Page 40 of The Love Trick

The thought brings a lump to my throat, one that I can’t quite swallow back down. I don’t know what about it has me feeling light in my head, but part of me just wants to know if it’s true, or if everyone justthinkshe looks at me a certain way now because we’re suddenly a couple. He did look at me tonight, though, in a way I’ve never noticed—andthatwasn’t for show. There was nobody else around.

I run my fingers through my hair as my phone buzzes in my purse. I pull it out, and my face instantly grows hot.

Blaze:Hope you’re having fun in your little black dress ;)

Chapter Fifteen

Blaze

Istareatmyphone, watching the three dots pop up while I wait for my second beer. This tiki bar is obnoxious, and everyone I came with is already wasted, so it’s a really good thing that the bar is attached to the resort.

Addy:I think I should’ve worn a grass skirt like these dancers, lol.

I laugh, then sober. My brain brings up the image of her in the hotel room. I’veneverbeen more attracted to someone before. It’s got to just be the fact that we’re in this fake dating mindset, butjeez, I wanted to touch her. I wanted tokissher.

It’s plaguing my mind with worry.

I mean, I’ve always had a slight urge to kiss Addy. There was a time I thought about kissing herconstantlyin college, but those feelings faded when I realized that ensuring Addy remained a lifelong friend was much more important. So I chose to practice self-control. If we didn’t kiss, or date, or cross any lines, there was a strong chance we could be friends forever. The decision paid off. Because now, a decade later, she’s become so much more than a friend. She’s family.

Though, as I said, the urge to kiss her never really went away…

And it’s at an all-time high right now.

“Hey, big fancy hockey player.” Robert claps his hand down on my shoulder. “We’re almost finished up here. You wanna go with us to the next bar? It’s just right over there.” He drunkenly points to another beach bar, this one closer to the ocean. “I think the girls might meet up with us.”

“Isn’t that against the rules?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing is against the rules, my man. Plus, it’s never as much fun without Aurora. She makes everything so much better.”

“So does Addy,” I blurt out, my mouth moving faster than my brain.

“Yeah, I know. You two are a good match. I can tell. I have that kind of intuition.” He slurs the last word, breaking into a chuckle. “I’m gonna text them to meet us.”

I pick up my phone again and quickly type out another text to Addy.

Me:Robert is planning for all of us to meet up at the beach bar next to the tiki bar. Let’s ditch them all and go to the pier.

The read receipt pops up a few minutes later, and I wait for her response, suddenly worried that she might’ve read into my message more than she should. I’ve been much more flirty with her than usual, and while it’s technically not breaking the rules, it might start breaking something inside of my chest.

Especially when all this is over and we have to go back to normal.

My phone pings with a reply.

Addy:Deal.

I smile to myself and ask the bartender for a water. The last thing I need is to get the same kind of buzz I got the first night we got here. It’ll lead to me doing something I shouldn’t. I can already feel my self-control waning, and the giddy excitement and anticipation building in my chest over meeting Addy at the pier…

Well, it’s concerning.

Because I don’t want to ruin our friendship.

And that’s what I keep telling myself as I slip off the bar stool to find the hottest woman on the island and take her someplace where we can be alone.

“Wow,” Addy says the moment she catches sight of me. “You look handsome.”

I glance down at my khaki slacks and white button-up. “I feel lame.”

She grabs my arm, leading me away from the bar and off toward the beach. “You look the part of a wealthy young man.” She says the words with an air of goofiness, and I chuckle, ignoring the warmth of her arm tucked in mine.

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