Page 39 of It's About Time
Herdiabolical 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 yourfiancéthat 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 sensefor 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 control right now.”
Laney sighs. “Fine, then maybe I’ll just grab the hose from outside and spray you off in your bed then…”
