Page 11 of The Love Trick

I glance up at Tea Parlor and then back to my dress. There’s no way I have time to change. I check my watch, feeling myself on the verge of pathetic tears, but I shake them off. It’s not like I could’ve prevented someone from running into me…

Well, me running into them.

But whatever.

I head up the steps and through the door, beelining it for the restroom to assess the damage and attempt to salvage my dress. I try to dab at the coffee stain with paper towels, but it only seems to spread further. I stare at my reflection in the mirror, and with a heavy sigh, I resign myself to the fact that there’s no salvaging the dress now.

I’m out of time.

I straighten my shoulders and step out of the restroom, plastering a fake smile on my face as I see Molly, her eyebrow already raised.

“Just tell me what room they’re in.”

“Same as before,” she says. “You’re the last one here.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, ignoring the way the wet fabric still clings to my skin, and then force myself forward, trying not to have a panic attack as I push open the door and present myself in a worse-for-wear condition.

“Oh my…” My mother draws it out like she’s struggling to cope with what she’s seeing. “What … whathappened,Adeline?”

Granny Esme huffs. “It looks like she fell in the mud. I swear, I don’t even know where the girl could find mud in the city.”

I stare past them all to Aurora, whose expression is nothing short of sympathy.

“Someone spilled coffee down my dress just outside.” My tone is flat.

“That’s why you should always bring a change of clothes with you,” Great-Grandma Jean finally speaks up, her eyes laser-focused on my face. “And maybe not wait until the last minute to get here. I can see that you’re winded, Adeline. Rushing leads to clumsiness.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I say, dipping my head. “I have a change of clothes in my bag, but—”

“You need to clean up before tea,” Granny Esme interjects. “I’m disappointed, Adeline.”

“Yes, ma’am.” My voice softens once more. I look to my mother. She shakes her head, giving me thatI don’t know how to help you out of this oneface. “I…”

“You know when I was your age, I was married with children, managing a household and making sure everyone was presentable at all times. Yet, you can’t even manage to show up to tea on time in a clean dress,” Granny Esme adds, leaving me sweating and growing angry on top of being humiliated. “It’s starting to make sense why you can’t find a husband … or even adatefor the wedding.”

My hands begin to tremble.

I can’t take this anymore.

“Ihavea date to the wedding,” I blurt out, my voice sharp and confident. “And he’s not just my date, he’s myboyfriend.”

Everyone in the room goes deathly quiet, and I stomp around the table, jerking out my chair and plopping down.

My sister watches me with wide eyes, handing me a napkin—like it can save the monstrosity of a stain on my dress. She leans in and asks the one question everyone else is waiting for: “Who is it?”

I look her dead in the face, shoving the napkin in the top of my dress. “You can meet him when we’re getting on the plane for Hawaii.”

Because I have to find him first.

Chapter Five

Addy

WhathaveIdone?

I rake my fingers through my hair as I bring up the calendar on my phone. I literally haveone weekto find a boyfriend who’s willing to fly with me to Hawaii for a wedding. It’s impossible. It’s not logical.

Why did I run my big fat mouth?

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