulder from behind. I turn around and come face to face with Tori.

“What do you want?” I snap.

Tori’s eyes bounce between me and the guys. She plants a hand on her hip, her pleading demeanor from earlier long gone. It’s wild to me that I never noticed how quickly she could flip a switch between two personalities before. Just another way this woman blinded me with her deception and acting abilities.

“You know what I find interesting?” she asks.

When I don’t respond, she keeps going. “Every time you and Dilynne touch, it seems to be initiated by her, like it’s unnatural for you to touch her first. You were never like that with me.” She tilts her head. “Which makes sense, considering you two could barely stand each other before.”

I s tep closer, lowering my voice. “Sounds like you just can’t accept the fact that I’ve moved on.”

Her eyes narrow, but she remains silent.

“You should worry a lot less about what I’m doing and a hell of a lot more about whatever mess you’ve gotten yourself into with my dad.”

With wide eyes, she goes to speak, but I’m not finished. “You need to leave. And you can tell my father that whatever little plan the two of you schemed up isn’t going to work.”

She lifts her chin. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Holding her gaze, I say, “I know more than you think. Yeah, that’s right. I heard you’re little conversation outside by the dumpsters. And I know my father… Whatever you think you’re getting out of this won’t be worth it.”

Her eyes flicker, just for a second, and that’s all the confirmation I need. With a huff, she whirls around and storms off, leaving me alone with Rhonan and Fletcher again.

Fletcher slaps me on the back. “Proud of you, my friend.”

I blow out a frustrated breath. “I seriously don’t know what I ever saw in her.”

“You think telling her you know she’s up to something with your dad was a good idea?” Rhonan asks.

I shrug. I know I shouldn’t have shown my cards to Tori right away, but fuck, the woman just won’t stop. And she wouldn’t stop trying to allude to the truth of mine and Dilynne’s relationship. So, the only thing I could think of was to throw her dishonesty right back in her face. “Probably not, but I hope I made a point.”