Page 14 of The Love Trick

I nearly choke on the air in my lungs. “What? No, we haven’t!”

“Oh, sorry. I guess that was just an assumption because you two watch so much Netflix together.” She giggles. “Anyway, just ask him. He’s made it pretty obvious over the years that he’ll do practically anything for you, so I can’t see why he wouldn’t agree to do this.”

My heart jumps to my throat as I try to picture the conversation. He’s going to balk at the idea, I know that—and he’s probably going to think I’m completelyinsanefor not being honest with my family.

I squeeze my eyes shut and take a deep breath.

I should just try to find a random guy to take, but…

Penny does have a point. I’m safe and comfortable with Blaze.

And maybe if I brought someone who’s the total opposite of all the previous guys I’ve dated, my family will finally back off.

“But I don’t know,” I think aloud. “I’d be putting Blaze under the scrutiny of my family. I don’t see how that could possibly be a good idea.”

“Like he hasn’t been scrutinized by them before?” Penny muses. “He’s been around your family for a decade. I don’t think there’s anything they could say or do that would surprise him. Besides, I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but your family is really not allthatbad. Not your parents anyway.”

“I know, I know,” I mumble. “But when my mom gets around my granny Esme, it’s like she transforms into this Stepford wife.”

“Is that because she’s trying to keep up appearances for her own mother?”

I pause, never having considered this before.

“Maybe. My grandparents are very traditional and have high expectations for all of us. It’s exhausting. I mean, they think that women should be married and popping out babies by no later than twenty-five. And that may have worked for them, but times are different now. Dating is a whole lot more complicated than it was fifty years ago.”

“Those little old ladies gripe and complain about everything. And I get it. My aunty Jill spent two hours walking around my house and harping about my lack of old century décor. Do I know what that is? No. Do I care? Also,no. Maybe you should start focusing more on whatyouwant and worry less about what your family thinks.”

“I’m not as tough as you,” I answer, feeling guilty. “Sometimes, it’s just hard living in Aurora’s shadow. She’s literally the golden child who followed the path laid out for her without questioning it. And this wedding has just amplified the fact that I’m going to be forever alone. I mean, not like that’s the worst thing, but—”

“You’re not going to be forever alone, Addy.” She laughs. “You have me. And Blaze.”

“You know what I mean.” I sigh. “I just want my family to leave me alone for a while. It’s exhausting being constantly chided and whispered about. Maybe having a wedding date will finally shut them up.”

“So, are you going to take Blaze as your date, then?” Penny asks, her voice expectant.

“I don’t know.” I hesitate. “I don’t want to make him angry.”

“Why would he be angry?”

“Because it might make things weird between us. I don’t want to make anything weird. I just want things to be … well, the way they’ve always been.”

“Sometimes, things need to change,” Penny says, a hint of something I don’t understand in her voice. “But also, nothing will change so long as you both work to ensure it doesn’t.”

“Contradictory advice.”

“Let’s not forget thatyou’rethe one who’s trying to nab a boyfriend because you think you need to fit into some narrative your snobby grandmothers have.” She chuckles. “But I think you should just go talk to Blaze and settle your mind. I’m sure it’ll go fine. Like I said, that man would do anything for you. It’s admirable, really. Sam could take a few lessons.”

I laugh. “Oh, stop. Sam treats you like a queen.”

“As he should.”

Penny and I spend the next thirty minutes talking about her life, her three kids, and events in New York City. It’s our usual conversation, one we seem to have every few days or so, but I can hardly focus. All I can think about is what Blaze is going to say when I show up at his door…

Asking him to be my fake boyfriend.

Chapter Six

Blaze

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