Page 47 of The Love Trick

“Yeah.” She looks confused by my reaction. “Instead, Robert’s friend Brandon is walking me down the aisle today.” She crinkles her nose. “And I don’t even know him.”

I peel my shirt over my head. “You’ll be okay. He seemed nice when we were all hanging out at the bachelor party.” I toss my T-shirt into my bag across the room and head for the dresser to grab a fresh one. I can feel Addy’s eyes on me—and the stupid boy inside of mehopesshe likes what she sees. In a friendly way?

“You know, my sister intentionally set me up to walk with him because he’s the only single guy in the wedding party. She was worried that if she let Lilly—her only other single bridesmaid—walk with him, she might try to jump his bones later.”

I burst into laughter, turning to look at her with my new black T-shirt in hand. “I don’t know what to do with you sometimes.”

“Yeah, well, that one’s on my sister.”

“Yeah, but I doubt she used those exact words…” I pull my shirt over my head, and tug it down over my torso. Addy’s still watching me.

“I think she used the wordcourting.” She rolls her eyes and then drops her head down to the pillow again, letting out a groan. “My headhurts.”

I smile at her as I strip out of my gym shorts and pull on a pair of khaki shorts. “I’m going to go pick you up a few things to help with that.”

She eyes me. “Can I come?”

“You don’t wanna lay in bed a little longer?”

She shakes her head and kicks off the covers. For a split second, I get a view ofallof her legs, her pajama shorts crinkled up from sleeping. I try not to stare. I try not to check her out and count the freckles I haven’t ever seen before. She’s always been modest, and I love that, but man… When I catch a glimpse of her freckled skin, it awakens parts of me I didn’t know existed.

And then Addy clears her throat.

I rip my gaze away and turn toward the door. “Sorry.” I slip inside the bathroom to brush my teeth—and get away from her. She totally caught me staring, and I’m pretty sure that if embarrassment was an ocean, I’d be drowning in it.

A few minutes later, Addy knocks on the door. “Can I come in?”

I hesitate. “Sure,” I say, my toothbrush jammed inside my mouth. My words come out muffled, but she obviously understands because she opens the bathroom door and steps in, now dressed in a pair of jean shorts and a pale blue T-shirt… It matches her eyes.

She grabs her toothbrush and begins the process of brushing her teeth. I don’t look at her. I don’t notice the way her messy blonde hair pulled up on the top of her head complements her feminine jawline, dotted with more natural freckles that I happen to findverycute.

I know I need to get hold of myself … but we’ve been faking a relationship for days, which is probably why I’m feelinglike I’m her boyfriend right now. Surely this feeling will pass once we get back home.

But still … I owe her an apology for checking her out this morning.

I rinse my mouth out and then spit in the sink. “Listen… Addy….” I begin, and she cocks her head in my direction. “I’m really sorry. I just zoned out …or something.”

Her brows furrow and she shakes her head. I have no idea what she means by that, so I stand and wait as she finishes brushing her teeth. She finally wipes her mouth on a towel and gives me a look.

“I don’t understand what you’re apologizing for.”

“For checking you out,” I blurt, meeting her gaze.

She holds my gaze … and thenlaughs. “Oh, Blaze.”

“What?” I fold my arms across my chest. “What’s so funny?”

“I check you out all the time. It’sfine.” With that, she spins on her heels, exiting the bathroom to answer her phone—which I didn’t even hear ringing. I stand frozen like an idiot, my face feeling hot.

Addy checks me out.

“Hey.” She appears in the doorway of the bathroom before I can leave. “Apparently, my sister booked mani-pedis for the bridal party this morning, so I’ll just have to grab a Tylenol and some orange juice on the way over to her.”

“Oh.” I can’t hide my disappointment. “So, does that mean you’ll be gone all day?” Not that it matters. I’ll just miss her.

Okay, that’s a little much.

“Yeah, we’ll be doing our hair and makeup afterwards. But I’ll see you at the wedding tonight. Do you know where to go and all that?”

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