Page 13 of The Love Trick

I frown. “I can’t even get a guy to meet me two blocks from his house for a coffee date. How am I supposed to convince someone to fly across the ocean with me?”

“I don’t know, ask?”

“Ugh.” I let out a frustrated groan and shake my head. “This kind of stuff doesn’t come as easy for me as it does for you. You’ve always had men falling at your feet. But I don’t have that. I’ve never had a guy truly care about me.”

“Um…” Penny’s voice trails off. “You act like your best friend isn’t a man.”

“Who? Blaze? He doesn’t count.”

“Why not? He’s super hot, super rich, and would literally go to the ends of the earth for you.”

“As a friend,” I remind her. “He’s never seen me as anything more than his basket-case best friend.”

“I’m not going to argue with you there, because we’ve gone down this road before, but…” Her voice trails off. “I think you should give yourself a little credit. You’re beautiful, smart, funny, and you work harder than anyone I know. You’re a catch. And you need to startbelievingthat you are.”

I sigh, pushing myself up into a seated position. “Okay, but here’s the problem. EvenifI believed all those things, I still don’t have a date for my sister’s wedding, and I’msotired of always beingthatperson.”

“I don’t know what you mean by that.” Penny laughs. “But the answer to your problem is literally right in front of your face, honey.”

“Huh?”

“Blaze.”

“What?”

“You heard me,” she says. “Don’t pretend like you didn’t.”

I groan. “He’s myfriend.”

Penny lets out an overdramatic, exaggerated sigh. “That’s the point. Have himpretendto go as your boyfriend. He gets to go to Hawaii, and you get to spend time with someone you’re comfortable with—strangelycomfortable with, actually.”

I blow out a sharp breath, mulling it over. “My family would never approve of him as more than just my friend, though.” Penny is quiet for a few moments. “Penny?”

“Sorry,” she says. “I just think you’re nuts, but honestly, who cares if they approve of him? He’s a little rough around the edges, yeah, but maybe if you take him as your date, they’ll let up. Or maybe they’ll see they shouldn’t be pressuring you so much. I don’t know.”

I think about it for a few minutes, including how I would even go about trying to explain this predicament to Blaze, or if he’d even agree to it—and it makes me nervous. “Maybe I should try to find another date before I go asking him.”

“Okay, you could try. I mean, who knows, maybe you’ll walk out your front door and smack right into the man of your dreams? Though, I have to ask… Do you even know what the man of your dreams would be?”

I hesitate, trying to conjure up an answer. “I … I’m not sure. Probably someone who cares about me like Blaze does, but who also wants to kiss me and stuff?”

She bursts into laughter. “Oh, my goodness.”

“What?”

“Do you remember when you had a crush on Blaze in college? He wasallyou talked about. I thought you were borderline obsessive.”

“Oh, stop,” I warn her. “I was just a clueless, sheltered eighteen-year-old kid. And Blaze was the bad boy on the hockey team with all his mystery and intrigue. He rode a motorcycle. Tons of girls drooled over him.”

“And yet, he chose you.”

“As his friend,” I clarify for what feels like the hundredth time. “He chose me as his friend.”

“Has he ever had a girlfriend?”

I shrug. “Not that I know of. He pretty much puts all his time and energy into hockey. He’s always said that he doesn’t have time to date. You know, the typical excuse that a guy uses when he doesn’t want to commit. I’m pretty sure half the hockey team is like that. I don’t think any of them have serious relationships, except for Cam.”

Penny sighs. “Well, still, my point remains. I think your best bet is to ask Blaze to be your date—I meanfakedate. That way, you’ll be with someone you know and trust, which will make the wedding way more enjoyable. And it wouldn’t bethatawkward. I mean, the two of you have basically seen each other naked.”

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