Page 108 of Rule 2: Never Join a Christmas Dating Show

I roll my eyes. “You’re not supposed to make me smile.”

He leans closer to me. “The thing is, I always want you to smile. It’s my greatest desire.” He cups my face. “Your tears make me sad.”

“I’m sorry I showed them to you. I didn’t want to.”

“I’m happy you showed me,” he says. “Because now I know and I can try to make you feel better.”

My jaw drops. This also isn’t the I-was-feeling-experimental-but-I’m-really-straight speech. When is he going to get to it?

“I should have handled this morning better,” he says. “And I shouldn’t have risked your reputation by doing all the things we did with Troy beside us. It wasn’t fair to you. Those walls are thin. And though he does have AirPods and I’m sure he used them, it, um, still wasn’t good.

“I knew the walls were thin last night,” I admit. “It wasn’t just on you.”

“I couldn’t resist you,” he says. “And I enjoyed everything we did.”

My jaw drops.

“Everything,” he emphasizes, his voice low, and for a moment, memories of what we did last night flash through my mind.

“So you’re not telling me you were feeling experimental but you’re really straight?”

His eyes dance. “I mean, that wouldn’t be entirely accurate,” he says finally. “After last night. And probably quite a while before then too.”

“But I was your first man?”

He nods. “And you were the first time it felt so good.”

“It wasn’t bad,” I admit.

“No, not at all.” His eyes are tender. “I’m sorry you had to hide under the covers. I don’t think Troy will say anything. He’s not like that. Not really. He’s surprisingly private.”

“He doesn’t seem horrible,” I admit.

Luke nods then he pulls me closer to him. “Can I kiss you?”

“I’m still...blotchy.”

“You are the most beautiful man,” he says, and he says it with such confidence, I almost believe him.

“You don’t have to say that,” I say.

“Sebastian Archer, haven’t you realized I don’t like saying what isn’t true?”

I tilt my head. “You told him you shredded a fleshlight?”

He gives a reluctant nod, and I smile.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“I haven’t actually used one,” he admits.

“Really?” My eyes dart up.

“I’m not that experienced,” he admits. “And I definitely wouldn’t feel the need to be randomly experimental.”

“But we slept together,” I say.

“Ah. That, Sebastian, was because I really...like you.”