Page 42 of The Love Trick

“Because you’re my best friend, and everything is always better when you’re there,” I say easily. “Maybe that’s weird, but you’re already the person I doeverythingwith. You’re my emergency contact, too, so I guess … I guess I wouldn’t have to change that.”

She bursts into laughter. “Onlyyouwould somehow twist a bachelor party into a conversation about emergency contacts.”

“Well, you’re missing the point.” I shift my body and angle it toward her. “You’re everything to me, Addy. I have my teammates, and they’re amazing—and like family—butyouare my family outside of that. I mean, I spend every holiday with you. I don’t know what I would do if I lost that.”

Her face softens, her eyes welling up with fleeting emotion that causes me near panic. But then it disappears. “I guess I’d have a joint bachelorette party with you, too.” She looks away from me. “I’d want the wedding to be beachside, though, not like Aurora’s. It seems silly to come all the way to Hawaii for a wedding just to have it indoors.”

“It could rain.”

“That would besoromantic. I’d want it to rain.”

I chuckle. “Only you’d want that, Addy.”

She turns to me. “Would you be mad if it rained?”

I sigh. “No, you’re right. It would be romantic. Maybe it’d make all the guests—and even the officiant—run for cover, and then I’d pull one of thoseNotebook-style kisses.” Even in the moonlight, I can make out her blushing at my comment—and once again, I feel panicky. “But”—I clear my throat—“obviously that wouldn’t happen because I wouldn’t ever kiss you. It’s against the rules.”

Addy’s smile disappears right off her face. “We were just talking hypothetically.” Her voice is flat. “Obviously, I know that.”

“Yeah, you’re like a sister to me,” I say stupidly.

“Yeah,” she says, turning her gaze back to the ocean. “Duh. Besides, we’ve been best friends for a decade. If something was going to happen, it would’ve happened by now, you know?”

“That’s a strange angle to come at it.” I furrow my brow. “I mean, things sometimes take time. I’m sure there are people out there who’ve been friends much longer than we have that ended up together. Maybe they just hide their feelings.” I don’t know why I’m saying any of this, especially when I just made it clear thatwearen’t like the people I’m talking about.

“Yeah, but I was talking about us.” Addy sighs, raking her fingers through her hair. “I don’t want to talk about other people.” I can tell by her tone that I’ve said something that bothers her—and I hate that.

But I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.

“You know, what we have is really special,” I say. “I don’t think many people are lucky enough to have a friendship like ours. We’re like the best of everything.”

She nods, albeit slowly. “Yeah, of course.” Addy pushes herself up off the bench. “I think I’m ready to call it a night. Are you tired?”

I’m not. I’m pretty sure I could sit here with her all night, but I nod anyway. “Yeah, I guess so. I probably need another shower, too.”

She laughs softly, but her smile doesn’t reach her eyes like normal. “Yeah, same here. I have so much makeup on my face, I’m pretty sure I could peel it off in one-inch layers.”

“Let me see.” I lean toward her, my finger heading toward her cheek.

She dodges me and swats at my hand. “Don’t even think about it. I’ll cut your finger off.”

“Fortouchingyour face?” I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re dangerous, Adeline Harper Williams.” I say it in the same snooty tone her granny does.

Addy bursts into laughter, and finally, her smile reaches those pretty blue eyes of hers. I breathe a sigh of relief.

Night saved.

Chapter Sixteen

Addy

Myeyesflutteropento the light from the window streaming across the bed, and I take a deep breath, catching Blaze’s scent.

And that’s when I feel the warmth against my back.

Oh. My. Goodness.

As my eyes adjust, I see his hand jutting out from beneath me on the mattress. His other arm is gently wrapped around my torso. He’s taking slow and steady breaths, still fast asleep. My heart starts to pound in my chest.

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