Page 121 of Rule 2: Never Join a Christmas Dating Show

I close my eyes, but obviously that doesn’t work.

My fingers flutter. Would Ella and the camera crew and Clark think it’s strange if I start dashing down the hall?

Luke moves away from the women. He steps in front of me, blocking the view path between Mrs. Smith and me.

It’s going to be okay.

“Lots of people here,” Mrs. Smith says.

“I’m giving a tour forSeeking Mr. Right,” Bryce’s voice says. “My brother is the current Mr. Right, and one of these two gorgeous women might be my future sister-in-law.”

Soprano voices giggle around me. I want to lean against Luke’s back, to feel his warm heat against my face, so our breath merges together, inhaling and exhaling at the same time, like twin babies in natal incubators.

I am Sebastian Archer, TV Host Extraordinaire. I am Sebastian Archer, TV Host Extraordinaire.

“Well, that is an unconventional way to find a spouse,” Mrs. Smith says. “Maybe we should start assigning romance novels to lesson planning.”

“But we won’t because we don’t want their brains to rot,” Bryce says in his normal unctuous voice. “It’s good I’m the assistant principal, so I can prevent these catastrophes.”

“We should get going,” Ella says, and my shoulders ease.

“I don’t remember you,” Mrs. Smith says, and I’m sure she’s speaking to Luke.

“Perhaps it’s a time to bring in a new librarian,” Bryce says.

“I’m sure that’s not necessary,” Luke says hastily. “I didn’t go to the library very often.”

I can so easily imagine them smiling at each other at Luke’s statement. The man is so kind. So considerate. The way he covered me with his body, without me having to ask. The way he is so wonderful.

My heart beats happily.

“Ah, that explains it,” Mrs. Smith says. “I do remember Seth, of course.”

I stiffen.

“Seth?” Ella asks.

That didn’t just happen. I must have misheard.

“Seth!” Bryce’s voice booms. “That’s how I remember you. Are you hiding behind my brother?”

Then Bryce starts to laugh. Some people might call it joyful. For me, it’s the sound that comes before another vicious joke, another cruel remark, as if he can already hear it in his head.

“You’re so gay, Seth,” Bryce says.

Okay. Not great humor then. We’re going for that sort of insult.

I thought that was the repertoire of out-of-touch sexagenarians, but I guess it’s the repertoire of out-of-touch small-town school administrators too.

“You went to school here?” Ella asks, and I hate the betrayal in her voice.

Because we’ve worked alongside each other for years. Now she’ll know why I didn’t want to go to Ashcove. And she’ll know it was for personal reasons. That I was thinking about myself and not Mr. Right arcs.

She’ll know I didn’t confide in her. And she’ll know how little she knows the real me. The person she considered a friend was just an artifice. As if someone could consider Spiderman a friend who didn’t know Peter Parker.

“Your real name is Seth?” Clark asks.

“I went here too,” I say, stepping from behind Luke, because there’s nothing he can do to protect me now. There’s nothing he can say. It doesn’t matter how broad his shoulders are. I decide to feign innocence and casualness. “Hi Mrs. Smith, I didn’t see you there.”