Page 4 of The Love Trick

Vomit.

“And most of the good ones are taken by thirty,” one of my aunts chimes in, though I don’t catch which one.

“Can we focus on the wedd—”

“Maybe I should set you up with—”

“Absolutely not.” Mom holds up a hand, halting the conversation. “This is Aurora’swedding. Wedon’tneed a repeat of what happened last time Aunt Kay tried to set Addy up.”

I cringe internally as Aurora’s sorority sisters start to giggle—probably recalling the near fire at our family Christmas party last year when my date knocked over a candle in his drunken stupor. Aunt Kay had been so blinded by his last name and his family ties when she set us up that she failed to see he had a major drinking problem. Never mind the fact that he’s a tax attorney who couldn’t be more wrong for me if he tried.

I close my eyes, wishing I was somewhere else. Someplace where I wouldn’t have to worry about allthis.

“I just think she ought to see someone.” Granny Esme is not letting up on her rant. “Maybe if we worked on her manners—”

“That’s enough,” Aurora interjects, mimicking my mother’s previous gesture by holding up her hand. “We’re here to talk aboutmywedding. I really don’twant to discuss Addy’s love life right now. Now can we start walking through the itinerary, please? I have a busy afternoon planned.”

A busy afternoon of spending Robert’s money…

I let out a quiet sigh. My family is probably one of the wealthiest in the area, but both my sister and I receive a meager stipend from my parents—in the name of preventing us from becoming ‘ungrateful trust fund babies,’ per my father. So, Aurora went and found herself an older, wealthy man who treats her … well, like a trust fund baby—a traditional one … without a monthly spending budget.

As for me? I own a dog-walking business and pay my own bills. It’s not glorious by any means, but it’s mine, and I like it.

“Let’s just assume that Addy will be a one-person party.” Aurora’s voice grabs my attention, and I suddenly realize I’ve zoned out. “And move on.”

Oh my gosh, they’restilltalking about me?

I nearly facepalm myself, my cheeks growing hot. I glance around once Aurora goes into talking about the seating arrangement—even though it’s a small destination wedding—and pull out my phone, seeing a message from my best friend.

Blaze:Enjoying wedding planning?

I roll my eyes, typing a text back to him.

Me:Literally want to die right now. Can I send an SOS?

Three dots immediately pop up on the screen, and I’m so thankful he’s officially in the off-season of hockey right now. I don’t think I could stand to have to wait for his reply at a time like this.

Blaze:Is it really that bad? SOS IS FOR EMERGENCIES.

Blaze:I didn’t mean to capitalize that, but it fits.

I laugh out loud, and right as I do, an elbow lands in my rib.

“Hey,” I mumble, glancing up to see my mother scowling at me. “What?” I mouth as the wedding planner begins her spiel about the charter jets.

“Put that down,” Mom scolds in a hushed tone.

I gesture toward all the other women at the table who areliterallyholding their phones in front of their faces and open my mouth to protest. But before I can say anything, my mom gives me one of thosedon’t you even go therelooks and I retreat, my shoulders falling…

But I still manage to send one last text.

Me:SOS!

“Addy,” Mom whispers in a low, warning tone. “Put it down.”

Yes, Your Highness.

Of course I don’t say that out loud, opting for silence as I slide the phone into my pocket and fold my arms across my chest. Don’t get me wrong. I love my family. I love them more than anything.

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