9. Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
Blaze
Is she as nervous as I am about this?
I can’t breathe as I step through the airport doors, where her entire freaking family is waiting for us. I glance down at Addy, who’s rolling her carry-on. I have the rest of her luggage weighing me down like a pack mule of sorts.
“Ah, there you are!” her mom calls out, rushing toward us. She’s dressed like a typical mom, wearing khaki slacks and a white sweater. Her hair is pulled up in a bun, and while I see Addy in her, it’s only in the nose. The rest of her looks like… her dad? I can’t tell. I stare at her father, who’s looking as unamused as always, his expression in a dull frown.
“Sorry I’m late, the traffic was awful,” Addy answers as they hug. “Blaze said we needed to leave sooner, but I was running behind.”
“As per usual,” someone grumbles from the mix of people—most of whom I don’t recognize. Although I can pinpoint both her grandmothers and her aunts, her sister, and well … yeah, that’s where it ends.
But each and every person is staring at us, even the ones I don’t recognize.
“It’s good to see you, Blaze,” Addy’s mom says.
My heart thumps nervously. “It’s good to see you, too.”
I’ve never been nervous around her parents. But suddenly, everything feels different…
“Wait a minute.” Her mom’s eyes bounce between the two of us, and now it must hit her. “Where’s your boyfriend?”
Addy elbows me. “Right here.”
I swallow hard. “In the flesh.”
“Wow.” Her brows skyrocket as she takes a step back, as if she’s taking us in for the first time. “Okay.”
“ Blaze is your boyfriend?” Her sister pushes through the family. “Really?”
“Yeah,” Addy calls back, and I can hear the nerves in her voice. “He is.”
I take a step closer to her, my arm brushing hers. The touch sends a tingle up my spine, but I ignore that, blaming it on nerves.
Addy looks up at me, her eyes slightly wider than before. But I just smile at her, because if she was my real girlfriend, I’d want to be this close.
Before anyone else can say anything, Addy’s dad chimes in. “Alright, we’ve seen it. It’s time to go. We’ve got a flight to catch. You all can gawk over Addy and Blaze on the flight.”
Thank goodness. I always knew I liked her dad.
“Crisis avoided,” Addy mutters as we fall in line behind everyone else. I glance ahead of us, noting her two grandmothers whispering to each other and looking back at us. I blow out a sharp breath and glance down at Addy, who doesn’t seem to notice.
“Do we have time to grab a coffee before the flight?” I ask her as soon as we’ve made it through security. As if caffeine is going to help the nerves that are currently rattling my ribs, but…
“I guess.” Addy’s breath comes out shaky. She gives me a sheepish smile. “I’m so nervous right now.”
“Ditto.”
She cocks her head at me. “You’re nervous?”
“Yeah, of course, I am.” I chuckle. “I saw the judgmental stares and whispers. I know I’m not up to their standards.”
“Well, for the record, I think you’re perfect.” Addy turns her attention to the line outside of the airport coffee shop, and I’m left staring at the back of her head, trying to make sense of how her words just affected me.
She thinks I’m perfect?
Why does that make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside?
What’s wrong with me?
I choose to stay quiet as we wait in line at the coffee stand. When we finally reach the counter, we give the barista our orders, and I swipe my card to pay for the drinks.
And now, Addy’s glaring at me.
Uh oh.
“I was going to pay for that,” she snaps. “I’m the one who dragged you here. It’s only right.”
I make a face. “I always pay…”
“Great, now you make it sound like I never—”
“Addy,” I stop her, holding out her drink. “Don’t make this weird. Just take your coffee.”
She huffs but takes it. “I just don’t want you to see this whole trip as a burden. So, just let me pay for things, okay? Like, I’ve saved up for this.”
I frown. “No.”
“Why?” She throws out a hand as we start heading toward the gate. “Please just let me do this.”
“If I was your boyfriend, I would never let you pay for anything,” I say flatly. “I’m not going to be caught letting my girlfriend pay for things when I’m here.”
“Oh, come on.” Addy rolls her eyes. “No one will know.”
“I will know,” I say with a shrug. “And that’s enough.”
She sighs, raking her fingers through her hair. “Okay, fine. I’m not going to argue with you—but only because I don’t want to make a scene in front of my family.” Her lips purse as we arrive at the gate, and she leads me right into the lion’s den. “Hey, Granny.”
She glares at me. “You’re the boyfriend?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I answer, trying to hold her cold, icy blue eyes without shivering. “That’s me… The boyfriend.”
“Aren’t you her hockey player friend from college?” She blinks, her nose crinkling as she gives me a once-over.
“Yes, ma’am,” I answer, hoping my Levi jeans and white T-shirt don’t put her off. I mean, we’re just riding on a plane…
“Hmm,” she says, and then turns to Addy. “Why?”
“Why what?” Addy sputters.
“Why him?”
Addy looks up at me and then back at her granny. “Why not him?” She’s growing defensive. “I love him.”
I’ve heard her say those three words a million times, but it hits differently this time. Because she’s inferring she’s in love with me—and despite the fact I know this is completely fake, my heart reacts with palpitations.
Must be the caffeine, right?
Thankfully, the call to board sounds out before Granny can say anything more. I do my best to shake it off and follow Addy onto the plane. Together with her family, we occupy most of the first-class seating, and I let Addy take the window seat.
“Okay, I gotta know,” I begin, keeping my voice low, unable to hold back my curiosity any longer. “Why’d you have to make it sound like things are so serious between us? You were so casual dropping those three words…”
Addy looks over at me, her cheeks reddening. “I’m so sorry. I guess I just … I panicked, and those were the first words to come out. I mean, I do love you, so that counts for something, right?”
I sigh, pulling out my phone and putting it on airplane mode. “Yeah, it does. It’s just going to make things a lot harder to explain when we break up right after this trip.”
Addy leans in close, lowering her voice. “Maybe we can just say we realized our love is based on friendship, and that we’re just not romantically compatible. That happens.”
“Yeah, and somehow, we’ll remain best friends as if neither of us got our hearts broken? Totally believable,” I mutter, glancing around at everyone chatting among themselves before turning back to Addy. “Breakups are never that easy.”
She laughs and squeezes my arm. “They are when they’re not real.”
I nod, trying to convince myself of that. “Yeah, I guess I’m overthinking this whole thing, huh?” I laugh it off, shaking my head as the nerves still cling to my body like a bad virus.
“It’s just what you do.” Addy nudges me playfully, and I chuckle as she starts digging out a book.
“What’s this one about?” I ask, noting the illustrated people on the cover next to the ocean. “Beach read?”
She angles the cover toward me. “I figured maybe it’d help me know what not to do on this trip.”
I read the title and immediately roll my eyes. “ My Fake Hawaiian Date .”
She giggles. “I mean, it’s a romance, so obviously, these two fictional characters fall in love. I just have to make sure we don’t do that.” Her voice loses its confidence, and for a split second, I think she might be unsure…
But the moment is brief.
“Well, I guess just let me know what you learn,” I say, leaning back against the headrest. I shut my eyes as the plane takes off, and that’s when I realize there’s no going back.
This is it.
I’m going to Hawaii with Addy as her fake boyfriend.
There’s no taking it back.
Not that I had that option anyway.
I spend the next hour attempting to fall asleep, which is normally something that comes easy for me whenever I’m on a plane. But apparently, not this time. I haven’t been able to sleep a wink. I can’t stop tuning in to everyone’s chatter around me, even though none of it is discernible.
So, I fish out my headphones and put an earbud in each ear. Maybe if I just block everything and everyone out, I’ll be able to finally get some sleep. I turn on a piano instrumental track, which usually knocks me out—but once again, nothing happens. My nerves just won’t allow me any peace.
I glance over at Addy, her nose deep in her book. She’s got that all-too-familiar look of concentration, but as if she can feel my eyes on her, she looks up and cocks a brow.
“You’re not sleeping?”
I pull out my earbud and shake my head. “Nope. Apparently, I’m not tired.”
“You’re one of the few people I know who can sleep twelve consecutive hours and still pass out on a plane, Blaze.” Addy eyes me. “What’s wrong?”
I lean in, whispering in her ear, “Maybe it’s the fact that I’m now under scrutiny from your entire family as your boyfriend.” I breathe in her scent, some sort of coconut goodness, and I lean away, struck that I even noticed.
“You’re going to be fine,” Addy says, reaching out and taking my hand—like actually holding it. “See? We’re good. No worries.” She gives me that famous smile, and I leave my fingers interlaced with hers, glancing across the aisle at two of her sister’s bridesmaids, both fast asleep.
Addy goes back to reading her book, but still holds my hand. I’m tempted to pull away, but instead, I just sit here, staring at the way her hand looks in mine. Her skin is pale in comparison to my olive shade, and my hand seems to nearly swallow hers—but also, it feels nice and … reassuring. It’s honestly bringing me some weird level of comfort.
I shut my eyes, focusing on the sensation of warmth her touch brings. Of course, I’m not thinking of it as some romantic gesture—no way. It’s just Addy being a good friend. Plus, it’s one of our rules. Holding hands at any time is acceptable. Therefore, it’s totally fine for us to be like this.
Totally fine.
Never mind the excitement thumping in my chest or the worry at the back of my mind. Everything is going to go just fine.
As the piano music draws out drowsiness, I finally breathe a little deeper, drifting off.
“I love him,” Addy says, squeezing my hand. “And I mean it.”
“Addy, no…” I shake my head, trying to disagree with her as she talks to her family.
We’re standing at an altar—a wedding altar.
I try to pull my hand from hers, but she won’t let me, squeezing it tighter.
She turns to me, her eyes meeting mine. “It’s in the rules. It’ll be fine, Blaze.”
I furrow my brow. “What do you mean?”
“There’s no rule against you marrying me.” She laughs, and I suddenly realize she’s in a white dress.
And I’m just in my boxer shorts.
I’m jarred awake and I groan, rubbing my eyes. But as I do, I feel a warmth against my shoulder. I gaze downward and catch my breath. Addy’s eyes are closed, and both her arms are wrapped around mine. She’s treating my arm like it’s a teddy bear, and even though I no longer can feel my fingers…
I let her sleep.
And try not to think of the mortifying dream I just had—or any of the old more-than-friendship feelings I once had for Addy.
Younger Blaze would’ve been on cloud nine over this entire scenario.