He doesn’t remember me, I remind myself, swallowing back the well of fear. I was two grades higher than him, and I’m not Seth Archer anymore.
My skin is clear, my body toned, my teeth shiny, my hair highlighted and snipped to the whims of the best hairstylists.
Luke’s face sombers, the amusement drifting away, as if it’s been swept away by the gusts of wind that storm from the Atlantic, still looking for leaves to rip from their branches so they can be dumped into ugly trash bags and brought some place to burn.
“I’m with Falcon Productions,” I add hastily. “You applied to be our Mr. Right in ourSeeking Mr. Right: Christmas Edition.I’m the host. Anyway,” I say quickly, because he’s acting like we’re playing cards in Vegas, and his face is stoic and impassive. “You were selected. Congratulations! Welcome to the show!”
His face doesn’t shift.
For a moment, he’s Bryce, and my heartbeat thunders, but then the light moves over him differently, and he’s Bryce’s kid brother again.
God, I need to hold it together. I’m twenty-six now. My life is completely different.
I inhale icy air.
“Find someone else,” Luke says.
Shit.
“It’s a huge honor,” I say hurriedly. “You’ll be more famous than ever before.”
Luke grimaces, and I remember too late that the Luke Hawthorne I knew was on the shyer side.
“I need to go,” he says.
Luke turns, and I want to let him leave. I want to nod and say I understand and maybe utter some platitudes.
I refuse to go back to the coffee shop and tell Ella I’ve failed.
“Please,” I say.
Luke’s gaze falls on me, his blue eyes searching me for...something. I give my blandest, most professional smile. The kind I never made in Ashcove because I was always too scared.
Don’t let him remember me. Don’t let him remember me. Don’t let him remember me.
There’s no way he’ll want to do anything with the guy whom his brother bullied each day. My connection to him won’t get me anywhere, and all I can do is pretend I don’t know him and hope he doesn’t recognize me.
He’s probably every bit as conceited as Bryce. He’s probably worse. I know what NHL players make. If I can secure his participation, he’ll be our wealthiest Mr. Right ever.
Also the most good-looking.
I hate that he’s so perfect for the role. I hate we’ll probably get more viewers than ever before. I hate everything about this, everything about him.
Luke sighs. “No.”
With that, he turns around.
His figure pads through the ever-increasing snowfall, and he moves farther and farther away from me, taking the hopes of Falcon Productions with him.
I tighten my fists. This isn’t over.
CHAPTER FOUR
Luke
I didn’t think I would ever walk away from Sebastian Archer, but his words about me still ring in my head.
They ring in my head as I walk to the arena, ignoring the ringing of my phone.
