Page 84 of The Love Trick

I burst into laughter. “Why did you look it up online? You shouldneverGoogle relationship advice.”

“Yeah, well, the only other option was your mom, and based on her expensive taste”—he motions to his tux—“I think I might end up buying you a fifty-acre winery in upstate New York.”

“She helped you with that?”

“Yeah, even set the appointment and showed up.”

I can’t hide my surprise. “She had this up her sleeve the whole time.”

Blaze pulls out a box from the inside of his jacket pocket. “Happy Birthday,baby.” He shoots me a wink that makes me feel like I might pass out. A deep blush tints my cheeks.

“That’s going to take some getting used to,” I say nervously, taking the box from him. “But please tell me you’re not proposing, because the speech was really cute and all, but we probably shouldn’t movethatfast…”

“Yeah, yeah.” Blaze motions toward the box. “No engagement ring. I promise.”

I open the box, shocked to see a bracelet with our birthstones alternating in a delicate pattern, complemented with rose gold. “Wow.” I stare at it for a few seconds, running my finger over the pattern. “This is gorgeous.”

“I thought you’d like it. It seemed moreusthan the other pieces I looked at,” Blaze says quietly. “It’s not custom or anything, but—”

“I love it.” I press my mouth against his. He leans into me and deepens the kiss, his hands cradling my face gently—as if I’m something precious.

I lose myself in the warmth of his touch, feeling a rush of emotions swirling inside me—love, desire, security. We’ve both been waiting for this moment for far too long, and now that it’s finally here, it feels surreal.

I run my fingers through his hair, memorizing every detail of this instant, wanting to capture it forever.

As I pull away, he grins. “We still have a whole party to finish before we can leave…”

I swat his shoulder. “You’re supposed to be a gentleman.”

“I am.” He bursts into laughter, though his face grows hot.

“Good, then help me put this on.” I hold out the bracelet. “My mom is going todiewhen she sees this.”

He eyes me carefully as he fashions it around my wrist. “Why’s that? It wasnotcheap…”

“Oh, I know. This is made by one of her favorite designers. She’s going to be so jealous.” I giggle. “I’ll have to only wear it on special occasions.”

“You mean it won’t go with those new Gucci tennis shoes?”

“Ha ha.” I snort, flipping my hair over my shoulder. “I think that was just a desperate phase. I was pretending to be something that I’m not, and I’m done with that. No more pretending. No more striving for other people’s approval. I just wanna be … me.”

Blaze nods, dropping his arm to grab my hand. “Well, for the record, I’ll takeyouin any form, any day, over anyone else.”

I squeeze his hand. “Right back at you. I’d have taken you well before the NHL swept you up and turned you into a pro athlete that all the girls swoon over.”

He leads me back toward the door. “The only girl I wantswooningover me is the one who has been wearing my jersey for a decade.”

The reality of this moment hits me as Blaze opens the door for me, and we step back into my birthday party.

We’re together.For real.

And as if everyone was waiting just for us, the whole crowd at the party erupts into applause, shocking me sideways into Blaze.

“Whoareall these people?” Blaze leans into me, his voice barely above a whisper.

I shrug. “No clue.”

“Okay, cool.” Blaze grunts, letting me lead the way to my parents, sister, and grandmas, all standing in a little circle and watching us.

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