Page 19 of The Love Trick

He stares at me blankly. “I don’t understand you sometimes.”

My shoulders fall. “I know. It’s a lot. But … Ireallyneed your help. There’s no way I’m going to find anactualboyfriend in the next week. Especially considering my terrible luck with relationships over the last twenty-nine years.”

Blaze pinches the bridge of his perfect nose. “I don’t even know what to say to that right now. Of all the things to go lying about…”

“I…” My mouth remains open, but I don’t have anything to say in defense of myself. Ididlie. “I was stupid.”

He shakes his head. “I didn’t say that. I just don’t get why it suddenly matters so much to you what your family thinks. Or why you think bringingmeto the wedding is a good idea. Can you even imaginewhat they’d think ifIwas your boyfriend? I’m the guy they side-eyeeveryChristmas because I don’t know proper table etiquette.”

“They only do that because we’ve been teaching you for almost a decade, and you still can’t seem to remember—”

“That’s not the point, Addy. And I really don’t care that they do that. But can you imagine what they’ll think when I’m introduced as yourboyfriend?” He spits out the word like it disgusts him, and a pang of hurt nails me right in the center of my chest.

My eyes drop to my shoes, and I shrug. “I don’t know.”

“Please don’t be upset…” His voice softens. “I just… What about us? What’ll happen when the trip to Hawaii is over? What will you tell them?”

I shake my head, forcing my eyes up to meet his. “We’ll just say it didn’t work out for us. We’re better just being friends.”

“I’ll suddenly be yourex-boyfriendto them.”

“We’ll go right back to normal, just like we always have been.”

There’s hesitancy in his gaze and he rocks back on his heels, folding his arms across his chest. “I don’t know… I really don’t like this idea. I mean, I love you, Addy, and I’d do anything for you, but this … this is a lot to ask. And I’m supposed to be going to Florida with the guys.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “If you don’t want to do it, then just say so.”

He falls silent, leaving tension to fill the space between us. His eyes study my expression, and I can tell he’s mulling it over. Blaze needs time to process things, I know that. But every minute feels like an eternity right now. I look away from him and just so happen to catch sight of theonepicture he does have in his living room, sitting on an end table.

It’s of him and me at Disney World five years ago.

In the photo, I’m wearing my Mickey Mouse ears, holding a slushie, with his arm draped around my shoulder. I’ve seen the picture a thousand times, but for some reason, at this moment, it hits differently.

We look …cute together.

My heart does a flip-flop in my chest, and I push it away.

I might’ve had a massive crush on Blaze in college, but it was never mutual—and it never would’ve worked. That crush has long faded. That ship has sailed.

So why am I even thinking about that right now?

Oh, yeah, because I’m asking him to be my fake boyfriend.

“Addy…” His voice catches my attention.

I look back at him. “Yeah?”

“Let’s go for a walk.”

My shoulders fall. “Okay.”

Anytime he asks me to go for a walk, it usually means that we’re going to have a heart-to-heart—and normally, I’mallfor it. But now? I’m a ball of nerves.

He slips on his tennis shoes and leads the way to the front door. He holds it open for me. I mutter a quick “thanks” and head down the sidewalk of his fancy neighborhood. The only sound between us for the first few minutes is our shoes on the pavement, but finally, he breaks the quiet.

“If Idon’tsay yes, what’re you going to do?”

I gaze up at him. “I don’t know. I guess I hadn’t thought that far ahead. But if it makes you feel better, I didn’t even consider asking you until Penny mentioned it on the phone.”

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