Page 53 of The Love Trick

“I feel like you’re being really weird right now.”

“Well, I mean, I am,” I answer flatly. “I broke the rules.”

Addy diverts her gaze away from me. I can’t tell which part she’s more mad over—the kiss or the rule-breaking.

I take a deep breath and lead the way to the elevator, stepping inside. We stand in silence, and I try to ignore how she’s avoiding my gaze.

This is exactly what I was afraid would happen with the fake dating stuff.

When the elevator reaches the third floor, it stops. The doors slide open, andof course, Addy’s parents are standing on the other side. Addy immediately scoots herself into me, her back hitting my lower chest, as they enter the elevator. I place my hand on the small of her waist, like we’re just another happy couple.

“What’re you two up to today?” Mrs. Williams asks us as she steps in, a bright smile on her face. Addy’s father follows closely behind.

“I have no idea,” Addy answers as the elevator doors close. “He says he has something planned.”

“Lunch of sorts,” I answer, forcing myself to smile, even though touching her like this has me dying on the inside. My mind takes me back to the way I was wrapped around her last night, my hands in her hair.

“Well, I hope the two of you have fun,” her father chimes in, giving me a look—one that saysyou’d better not screw this up.

It makes me wonder what he and Addy talked about at the beach last night.

I swallow hard. “It should be fun.”

Addy doesn’t say anything as the elevator hits the ground floor and we step out. We all go our separate ways, and just like before, the car sits there waiting for us. The driver opens the door to the black SUV. A picnic basket is ready and waiting in the third row.

It’s amazing the things a little cash can pull off.

The car pulls away from the curb and takes off toward a private beach that I managed to reserve for us today. Again, it’s incredible what money can buy. I’ve never really been one to throw my wealth around, but I’mdesperateto fix things with Addy—or maybe make them worse.

I’m a freaking ball of nerves.

“Well, this is fun,” Addy comments flatly after thirty minutes of dead silence in the backseat.

“Sorry.” I wince. I feel horrible and pray that the car will get to the beach already. “I just don’t know what to say. You know I get like this sometimes.”

“It’s okay.” She folds her arms across her chest, and that’s how she stays, even when the car parks and I climb out with the picnic basket.

“Are you coming?” I ask. “I really shouldn’t be drinking this bottle of wine all on my own. I might convince myself I’ll turn into a mermaid and go jump in the ocean.”

She cracks a smile. “I guess I should be there. For safety reasons.”

“Absolutely.” I breathe a sigh of relief as she climbs out. I’m having a really hard time reading her right now—which is abnormal for me. That being said,everythingfeels abnormal right now. My hands feel sweaty, and Addy’s gaze has my mind running in places it shouldn’t go.

I lead the way to the empty beach, feeling grateful for the overcast skies. I spread out the picnic blanket and then plop down. Meanwhile Addy stands there, staring at me.

“What are we doing?” she asks, biting down on her lower lip in a way that, once again, sends my mind running back to last night.

“We’re eating food and hanging out.” I pat the spot beside me. “So, take a seat, and let’s just be us.”

She hesitates but sits down … and then sighs. “I forgive you for last night.”

“Thank you,” I say quietly before pulling out the chilled bottle of wine and a glass. “Wine?”

“Yes, please.” She laughs. “My dad spent an hour last night giving me a pep talk about the importance of communicating with you about my future goals and desires in life. He saw us get into that little tiff, and he took it the wrong way.”

“Oh…” I pour us each a glass and hand Addy hers. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. And I still don’t get why you kissed me like that. There wasnothingcasual about that kiss.” She runs her finger around the rim of the wine glass as I pull out the fruit and fancy sandwiches.

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