Page 73 of The Love Trick

“Um.” Blaze clears his throat as I unclick my seatbelt and push the door open. “I … Addy…”

“Save it.” I shoot him a glare. “I don’t want to hear another spiel about how you just caretoo muchabout me to be anything more than friends. This isn’t aboutyouor ourfriendship. This is aboutmyheart, and you broke it.” My lower lip trembles as I hop down onto the curb and slam his car door before he can respond.

I can’t even bring myself to tell him goodbye. Because, despite the fact that this might be the final time I see him as my best friend,goodbyefeels way too much like forever.

The tears flow freely as I dash for my front door, hurriedly punching in my code and ripping the door open. I can still hear Blaze’s Jeep idling behind me. I’ve never been angrier at him than I am right now.

Did my feelingsreallyshock himthatmuch?

I slam the front door closed and peek through the peephole. Blaze’s Jeep is still sitting there. I know it takes him time to process things. I know that. But I poured my freaking heart out to him, and the besthe could do was tell me that one time, seven years ago, he told me loved me in the same way I said I loved him tonight.

How could our timing be so off?

I stifle a sob as I force myself away from the door and head for the stairs. I start stripping out of my fancy, eye-catching outfit that now only makes me feel pathetic—like just another girl desperate for Blaze’s attention.

I’m so stupid.

Why did I let myself fall for him? Why did I dare him to kiss me another time? And why did he ever kiss me in the first place?All his reasons have been vague at best.

Once in my room, I pull on an oversized T-shirt and a pair of shorts and peer out the window, one last time.

Through my tears, I catch a glimpse of Blaze finally pulling away in his Jeep. My heart aches as he disappears into the night, taking with him a piece of me that I fear may never be whole again.

It’s really over.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Blaze

Goafterher!

My brain is screaming at me as I swing my Jeep door open and slide out. My head is pounding with shock. I know sometimes I miss the obvious, but Addy just told me she’sin lovewith me.

And I … seized up.

Choked.

I’mstillfrozen, and I don’t know how to respond. Which is why I’ve been sitting in front of her house for fifteen minutes, and am now pacing back and forth in her driveway.

I can’t believe this is happening. This must be some type of twisted nightmare. Here I thought friendship would keep us together, and I lost her anyway.

My biggest fear just came true.

I feel like I’m gonna be sick.

I want to say something to her, but my anxiety has me in a chokehold. I’ve forgotten how to formulate a proper sentence. The few words I did get out, she didn’t want to hear.

I can’t do this.

I climb back into my Jeep and shut the door. My head falls into my hands as a deep, gut-wrenching pain overwhelms my system. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. And where do we even go from here? Do I trust that eventually we’ll be friends again? Or … do I try to be her boyfriend? What if I’m not a good boyfriend? I’m clearly already a bad friend.

Ugh.

I throw the car into drive and pull away, my mind reeling. I need help. I need my friends. I need a mom or dad I can call for advice.

I speed across town to the get-together I skipped out on in order to see Addy. I’m always more than happy to skip things for her—and if she called me, I still would. So why am I so confused right now?

I park along the street, seeing the plethora of cars outside of Dylan’s house.

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