Page 67 of Rule 2: Never Join a Christmas Dating Show
There are a lot of things, and my stomach sinks. Sebastian’s eyes bounce from me to the sheet.
“But you don’t have to help,” I say, breaking Dr. Novak’s speech about hydration. Sebastian’s shoulders crumple, as if I’ve told him I don’t want to have lunch with him or something, and I hastily add, “It’s a lot. I-I didn’t realize how much went into it. And I know you’re busy and...”
“Oh.” Sebastian draws back. “I don’t have to help, Luke. If you’re more comfortable with...”
“No.” I furrow my brow. “I-I just mean I understand if you don’t want to do it.”
“I’ll be a phone call away,” Dr. Novak tells Sebastian. “I’ll have Oskar make the arrangements.”
Sebastian nods then smiles at me. “Let’s, um, get you to the hotel.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Sebastian
I am going to spend the night with Luke Hawthorne, and it is absolutely not strange.
Not strange at all.
No way.
“It’s here!” Oskar exclaims, and we head toward the Ride App he ordered for us. I’m holding Luke’s medicine and his bag.
“Sebastian and I are going to spend the night together!” Luke exclaims, wobbling slightly. I so don’t want him to totter onto the icy, sludgy street.
“I know,” Oskar says lightly.
“Isn’t that cool?” Luke beams.
Oskar’s eyes narrow slightly, but he just nods. “Super cool.”
Luke nods delightedly. “We spent the night together in New Hampshire too.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Oskar says. “That was an extraordinary occasion—”
“And this is an extraordinary occasion too,” Luke says happily.
“You know, Luke is pretty much our most cheerful hockey player,” Oskar says. “Evan and Vinnie are practically married now, but you should have seen how reluctant Evan was to have Vinnie watch him. And they apparently had this whole love affair going on!”
Luke wobbles and I wrap my arm around his waist.
I’m sure this arena is vigorous with their salt applications, but I don’t let go of Luke just in case. The Mr. Right franchise and the Boston Blizzards are depending on me.
Oskar takes Luke’s bag from me, opens the door, and meets the taxi.
Luke and I follow more slowly behind.
The distance from the arena to the taxi is tiny, but Luke takes his time, swaying as he stares into the heavens.
“Pretty!” He points at the sky.
There are no stars tonight, but snowflakes flutter down, lit up by the arena outside lights. They glide down softly, as if aware they’ll soon dissolve against the salty path or be pressed against each other, so all their delicate edges are crushed and forever lost.
But right now, they flutter down.
Right now, they are enjoying their lives.
Luke presses his finger into the sky, and Oskar throws me a concerned look. I half expect him to dash inside and get a wheelchair for Luke for the final four feet to the taxi. But then Luke beams, thrilled, at his finger, then thrusts his finger toward my eyes. “I caught one for you.”
