Page 36 of Rule 2: Never Join a Christmas Dating Show

“Super romantic.”

Finn stares.

Noah stares.

Troy rolls his eyes, but his lips press together, as if he’s suppressing a smile.

And then, I swear to God, Noah and Finn kiss.

I inhale.

I mean, I’ve seen men kiss before. Obviously. I’ve kissed men before. Many times. It’s one of my favorite things.

I just didn’t expect to see it here.

The conversation changes to the afternoon’s game. Snow falls down at an ever more rapid pace.

“Do you think the game might be canceled?” I ask abruptly.

The conversation stills, and they turn their attention to the window.

“In New Hampshire?” Finn shakes his head. “No way. I know you’re a Californian, but we’re used to bad weather in the Northeast.”

I stiffen at the reminder of my carefully constructed California identity. Luke’s coffee cup freezes halfway to his lips, his eyes darting to me. Does he know? Does he?

Not telling them feels like a lie.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Luke

I glide onto the ice, ignoring the New Hampshire audience’s half-hearted smattering of applause. They’re not here for us. We’re the enemy.

My gaze zeroes to the stands.

Sebastian sits beside Oskar. He’s traded his tailored suit for an untailored blue Blizzards jersey.

Sebastian is smiling, and I smile back.

His wide-set eyes bounce around the arena, absorbing all the bright lights and the strangeness of the game. Pop music blares as we take our positions, and the crowd applauds as each person’s name is announced.

The pink strobes flicker over his face, and I notice how sculpted his cheekbones and jaw are, like a misplaced Michelangelo.

If Michelangelo’s sculptures wore Blizzards jerseys.

I can’t make out the number from here.

It better be mine.

I pull my gaze to the rest of the arena.

Dmitri slides into place beside me. “Oskar is entertaining your TV man.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I told them not to date.”

“What?”