Page 79 of The Love Trick

Blaze takes a step forward. “Addy, nothing you did waseverembarrassing to me. If anything, I was the one who embarrassed myself.”

“Please stop.” I hold up my hand. “I don’t want to rehash our kiss. Ireallydon’t. It hurts too much.”

“I don’t regret kissing you.” Blaze’s eyes search mine. “I don’t at all.”

“Okay, great.” I shake my head. “I’ll add that to my journal of things Idon’tunderstand about you.” My voice increases in volume just as I hear my mom and Aurora’s chatter behind me. “I have to go,” I tell him, ripping my gaze away.

He doesn’t say anything as I storm toward my family, and it only serves to reiterate how freakingsickI am of always being the one who has the last word. I’msoover it. I place myself right in between my mom and Aurora.

“Well, that seemed heated.” Aurora eyes me. “So much passion for two people who apparently aremoving on.”

“There’s no passion on his side,” I seethe, nearly dragging my mom and sister away from Blaze. “He just stares at me.”

“Are you serious?” Aurora gives me a funny look. “It’s written all over his face, Addy. Maybe you should try to give him more than five seconds to come up with something to say.”

I don’t say anything in response, telling myself it doesn’t matter.

I can’t listen to any more of his speeches about just wanting to befriends.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Blaze

Iscrollthroughallthe undelivered texts I’ve sent to Addy, wishing I could show her thatI’mthe embarrassing one. She’s moving on in her bitterness, and I’ve been sending awkward apologies and heartfelt messages to her phone.

I read the most recent one from yesterday.

Me:I miss you.

And the one before it…

Me:I don’t regret kissing you because I’m in love with you.

The worst part is, I would’ve told herallof these things when I saw her today if she’d have let me get a word in edgewise, but she was already talking, worried about embarrassing herself. The only thing embarrassing is being unable to just spit out how much I love my best friend, and that I was terrified of what that meant.

But it’s clearly too late.

She blocked me out of her life.

I set my phone down on my kitchen counter as I head for the sink to wash my hands. I’msoready for training camp to begin next month. I just want to give my mind something else to focus on. I know that won’t fix this, but it’s got to help.

My phone buzzes against the counter, and I go to it.

“An e-invite,” I say to myself as I read the link from an unknown number. I pick it up and click on it, seeing it’s for Addy’s thirtieth birthday party. “Why the heck would I be invited to this?”

I scroll through the dress code, theme, and information.

It’ssonot Addy.

But then again, neither are the Gucci sneakers and designer clothes she was wearing today. I roll my lips together, about to hit the decline invitation, when my screen lights up with a phone call. My heart sinks at Addy’s mom’s name on the screen.

Why is she calling me?

I debate on ignoring it, but then my mind starts to race. She’s had my number since Addy and I were in college—in case of an emergency—and she’s never called me. Until now.

I quickly swipe the phone to answer and put it to my ear. “Hello?”

“Hey,” her mom says. “I wanted to call and make sure you were coming to Addy’s party. I know it’s weird of me to call, but … I think it’s important that you be there.”

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