Page 126 of Rule 2: Never Join a Christmas Dating Show

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“Wait! Sebastian! Stop!” I wave my arms around because he needs to see me. He needs to stop.

He turns toward me, and relief moves through me. He sees me.

But instead he turns back and speeds away.

“Wait!” I run after him, sliding on the slippery path.

But the car doesn’t stop.

I am alone in the parking lot.

I have not protected Sebastian.

I have failed.

The brisk wind stings me, and snow flickers down, but there are no snowflakes I can give Sebastian to make this right. I have only hurt him. Destroyed him.

I close my eyes, my heart still pounding.

Voices sound behind me, and I inhale, then turn around and prepare to fake calmness even though my soul has been scraped raw.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

Luke

I march into the locker room. I’m back in Boston. Back at the Blizzards Arena.

I check my phone.

It doesn’t say I have text message from Sebastian. Or a voicemail. Or a missed call. Or a fucking e-mail.

I squeeze my eyes.

My teammates chatter around me. We have a game tonight, and practice is mandatory.

“Luke!”

I hear my voice shouted from the murmur of voices and open my eyes. Keeping my eyes shut is hardly a long-term plan.

“How was Ashcove?” Axel asks. “Did you decide who you’re going to pick?”

I blink at him. “You’ve been watchingSeeking Mr. Right?”

Axel is like Vinnie 2.0. Scary and super good and not the person I would immediately say watches reality TV.

“Hey! I was featured in an episode,” Axel says.

“I’m still sorry about that.”

“Nah, it’s cool. I’m sorry about taking your girl. I didn’t know.”

I shrug. “That’s what I tried to tell them.”

“Axel doesn’t mind his bad reputation,” Noah says, laughing.

Axel gives a lackadaisical shrug. “It sets expectations. Besides, everyone loves an F-Boy.”

Most of my teammates have the good grace to look embarrassed, but a few are definitely fist bumping one another.

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