Page 55 of The Love Trick

We go down on the blanket, our kiss heating up as I arch over her. My hand runs down her side, while hers is my hair. Her heart races against my chest, her body molding to mine as if we’re two halves of a whole, fitting together perfectly in this moment.

As if she was made to be in my arms.

I hadnoidea we hadthiskind of chemistry.

I nip on her lower lip. She sucks on mine.

A light groan escapes my lips, andthatsound is enough to completely jar me.

This is inappropriate.

You’re messing everything up.

You’re going to lose her.

I freeze, my hand on Addy’s full hip, and break the kiss. “I’m sorry. We can’t do this,” I mutter.

“What?” Addy’s voice strains as she shoots daggers into my eyes. “Are you kidding me right now? Why?”

“You’re my best friend,” I whisper, my nose still touching hers. “Best friends don’t do this.” Panic fills my chest. “We can’t risk ruining what we have.”

Addy releases me like I might burn her skin if she touches me any longer. “Okay. Sorry for daring you to do that. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“I guess we’re even now.” I clear my throat, pushing up off the blanket and putting space between us as I eye her. Her lips are swollen, fresh from our kiss, and I don’t want to admit how crazy I feel for her right now. I suddenly have this strong desire to love her in the one way I never have before…

But Ican’t.

Because Addy is the only family I have. If we cross that line and things go sideways, I’d be left with nothing, no one.

I’d be a lost orphan once more, with no place to go.

“I think I’m done with lunch,” she says, her voice flat. “Can you take me back? I need to pack since we leave tomorrow.”

I nod. “Yeah, me too.”

And somehow, try to forget this ever happened so we can go back to normal…

Chapter Twenty

Addy

Thebareminimum.

That’s what I’ve been doing since Blaze rocked my world and then retreated like I have the plague or something. I don’t want to admit just how hurt I am, and at the same time, Ishouldn’tbe hurt. This is afakerelationship…

But he kissed me first.

I stare down at my carry-on, frustrated as I flex and unflex my hand. Blaze is just a few feet away, nursing a coffee like there’s nothing wrong at all. I don’t know how he’s doing that—just pretending like whatever happened on the beach meant nothing to him.

But maybe that’s because itdidn’tmean anything.

My head spins as they finally call for us to board, and I take a step forward to jump in the line. Luckily my family isn’t on the same flight, so we don’t have to pretend to love each other anymore.

“I got a freaking aisle seat,” a middle-aged guy says in front of me. “I don’t care if I’m first class or not, I can’t stand the aisle—and this is a long flight.” He’s grumbling into his phone, and as I glance back, I see that Blaze has been slow to get in line, falling a few people behind me.

I tap the guy’s shoulder as soon as he hangs up. “Excuse me?” I say in a polite, quiet voice.

He spins around, a surprised expression on his face. “Yes?”

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