Page 8 of The Love Trick

It’s one of the many reasons why I adore her.

“I’ll let it go,” I tease, “ifyou stop worrying so much about what your family thinks. I know you’re close with them and all. But lately, I don’t know … I think you’ve been letting them get under your skin too much.”

“I know,” she agrees, and then her blue eyes grow wide. “Oh my gosh, I totally just word-vomited all over you and never once asked what you were up to. I’m so sorry. How’s your day?”

I chuckle. “I think that’s our norm, right?” I shoot her a wink and lean back in the booth, watching as she rolls her eyes at me for the hundredth time. “My day has been good. Settling into the off-season. Enjoying some rest, but also preparing to spend lots of time in the gym with the team—all that good stuff. I’m waiting for you to put me to work walking some of those dogs.”

She tips her head back, giggling. “I can’t pay you.”

“I don’t need you to pay me.”

Addy meets my gaze, a thoughtful expression on her face. “Funny how the tables have turned, huh? You’re Mr. Millionaire NHL player now, andI’mthe one scraping by.”

I shrug. “You could have access to the parental fund if you wanted it.”

“True, but then I’d be under evenmorepressure to find Mr. Right. Which is the last thing I need right now, considering my terrible track record with men.” She sighs. “I’m an ever-loving mess.”

“Aren’t we all?” I say, just as the waiter sets our pizza down in front of us. I immediately grab a steaming slice, unbothered by the burn that comes with the melty cheese and warm fruit. Some people probably think it’s gross that we like pineapple on our pizza, but they’re nuts.

Addy chews on her bottom lip, her arms folded across her chest. I can see it all over her face that shewantsto keep talking about how unfair her family’s expectations are. I nearly laugh and kind of find it endearing that I know her so well. I’ve never known anyone as well as I know her—and I don’t think I ever will.

“Go ahead,” I tell her as soon as I swallow. “Keep going.”

She shakes her head and waves me off. “No, I know you’ve heard enough.”

“But I can tell you need to get it out of your system,” I reason. “If you need to vent more about how unfair your family is, I’m all ears. I have pizza now. My emergency is over.”

She bursts into giggles. “Sopizzawas the emergency?”

I cock a brow at her. “Isn’t it always?”

“Touché.” She grabs a slice and then immediately drops it on her plate. “I don’t know how you eat it at this temperature.”

“I don’t know how you eat it dang near frozen right out of the fridge, but you do,” I shoot back. “Different strokes for different folks.”

“I hate that saying.”

I grin, flashing my freshly whitened smile. “I know.” I scoop up another slice and eat. She watches me like I’m some kind of science experiment.

“I’m probably gonna have to walk down the aisle with Robert’s brother,” Addy says as I continue to chow down on my pizza. “I don’t like him.”

“You don’t like anyone,” I say through a mouthful.

“Wow, you’re so kind.” She huffs, her eyes darting toward the exit. “No wonder I’m alone.”

My chest pangs with a little guilt mixed with sympathy, and I nudge her under the table with my Nike. “Hey.”

Her eyes shift back to mine, and I see she’s more than flustered… She’shurt.“What?”

“You’ll find the right person one of these days, Addy,” I tell her, holding her gaze. “You just haven’t found him yet. But I’m sure that once you stumble into his arms, the world will suddenly make sense. It’ll be a happily ever after and what-not. You know, the same stuff you read in your books. That’ll happen to you. When the timing is right.”

“What if my family doesn’t like him?” Addy’s voice grows quiet.

I shrug. “I don’t think it’ll matter when it’s the right person. I don’t think you’ll care as much about it as you do now.”

“What if I’ve already missed him? What if he was on a train or something, and I just walked right past him? What if he already died or something?”

I raise my brows. “That escalated quickly, but um—” I pause, trying to dig deep. “I’m surewhoeverhe is is still living, and I’m sure he’s waiting for you as much as you are for him.”

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